By Troy Sparks
I’m not a big fan of interleague play.
Maybe fans like to watch it.
American League teams shouldn’t play National League teams during the season, except in All-Star Games and the World Series.
That idea was ridiculous from the start. I was fine with teams playing games within their own league.
The American League has its own identity as does the National League.
A designated hitter can bat for the pitcher in the AL.
You see double switches and pitchers batting for themselves in the NL.
In the NL, when a pinch hitter bats in the pitcher’s spot, that means another pitcher for that team will throw in the next inning.
For years, our hometown team, the Brewers, played in the AL until switching to the NL in the late 1990’s.
The beginning of interleague play in 1997 broke the tradition between the leagues.
All records accomplished during the interleague season are recorded.
Stats on interleague games are tallied separately by league. Any streaks can be put on hold or continued.
An AL team can win 20 in a row and break a record for consecutive wins with 21.
Does that record count if it’s broken only in the AL? Or, does it still count, regardless whether it’s against an interleague team or not?
For example, if an NL hitter gets his 500th career hit, it will register as a milestone but also against an interleague team.
Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks falls in that category. He can collect his 500th career hit against the Texas Rangers at home this weekend.
I think one league has a secret that it wants to show the other league only in the All-Star Games or the World Series.
An AL pitcher might strike out against an NL pitcher in an NL park at the World Series because he doesn’t get to bat all the time.
In an AL park, the NL can use a designated hitter, who gets off his rump about four times a game to bat for the pitcher, but he doesn’t play defense.
Since 1997, results from the All-Star Games have been one-sided.
Interleague play in the All-Star Games didn’t matter.
The AL has won the last 12, not including the 7-7 tie game in 2002.
Commissioner Bud Selig had to add an incentive, after that game eight years ago became an embarrassment to him.
That embarrassing tie happened at Miller Park, right in the commmish’s backyard.
Now, the winning AL or NL team gets home field advantage in the World Series.
These leagues intertwine in May and June every year.
I’m sorry. I just don’t like interleague baseball. Bring back the traditional baseball in our own leagues. Let’s do away with interleague play forever.
To Bad the commish won’t go for that.
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