So I was thrilled in 1997 when interleague play was officially introduced, with 15 or so games on the schedule.  It hasn’t varied much since then, though some natural rivalries like Mets/Yankees or Cubs/White Sox or Giants/A’s play a home and home series and otherwise the teams rotate each year.  And I’m not sure why, but I look forward to interleague play each year like a kid looking forward to Christmas.  No joke.  I love seeing teams that don’t normally play each other, play each other.

But here’s the thing.  I think at this point, they should add more interleague games to the schedule.  Do we really have to play the teams in our division 18 times each?  That’s almost half the schedule, and there’s something about watching the Mets play in Miami three times a year to 5,000 people that makes me want to poke my eyes out.

I say, cut those in-division games to 12 each, and you’re saving 24 games to play other opponents, which means you can just about play every American League team at least once a year.  Would any of you really rather see all those divisional games instead of that?  You’d have the chance to see, either at Citi Field or on TV (or of course, a road trip), almost every player in the majors at one point or another.

Of course, we all know too well that the suits in baseball move at the speed of a turtle that stepped in molasses.  If they won’t add instant replay on ground balls, they surely won’t add more interleague games.  But many of us thought we’d never see interleague play, so there you have it.  Who knows?

Meanwhile, it sure is nice watching the Mets these days against any team.  First place is now within reach.  Let’s go Mets!

As a segueway into this weekend’s series, I’d like to take a look at the history of Interleague Play. The theory of Interleague play was first pondered as early as the 1930s. Bill Veeck, best known for his flamboyant publicity stunts, and the innovations he brought to the league during his ownership of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox, predicted in 1963 that Major League Baseball would someday have Interleague play. The concept did not become a reality until the 1990s, 1997 to be exact, as an effort to renew the public’s interest in MLB after the 1994 players’ strike.

Interleague Play still does not fall favorite in the eyes of some fans and players, however it does add dimension to the game of baseball, creating  match-ups and rivalries never seen before. Some even hold special significance geographically, such as the New York Subway Series.

The first Interleague game took place on June 12, 1997, as the Texas Rangers hosted the San Francisco Giants at The Ballpark in Arlington. There were four Interleague games on the schedule that night, but the other three were played on the West Coast, so the Rangers–Giants match-up started a few hours earlier than the others. Some interesting stats: Texas’ Darren Oliver threw the game’s first pitch and San Francisco outfielder Glenallen Hill was the first designated hitter used in a regular-season game by a National League team. San Francisco’s Stan Javier hit the first home run in Interleague Play, and the Giants won the game, 4-3.

In the early stages of Interleague Play, specifically 1998-2001, teams only played the other league’s teams in their same division. It wasn’t until 2002, that divisions co-mingled, allowing teams like the Mets and Yankees to face Oakland and San Francisco, respectively.

Since 2002, all Interleague games have been played prior to the All-Star Game, mostly in June. In the American League ballparks, managers have the option of using a Designated Hitter. In the National League parks, however, both pitchers must hit for themselves. Interleague Play gives managers the opportunity to prepare better for the World Series. Each league gets the practice they need for the Fall Classic all year long, when visiting the other league’s ballparks, in terms of double-switches and game strategy.

Through 2005, the National League had held an 1,104–1,095 advantage over the American League in Interleague victories; this reversed itself in 2006, with AL teams posting a 154-98 record.

As of 2008, the American League held an all-time lead over the National League, of 1,387–1,317. The team with the best all-time record in Interleague play is, you guessed it, the New York Yankees, with a record of 113-79.

Tonight the Mets will throw Big Pelf out there against the Yankees’ CC Sabathia. Though he left last Sunday’s start with tightness in his left bicep, the Yankees and Sabathia both agreed that he is fine to make the start tonight. Pelfrey had an outing similar to his previous one in every aspect but the end result, in a 10-6 loss to the Rays on Sunday. Hopefully he can go deep tonight and let K-Rod come in to close it out against Girardi’s Yankees.

More about my first Subway Series experience tomorrow … stay tuned!

I like inter-league play. Its a great chance for fans to see players that would not regularly see during the season. I even like the Subway Series. However,  I don’t like the fact that the geographical rivals play six games a season against one another. Its  made done by the Lords of Baseball motivated by greed, and ignoring fairness.

Here in NY the Mets and the Yankees will play six games. As much as I hate the Yankees, give them credit, they are one of the top teams in the American League, a perennial playoff contender. Last year the Mets missed the Wild Card by one game. The Brewers who won the Wild Card played a geographical rivalary match up with the Twins. No disrespect to the Twins, but they are not the Yankees.

Here’s another example, in the Central Division the Cubs and Whitesox play six games. Both teams are enjoying good times. Both teams are expected to be in tight divisional races. While the Cubs and Sox do battle, the Cardinals (another pernennially good team), play the Royals, a not such a  good team.

Out West, the Angels and Dodgers will hook up for six. The Angels are in second place right now chasing the Rangers. The Dodgers are the best team in the NL. Is it fair that while the Angels battle the Dodgers six times, while the Rangers are playing the hapless Astros six times?
Then of course there are the bad series. How many fans will show up to see the Orioles and Nats? I doubt the Giants or A’s are hiring extra ushers for an expected overflow crowd.

Here’s an idea, MLB should continue with the geographic rival series, but instead of six games, cut it down to three. Have the National League clubs host in even numbered years, and the Americn League in odd years.

The Subway Series.

Whether you are a Yankee fan or a Mets fan, you’re a proud New Yorker. But why is it that in this sport, unlike any of the other major sports, you just can’t root for the other New York team?

It’s not about the players. In fairness to the Yankees, they are only trying to achieve the same results that the Mets are – to win a Championship and be crowned leaders of the baseball world. If you really stop and think about it, are the Yankees really that bad? So A-Rod did steroids. Every team has dealt with that issue at one time or another, including the Mets. So Roger Clemens threw at Mike Piazza’s head. Not the first time we’ve seen that, won’t be the last.

It is the fans who turn the two organizations against each other, not the players. New Yorkers want nothing but the best, and that’s what we have. So then to beat the “best of the best” is the ultimate accomplishment. Bragging rights in this town are far more significant than in smaller towns. And to wipe the floor with your cross-town rivals is a huge accomplishment.

The swagger and conceit of one New York baseball team’s fans is enough on it’s own. Double that arrogance, and you’re looking at a major battle.

I do believe Yankee fans are meaner than Mets fans. For example, I received a comment on my Facebook page from a friend who is a Yankee fan. The comment stated, “Mets fans are gay.” Yankee fans like to not only attack the Mets, but their fans as well. Is that all you got? That’s something you rarely see from a Mets fan – an attack on Yankee fans. We’ll say what we have to about the Yanks themselves, but not their fans.

I once had a discussion with a co-worker, a Yankee fan, who said that Mets fans ‘settle’ for mediocrity, and that’s why Yankee fans come off as being more arrogant. Now wait just a minute. It’s perfectly normal and acceptable expect, even demand the best and to get frustrated when your team is struggling to put up wins. And in that respect, I think Mets fans and Yankee fans are alike. But that ‘holier than thou’ attitude that Yankee fans have is simply not justified by frustration and high expectations.

Now I’ll give you my opinion. It’s not that Mets fans accept mediocrity. It’s that Yankee fans are spoiled, sore-losers. We haven’t seen as many Championships in Flushing as they have in the Bronx, so we know how to handle losing better. And therefore, we’ve learned to appreciate winning better as well.

I wonder if the powers-that-be at Major League Basball intentionally matched up the two New York teams with each other’s number one rival, on a Holiday weekend no less?  In this rare occasion, Mets fans will just have to swallow their pride and consider themselves “Bronx Bomber Believers”, and trust that the Yankess can help them out by sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies.

On the flip side, those Yankee fans who insist on throwing their 27 Championship rings in Mets fans’ faces, will be begging the Mets for a floor-mopping of the Boston Red Sox. Now granted, it is not Boston that sits atop the American League East. But regardless, the Yankees-Boston rivalry has just as much meaning as the Mets-Phillies one, and has been around longer.  A Mets sweep of the Red Sox would certainly benefit the Yankees.

While the Yankees may have the home field advantage, they can’t stay hot forever. They are coming off 9 astraight wins, and let’s just hope they don’t pick now to start losing.

The Mets will have Johan Santana (5-2, 1.36 ERA), Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 4.61 ERA), and Redding (0-0, 3.00 ERA) against Daisuke Masuzaka (0-1, 12.70 ERA), Josh Beckett (4-2, 5.85 ERA), and Tim Wakefield (5-2, 3.59 ERA), respectively.

As for the Yanks, they will throw A.J. Burnett (2-1, 5.02 ERA) against Brett Myers (3-2, 4.50 ERA), Andy Pettitte (4-1, 4.18 ERA) against J.A. Happ  (2-0, 2.49 ERA), and CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.43 ERA) against Cole Hammels (2-2, 4.95).

The Mets did not hit a single  home run on the west coast trip; over 300 cumulative team at-bats without a home run. They did steal 15 bases, but 13 of them came in the first 3 games against the Giants; the three games they won.  With runners in scoring position, the Mets hit .404 in those first 3 games, while hitting a lousy .088 in the Dodgers series. Hopefully a more consistent line-up will allow guys like Murphy and Sheffield to hit like they should and allow guys like Beltran and Wright to continue to hit like they have been.  Hopefully Reyes will not be out for too long and this Mets team can again find the groove they were in when they first arrived on the west coast.