Sorts of Sports

All for Interleague

Interleague play starts up this weekend in Major League Baseball and one of the headline acts is when the Chicago Cubs visit the Boston Red Sox for the first time in 93 years. It was the 1918 World Series when these two teams last met at Fenway Park during Game 6. It's weekend's like this that remind me how great the game can be. Unfortunately, I am slowing becoming part of the minority when it comes to those who enjoy interleague play.

Recently, managers have spoke out against the imbalance in schedule for interleague play. Why should the Cardinals play the Royals while the rest of the NL Central plays the AL East? There are many of these type of 'imbalances' with interleague play that arise each year when teams play their 'natural geographical rival'. Like when the Red Sox and the Phillies play.

There's a lot that isn't fair about MLB scheduling. Such as, why do teams in the AL East have to play each other 18 times in a season? Why does the NL Central have six teams? Why does the AL West only have 4 teams? Why can't the NL West be taken seriously, even when the win a World Series? You know, there's a lot in life that isn't fair, but too bad.

Instead of managers complaining about playing a harder team than their opponent might, they should just focus on winning. How many times does a team go into Texas during the hot months of August in the midst of a 3 city road trip? It happens more often than you'd think, and yet, teams aren't complaining about that, even though it's MLB's decision to send that team to Texas.

The Nationals have the toughest strength of schedule thus far this year. Opponents have a .525 winning percentage while the Reds have the easiest strength of schedule while opponents are winning at a .475 clip. The Nationals are 20-23 while the Reds are 25-19. The team's W-L record is not indicitive of their SOS. Which division is harder, the NL East or NL Central? The NL Central is actually harder to win, yet the Reds have an easier SOS.

The Tampa Bay Rays have the 2nd easiest SOS at .485. So for those who thought that the Nationals SOS was highest because of the division they play in, just look at the Rays SOS and the division that they play in.

Ultimately, this whole 'boo-hoo, woe is me' argument that managers are throwing about is just rubbish. Show me one team that doesn't have a schedule advantage or disadvantage normally. It's a product of the system and that's no reason to hate on interleague play. The Red Sox are welcoming the Cubs to town for the first time in 93 years. MLB has something special going on here. Managers need to stop their complaining.