^ then shorten the regular season and while we're at it, eliminate interleague play and go back to a balanced schedule
Shortening the regular season won;t happen because of money. They need to move the season up two weeks or so. Interleague won't go away unless you eliminate two teams, or you add one team to the AL or NL.
In my opinion, I think the best thing to do is to drop the final two weeks of spring training. SP is already to long, the players have said it themselves that they are ready to go with two or so still to go in SPT.
They could also add 2 teams. But interleague play will stay because of money. There is a ton of fan interest, and to be honest I don't see a single bouyant argument against it. What is wrong with interleague play exactly?
Only thing I can think of is it influences the finals records of each team. For example, if a NL team plays the Royals, Twins, and White Sox and the team they ultimately pass in the race had to play the Yankees, Rays, and Orioles.
It's an argument. But they try to keep all the teams in the same division playing the same interleague games - For example: next year the Dodgers play the Rays, Yankees, BJs, Orioles, red Sox and Angels... the Giants play the Rays, Yankees, BJs, Orioles, red Sox and A's. Out of 162 games a year, the Dodgers and Giants will play 6 games vs different opponents. That's less than 4% of games, and I find it very hard to argue against interleague play on that basis.
that only holds true with divisional standings the wild cards change everything not fair for one team to play the dregs of the al and another plays the best
The DH/no DH is my biggest bitch with interleague play. Second is the unbalance of the "rival" series. We get the Angels and some lucky teams get the Mariners or A's. Yeah the A's were good this 2nd half, but that's after sucking for 10 years and sucking again for the next 10 years.
Wildcard is just that, a wildcard. And it's a bitch way to make the postseason anyway. Inter league play gives us crosstown rivalries and unique match ups year after year. The unbalanced schedule means we play the gnats and dbacks more instead of stupid match ups with the Pirates and Braves. Getting rid of these things for a "fair" wildcard race seems a bit much to me. I understand the argument, but think it's kinda bush. Win your division and the rest doesn't matter. The NFL has the same issue but with a much shorter schedule.
The A's coming back in the standings to win their division turned out to be huge, and the Rangers are now a tiny sidenote for 2012. This is what the 2nd WC (and scary 1-game playoff) is supposed to mean - Win Your Division. I don't want to ever say Selig is a genius... but Division races are back. This new setup is nothing but good all around.
No, thats not an argument. Thats actually a terrible argument. Theres a reason the season is played and not decided on rosters. Look at this season. Would you had prefered to play the Orioles or Boston? A's or Angel? Nats or Phillies? You cant call a schedule fair based on teams history. You have a schedule, and if you are good, then beat your opponent.
Come on, he(we) are talking about playing the same teams. Not trying to guess who's better than who. Orioles or Boston-NO it should be everyone in the same division plays the same teams. Therefore L.A. and S.F. need to play Boston AND Orioles each...not L.A. vs Orioles and S.F. vs. Boston.
I get it, but then they'll say "they played this team and we played that other team cuz we are in different divisions and it affected the wild card race"
