Enough is enough, time for interleague to go

I liked inter-league play when it began in 1997. Maybe that's because I was 12 years old and I thought it was cool. I am now 24 and it is far from cool. Unfortunately the powers that be still think it's the bee's knees. The reasons they cite in support this are trite, misguided and to an extent, flat out myths which are based on money and fan excitement. On the other hand, aside from the fact that the World Series match ups were much more exciting when the teams never saw each other, there are practical reasons of detraction which actually affect baseball pennant races.

The wrongdoings of interleague
Attendence: The main reason interleague is unfortunately here to stay. Major League Baseball will tell you that thanks to interleague play, attendance is way up. If there is money to be made, interleague games will be played. How true is this really though? The biggest series, the subway series, features two teams that will sell between three and four million tickets during the season regardless of if they play each other six times. The places where attendance really skyrockets where it is way down. No one draws bigger crowds than the Yankees and Red Sox, so those two teams visiting National League cities will bring in sellout crowds, thus being very good for those less prosperous National League teams. But doesn't this hurt a team like the Royals? If they only get one visit each from the Sox and Yanks, don't they lose out big time financially? I don't think that having the Brewers and Reds come in instead is going to replace the Yankee/Red Sox crowds.

Wild Card: Fact A- It is possible that the Red Sox and the Twins will be competing for the AL wild card spot. Fact B- After their current series in the Metrodome, they will not see each other again this season having played only six games. Fact C- It is May. Instead they get to play their respected NL "geographic rivals" and other nonsense games against teams that they in no way are competing with.
Hell, the Yankees play the Mets six times! Who benefits the most? Ticket scalpers and sports radio banter.

National League ball is different from American League ball- The rules are different because the teams are not meant to play each other. They are especially not meant to play 18 games against each other each season. Every time a pitcher hits in an NL park, they are at risk of injury. Exhibit A- Chien-Ming Wang. The ex-Yankee ace, current Yankee circus act, may have ended his career thanks to interleague play. Last year he hurt his foot running the bases in Houston. Since returning, his ERA is 25.00. It is yet to be seen if he will ever regain the form that won him 19 games in back to back years.

"Fans get to see stars they wouldn't normally see"- This is one of the biggest arguments made in favor of interleague. It is also one of the dumbest. The year is not 1960. In fact, it is 2009. Baseball fans can watch every single game on television and on the internet. There are 30 ballparks around the country too. If someone in Cleveland wants to see Albert Pujols play that badly, take a vacation and go Cincinnati when they play the Cards. Or hell, go to St. Louis, see Busch Stadium, check out the Budweiser brewery and have deep fried macaroni, or whatever it is they eat there. Make a weekend out of it!

Ok so I understand that as badly as I'd love to see interleague go, it ain't gonna happen anytime soon. I can meet in the middle somewhere. How about having it once every other year? This would keep the concept fresh at least. Also cut down the amount of games played, 18 is way too many. Cut it in half so teams could play each other in their own league more. Please, do anything, it's time for change.


Bud Selig only listens when money talks