Question for those old enough to remember no interleague play

jpeters1734 · 08-14-2014, 04:34 AM

I was 12 when interleague play was implemented in 1997. I don't really remember what it was like the AL and NL schedules were exclusive to each other. What are your feelings about it? has it made the game better or worse?

Orcin · 08-14-2014, 08:39 AM

There was a distinct difference between the style of play in the two leagues. It was interesting when players got traded to the other league. There was far more mystery about the opposing team in the World Series.

Now it just seems like one big league, which is ok - just different and maybe some character is lost.

CommishJoe · 08-14-2014, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin

There was a distinct difference between the style of play in the two leagues. It was interesting when players got traded to the other league. There was far more mystery about the opposing team in the World Series.

Now it just seems like one big league, which is ok - just different and maybe some character is lost.

I would tend to agree with this assessment. It was a novelty to see a NL and AL team play each other in the World Series. When the Yanks faced off against the Dodgers in 77 and 78, I had no idea how they would do since they never faced them.

I have to say that I liked it better with no interleague play, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that interleague play ruined the league. It's just different now.

The Game · 08-14-2014, 09:56 AM

My teams only chance to beat up on the Cubs exists only during the regular season. I like interleague and like seeing us play all the teams in the NL, my only issues with it are i would prefer to see the Sox/Cubs series go back to 6 games only on weekends and be a month or so apart not 4 straight games Sox Park then Wrigley Sat-Tues & to not play as many interleague games in April and September.

Before they had interleague the umpire's were completely different. The NL was low & away while the AL if I remember right was up & in. I like having the umps all be on the same page now.

RchW · 08-14-2014, 10:04 AM

I liked it for the novelty value. I now dislike it because it affects competition due to unequal matchups.

canadiancreed · 08-14-2014, 10:10 AM

The only drawing card that I found for interleague play was it was as close as we were ever going to get to getting the Blue Jays and Expos matched up. Now there's no cross league matchup that really gets your interest (maybe Philly but eh)

John Madden · 08-14-2014, 10:12 AM

Every team plays every other team 6 times a season; One 3-game home series, one 3-game home series away. That's a 174 game schedule that's balanced, for once!

David Watts · 08-14-2014, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Madden

Every team plays every other team 6 times a season; One 3-game home series, one 3-game home series away. That's a 174 game schedule that's balanced, for once!

I would quit watching baseball if that ever happened.

Bluenoser · 08-14-2014, 11:12 AM

I never liked it.

For me, there was always something magical about seeing two teams meet in the WS who hadn't played each other previously. It added a level of suspense for me.

Leo_The_Lip · 08-14-2014, 11:20 AM

My first baseball seasons were with the original 16 teams (although the Dodgers and Giants had made their unfortunate moves west), so I do remember this quite well.

I do miss the mystery of the World Series: two teams that had not faced each other, perhaps forever. It also made spring training games more interesting when they were against the other league. Teams took those games a bit more seriously back then.

The biggest problem I have with interleague play is East Coast teams losing games against each other and having to play uninteresting teams like the D-bags, Rockies and Mariners. That is the real crime.

Games that happen after I've turned in don't actually count, so I'd be more in favor of splitting off the west coast into its own irrelevant association and having Eastern teams play each other more often.

That would hold my interest more than interleague play does, or including the Angels in a league with Boston and New York.

MarkInCincy · 08-14-2014, 12:09 PM

I would prefer going back to no interleague and no DH

Orcin · 08-14-2014, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

I liked it for the novelty value. I now dislike it because it affects competition due to unequal matchups.

Yes. Having the DH in one league and not the other makes this even worse. (Not trying to turn this into a DH discussion.)

John Madden · 08-14-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Watts

I would quit watching baseball if that ever happened.

You'd hate having a balanced, fair schedule that actually held some "we've found the best teams" merit? Odd. Why?

jpeters1734 · 08-14-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Madden

You'd hate having a balanced, fair schedule that actually held some "we've found the best teams" merit? Odd. Why?

I think 174 would be way too many, lol. Id rather go with 4 games against each team for 116 games.

I am very intrigued by no inter league. I do think I would have like the mystery of the all-star game and world series.

I also hate the DH.

John Madden · 08-14-2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

I think 174 would be way too many, lol. Id rather go with 4 games against each team for 116 games.

I am very intrigued by no inter league. I do think I would have like the mystery of the all-star game and world series.

I also hate the DH.

174 is 12 more games than now. 116 games is 46 less than now. The bigger change is easier to stomach?

David Watts · 08-14-2014, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Madden

You'd hate having a balanced, fair schedule that actually held some "we've found the best teams" merit? Odd. Why?

It wouldn't do that. If we still had two leagues with divisions what would a balanced schedule prove? The only way I could stomach what you're suggesting is if MLB got rid of divisions altogether. No wild cards. No playoffs. Just a World Series.

jpeters1734 · 08-14-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Madden

174 is 12 more games than now. 116 games is 46 less than now. The bigger change is easier to stomach?

I actually think 162 games is bit too many. I'm just saying I'd rather have less games to make it balanced than more.

But if everything was balanced then what would be the point of divisions and sub-leagues? Why not just make one 30 team pool and the 8 best make playoffs?

Le Grande Orange · 08-14-2014, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

I liked it for the novelty value. I now dislike it because it affects competition due to unequal matchups.

This is much less of an issue now under the 15-team league setup than it was prior to that.

John Madden · 08-14-2014, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

I actually think 162 games is bit too many. I'm just saying I'd rather have less games to make it balanced than more.

But if everything was balanced then what would be the point of divisions and sub-leagues? Why not just make one 30 team pool and the 8 best make playoffs?

I'd actually prefer the one-league setup myself, but divisions would still help keep rivalries alive. It's a compromise.

jpeters1734 · 08-14-2014, 05:17 PM

Now do your same feelings apply in OOTP about inter league play? Is the World Series in an online league more compelling without inter league play?

08-14-2014, 04:34 AM	#1
jpeters1734 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Juust a bit outside... Posts: 5,619	Question for those old enough to remember no interleague play I was 12 when interleague play was implemented in 1997. I don't really remember what it was like the AL and NL schedules were exclusive to each other. What are your feelings about it? has it made the game better or worse? __________________ "Cannonball Coming!" Go Bucs!! Founder and League Caretaker of the Professional Baseball Circuit, www.probaseballcircuit.com An Un-Official Guide to Minor League Management in OOTP 21 Ratings Scale Conversion Cross-Reference Cheat Sheet

08-14-2014, 09:56 AM	#4
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,806	My teams only chance to beat up on the Cubs exists only during the regular season. I like interleague and like seeing us play all the teams in the NL, my only issues with it are i would prefer to see the Sox/Cubs series go back to 6 games only on weekends and be a month or so apart not 4 straight games Sox Park then Wrigley Sat-Tues & to not play as many interleague games in April and September. Before they had interleague the umpire's were completely different. The NL was low & away while the AL if I remember right was up & in. I like having the umps all be on the same page now. __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

08-14-2014, 10:04 AM	#5
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The big smoke Posts: 15,628	I liked it for the novelty value. I now dislike it because it affects competition due to unequal matchups. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

08-14-2014, 10:10 AM	#6
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660 Blog Entries: 1	The only drawing card that I found for interleague play was it was as close as we were ever going to get to getting the Blue Jays and Expos matched up. Now there's no cross league matchup that really gets your interest (maybe Philly but eh) __________________ PT21 PT22

08-14-2014, 11:20 AM	#10
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,703	My first baseball seasons were with the original 16 teams (although the Dodgers and Giants had made their unfortunate moves west), so I do remember this quite well. I do miss the mystery of the World Series: two teams that had not faced each other, perhaps forever. It also made spring training games more interesting when they were against the other league. Teams took those games a bit more seriously back then. The biggest problem I have with interleague play is East Coast teams losing games against each other and having to play uninteresting teams like the D-bags, Rockies and Mariners. That is the real crime. Games that happen after I've turned in don't actually count, so I'd be more in favor of splitting off the west coast into its own irrelevant association and having Eastern teams play each other more often. That would hold my interest more than interleague play does, or including the Angels in a league with Boston and New York. __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous

08-14-2014, 08:39 AM	#2
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,798	There was a distinct difference between the style of play in the two leagues. It was interesting when players got traded to the other league. There was far more mystery about the opposing team in the World Series. Now it just seems like one big league, which is ok - just different and maybe some character is lost.

08-14-2014, 10:12 AM	#7
John Madden Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 379 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Every team plays every other team 6 times a season; One 3-game home series, one 3-game home series away. That's a 174 game schedule that's balanced, for once!

08-14-2014, 11:12 AM	#9
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 13,682	I never liked it. For me, there was always something magical about seeing two teams meet in the WS who hadn't played each other previously. It added a level of suspense for me.

08-14-2014, 12:09 PM	#11
MarkInCincy All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cincinnait, OH (WestSider) Posts: 657	I would prefer going back to no interleague and no DH __________________ "A baseball fan has the digestive apparatus of a billy goat. He can, and does, devour any set of statistics with insatiable appetite and then nuzzles hungrily for more." - Sportswriter Arthur Daley "Who says there's an unemployment problem in this country? Just take the five percent unemployed and give them a baseball stat to follow." - Outfielder Andy Van Slyke

08-14-2014, 05:17 PM	#20
jpeters1734 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Juust a bit outside... Posts: 5,619	Now do your same feelings apply in OOTP about inter league play? Is the World Series in an online league more compelling without inter league play? __________________ "Cannonball Coming!" Go Bucs!! Founder and League Caretaker of the Professional Baseball Circuit, www.probaseballcircuit.com An Un-Official Guide to Minor League Management in OOTP 21 Ratings Scale Conversion Cross-Reference Cheat Sheet