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Inter-league play, good or bad?
By Jerry Feitelberg May 20, 2011 |
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Tonight marks the start of the 14th year of inter-league play. The issue is still controversial. There are those that maintain playing teams in the other league screws up the schedule and is unfair. For example,this year the Chicago Cubs will be playing the American League East. The Yankees, Red Sox,Rays and Blue Jays will be difficult to beat. Hence, the Cubs could drop in the standings as a result. American League clubs do not like to play in National League parks since they cannot use the Designated Hitter. The other factor is that the novelty has worn off. When inter-league play started in 1997, owner loved it as people came to the park to see players from the other league. They liked the added revenue. Marquee team like the Red Sox, Yankees, Giants or Dodgers would bring people in. However, Boston sells out and there is no advantage for them or an Atlanta-Detroit series probably does not sell as there is no natural rivalry like the Cubs-White Sox or Giants-A's or Mets Yankees. It is time now to re-think the advantages and disadvantages of inter-league play. If eliminated, teams such as the A's would benefit by having New York and Boston come in twice a year. Right now, those teams come in twice every other year. The A's could use the extra money those teams bring in. The owners will have to a good look at their attendance figures and make a decision either to continue the play or stop it. I think it's time to end t. The San Francisco Giants will not bring in another fan as a result this year. The World Champions are probably sol out for the season. The Giants series in Oakland will help the A's but an A's-Pittsburgh series won't help. We'll see what the attendance figures are when the Florida Marlins come to Oakland. |
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