Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Interleague finally comes to an end...

Although if you're an AL team (other than ChiSox, O's, or D-Rays) you're sad to see it go. Only those three teams has a losing record vs. the NL. If not for the ChiSox 4-14 record, the AL margin of victory would have been much higher than .544...

There are many flaws within the interleague system with the biggest being the DH. Do we really want to see pitchers hitting? With what appears to be a significant NL advantage, at least the records say differently. But that may also point to the AL as having more overall talent. The second biggest problem is the "natural" rivals. Outside of a handful of examples; Mets-Yanks, Cubs-ChiSox, etc, there aren't many compelling match-ups. For example, Red Sox fans don't want to see the Braves anymore.

These match-ups also allow for an unbalanced schedule. It really becomes a big deal when a division or playoff spot is decided by a game or two. What if you play a team that grinds out each win and wears you down, and your rival plays a cream puff and allows the pen to get rest? While it's great to play a team you never get to see, it just feels broken. Stick to Division A vs Division B and be done with it. MLB has failed at creating new rivalries - they have to create themselves.

Change the system boys. It's time...

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