tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Interleague Play Begins – Do You Care???

Interleague play begins today, with the renewal of the Subway Series in New York, the Battle of Ohio, Marlins-Rays, Cardinals-Royals, the Beltway Rivalry and the Bay Area Battle.  There is also the Chicago Cubs visiting Fenway Park.  But in addition to these match-ups, you have the awe-inspiring Astros-Blue Jays, Twins-Dbacks, Braves-Angels and Tigers-Pirates.

Interleague play does not generate the excitement that it did when it began in 1997.  Of course, the geniuses at MLB needed to continue to bring fans back after the 1994 labor debacle which canceled the season and the World Series.  In my opinion, the interleague scheduling has taken away from the allure of the Baseball All-Star Game.  Baseball's all-star game was always the best to watch and had the most interest because it was the only time, other than the World Series, where you got to see the stars from both leagues play against each other.  Now, who cares when you can see them play aginst each other in May and June.  So in order to drum up interest in the All-Star Game, we now have the league which wins the game gets home field advantage during the World Series.  Wow, hardly causes me to watch.

To me interleague play has worn out its welcome.  The random way these interleague games are scheduled can have a big effect on playoff races.  Historically, the NL Central has been weak while the AL East has been strong.  If you draw the NL Central you will have an advantage over teams that draw the Braves and Phillies in the NL East.  If you draw the AL West, you will have an advantage over teams that draw the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.  With another wild card team being proposed by the baseball genius, Bud Selig, this will have a greater impact.

I remember a time when the Yankees and Mets played an exhibition game during the season on an off day.  It was called the Mayor's Trophy Game.  I can remember being fired up about this stupid exhibition game and at one point the game was televised over WPIX which we were able to get through the cable system.  As we head toward tonight's game, somehow my anticipation for this edition of the Subway Series is far less than it was for the old Mayor's Trophy Game.  It's time to end interleague play!!!