Interleague Play: All About the Money

My Fellow Phans,

I’m sure you have heard all the arguments for and against the whole Interleague Play thing. Outside of possible intriguing matchups, there is nothing good about the American League and National League playing each other. The schedule is unbalanced enough against a team’s own league without adding extra games against random teams in the process. If you want to have interleague; then have everybody play everyone. Get rid of the 18 games against teams in your own division and let everyone play everyone equally. This current system has to change; it is highly unfair and unbalanced. I would love to speak to the schedule makers and find out exactly how they choose a team’s opponents. Do they choose them and, if not, then who does? How about this for unbalanced: The Twins (AL) play the NL Brewers (NL) a total of 6 times this season. However, the Twins only play the Red Soxs (AL) only 5 times all season. How does that make sense?

Below I discuss two teams and how interleague play could affect them positively or negatively. My goal is to get you to see that Interleague Play is a sham and does nothing but create unbalance and unfairness during the regular baseball season.

Exhibit A: You don’t have to look any further to prove my point then right at my hometown Phillies. During this “interleague play”, Philadelphia plays Boston a total of 6 games, the Yankees at Yankee Stadium and the Twins. They have a 9 game stretch of playing these three top-tier American League teams (both the Red Soxs and Yankees on the road) in succession during June. I think anyone who knows baseball would agree that it is a tough stretch of games. They then face the Indians and Blue Jays which makes the Indians the only AL team they play with a record under .500. What is the current obsession to have the Phillies and Red Soxs play a home and home every season? Why not take a break some years and let them face a team such as the Kansas City Royals or Baltimore Orioles? 12 of the 18 Interleague games the Phillies play are against American League teams who made the postseason last year.  As for the other four teams in the NL East, The Braves, Mets, Marlins, and Nationals: they play a combined 12 games against AL playoff teams. Doesn’t seem fair does it? Ever wonder why the Phillies struggle so much in interleague play – could it have anything to do with the tough schedule they seem to play year in and year out?

Even Phillies manager Charlie Manuel recognizes this:  “"I think now it's (interleague play) been around for quite a while and I think when I look at the schedule, I think sometimes the schedule can be more difficult for different teams," Manuel said. "That's not only us, it's every team in baseball. If we're playing the contenders in the American League more than any other National League team does and they beat us, yeah, I have a problem with that," Manuel said. "I look at it like here we are playing these teams... and I bet the Atlanta Braves, the Florida Marlins and New York Mets, every team in baseball would feel the same way."

Exhibit B: Now let’s take a look at teams that the Phillies, if they win the East, would be competing with for home field advantage in the National League; The St. Louis Cardinals. Around the same time, the Cardinals are playing interleague games as well; except they face the Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Kansas City Royals. Unlike the Phillies, the Cardinals play only one team during this stretch with a record of .500. Is this fair? I know the Phillies are the defending National League champs, but how would one consider this fair? Another thing I noticed is that the Cardinals play 3 less interleague games then the Phillies. Explain to me how this is fair. Everyone knows the American League is better quality then the National League, and teams that get to play more NL opponents would clearly have an easier schedule. What if both teams were battling for a Wild Card spot; the team with the easier games would have a better chance of making the post season.

Some of you may say I am just ranting on here, but why would you lay such a claim? As a fan of the game, all I ask for is for the game to be fair. Despite my requests, it will most likely never be so. So let’s face it. The main reason interleague play occurs is money. The battle between leagues of different leagues is known to boost attendance around baseball making it very beneficial to the economical side of baseball. Regardless of the advantages or disadvantages that is recreates; the money if the number one priority. It is true that game of baseball has become a business recently and this just proves it even more. 
Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies!!