Interleague Play
by Grant on May 16, 2008 1:27 PM PDT
103 comments
Every year, it's probably worth a roll call to remind us all who is fer interleague play, and who is aginn it. If a majority starts to form, we can smoke out the dissenters as if we were a bunch of drunken Wisconsin senators. They won't be able to get a proper blog account for the rest of their life. Choose wisely.
The correct answer, of course, is that interleague play is good. For the most part, at least. I do get tired of playing the A's fifty times every season. The regional rivalry bit is definitely overplayed. But I like seeing teams that I don't usually get to see. I like seeing the Indians and the Rangers and the Orioles and the Royals. I really do. Every team has a player or two that's worth watching, and I don't have the time to watch MLB.tv all day because you cheap bastards won't pony up enough scratch to let me quit my day job. Sure, I'd probably play Call of Duty 4 all day instead of devoting time to the site, but that's beside the point.
This year's interleague match-ups prove that the format is worth the annoying aspects that come with it. The Giants open today against the White Sox. The catcher on this particular team is a chinless sub-human who deserves to be booed. He deserves worse, actually, but the booing part is our divinely ordained right. Giants fans deserve the right to boo A.J. Pierzynski so vigorously that he contemplates flying to Minneapolis, forcefully putting Joe Nathan in a gunnysack, and returning him to us. Pierzynski is personally responsible for the Giants not winning the world series in 2004. That isn't a conjecture based on hypotheticals, that's just science. Look in your heart; you know it's true.
And you interleague-loathers want to deprive me of my right -- my god-given right! -- to boo the crap out of A.J. Pierzynski? For shame. I thought this was America. I just hope you'll let me bring a cribbage board to the gulag
Interleague play: I'm fer it, and exactly for reasons like this. There are teams I want to watch the Giants play, and there are teams I want to see in person. That list of teams extends beyond the Phillies and Astros. The argument that it takes the mystique out of the World Series is weak, and it doesn't hold a candle to the possibility of interesting match-ups that would have previously been impossible to watch.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to Google the name of A.J. Pierzynski's sister.
Comment starter: Interleague play. Are you fer it, or aginn' it?
1 recs |
103 comments
Email
Print
Comments
It was neat at first, but now it's overdone.
Pretty soon we will end up like the NBA or NFL and the leagues won’t mean anything.
blah. Maybe once every few years would be neat, keep the mystique alive.
But having teams play across leagues in any other game than the WS is, IMO, way to integrated for my old fashioned tastes.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on May 16, 2008 1:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It might be time to start pulling out those AJ/Barrett motivational posters.
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on May 16, 2008 1:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Aginn' it.
At least in the current format. Playing what are seemingly random teams each year screws up the year for everyone. How would you have felt if you had to play the NL East a couple of years ago and your opponent had to play the NL West? The NL West was clearly the worst division in baseball and to play teams from that division gave you a huge statistical advantage vs playing the Mets/Braves/etc. What I’d like to see is a bit involved but it would make things better in my mind. Realign the divisions. 2 leagues, 3 divisions each, 5 teams each. Then, play a series against every team in the other league plus your schedule against your own league. Every other year, switch home/away for that specific series.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 1:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That means
that you’d have 15 interleague series per season per team, instead of the current 4 or 5. You’d want that?
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on May 16, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
That at least would be even for all teams. You would get to see every team in the MLB, see the stars that are only around for a few years. If you get the bad luck you may not see a star in his peak 3 years. You’ll see his rookie season or his decline.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with above.
Also, that means each league would have an odd number of teams. This means someone is playing interleague all the time, or you have to jigger the schedule to have one team off every day in each league. That’s a scheduling nightmare.
Honestly, I say do the city rivalries every year, and “normal” interleague every two or three. Keeps it fresh, while keeping the inter-city rivalries that are pretty popular.
by Faux on May 16, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't get the...
OH EM GE ODD NUMBER OF TEAMS! You just need to yes jigger the schedule. I’m sure in today’s age of computers they can figure out some schedule that will work. That or take teams out and have 4 team divisions or add teams and have 6 team divisions. I just think the divisions need to be even and not range from 4 – 6 teams.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Response.
1 – Yes, computers are wonderful. I’m sure a schedule could be figured out. How good that schedule would be, with that kind of constraint, is debatable. They already have to fit 162 games into ~180 days, with rest and travel included, and some extra time on the end for travel days and such. Then, after that, you have to get all the MLB owners, the FO, and the players union to agree to it. It’s a much tougher job than most people realize.
2 – Given #1, this is not feasible. You either have to expand the MLB by 6 teams to get 6/div/league, or subtract 6 teams to get 4/div/league.
The only doable alternative is to move 2 teams from the AL to the NL, and then you would have 4/div in the AL, and 6/div in the NL. I would vote the Mariners and Detroit/Twins, just because they are not in the same media market as a current NL team, and would drop right into the current west/central. Move an AL team west (let’s go Vegas Rays!), and you have a new central team in the AL. You get 4/4/4 and 6/6/6.
Of course, the most likely alternative would be to add two teams to the AL (I’m thinking Las Vegas and New Orleans), and have both teams set up for a 5/5/6. I think this would be the best option, but I don’t understand the benefit of making every division equal in teams.
by Faux on May 16, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or take away two teams
There are plenty of schedule anomalies as it is, with 15-day August stretches with no games off, 15 game roadtrips, etc.
I still say: eliminate two teams. Florida and Tampa were my vote, although they’ve now built up their systems quite well.
Adding two teams would make for more home run record chases, which in the post steroid era might be a good thing. No love for Portland?
by natteringnabob on May 17, 2008 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn’t really matter to me. Since I live in the Bay Area, I can theoretically see any team in the league play live in any given season. Just go to the Coliseum to see the AL teams and I’m set. The novelty of “wow we get the Royals this year!” is lost on me because so f’ing what, I’ve already seen the A’s play them twice. etc.
I would neither vote to ban it nor vote to keep it. I’m staunchly meh on the subject. I did vote “yes” on Grant’s poll (pole?) because I don’t actively oppose it. I guess if I voted “no” it would seem like I hate the idea. Which I do not.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 1:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't know...
Watching an A’s broadcast is like getting your teeth pulled. I’m just not a very big fan of their announcing/game calling/etc.
by sfgfan on May 16, 2008 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We lucked out on the better Kuiper brother.
Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I miss Bill King. :(
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I spent a summer with my Grandma, and her Mother once
If I ever want to re-live THAT experience I just turn on Ray Fossi.
GAWD, that is PAINFUL.
And A’s fans wonder why no one pays attention to them.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist."
-Crash Davis
"Cain, Lincecum, and Sanchez coverted me to Anti-Crashist Fascism in 08."
-Toofruss
by toofruss on May 16, 2008 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
All but 6 teams or so have another team in the opposite league within driving distance for the motivated (cf. the “regional rivalry”). If someone is so hot and bothered to see the White Sox, is it that hard to get on BART? Interleague games always seem like exhibitions to me.
by natteringnabob on May 17, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m OK with Interleague, I hate the way the All-Star game is handled.
by xanthan on May 16, 2008 1:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For what it’s worth, I thought “this time it counts” was the stupidest this EVAH.
BUT… the only ASG I have ever paid ANY attention to was the 2003 one where frickin’ GAGNE blew it. I was sure we would make it to the WS and lose again because of lack of home field.
Well, that got Jose Cruzed. Oh, and I haven’t cared about an ASG since, after all – it’s not like it will effect the Giants home field advantage…
BOY, I just looked up the 2003 play offs. WTF was I thinking.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN
by zenbitz on May 16, 2008 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agin’ for schedule balance, and general stat schmeering reasons (how can you have an MVP of the AL if 1/5th of the games are against the NL?).
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN
by zenbitz on May 16, 2008 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I poo on your schedule balance! Not every team plays at the same level every game, anyway, so even a balanced schedule is only mock fair.
But whatever, I’m a fan of sports mimicking life, and life’s not fair and I get annoyed when people expect it to be. MAN UP and play your schedule instead of complaining about it! That’s my motto!
Sorry, that sounded WAY more attacking than I mean. Try to consider my comment in as passive a way as possible. I wasn’t trying to get on you, zenbits.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
MAN UP, Howie!
Quit apologizing! Be tough! Rattle that saber!
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Howie, after those potshots from Grant, I think you should be a little more pissed off like E (or E-Ticket). I poo on your passivity, but I agree with your take what you get schedule idea. I’m almost for picking ping pong balls out of a bin to determine schedule. MLB Vegas style!!
by WilliamVanLandingham on May 16, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But my saber doesn't rattle
It ROCKS!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's what she said...
"Candlestick made me a man." - Will Clark
by MeSoKrabby on May 16, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also
I’d like to say that apologizing is manly. Whining is not.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
...I just bet you’d like to say that.
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Balderdash, I Say, To These American League Toughs!
I do not like this “inter-league play”, sir, now that you ask. It will be a cool day in Hades indeed when I acknowledge Ban Johnson and his “rag-tag” assemblage of outfits, misfits, and nitwits in cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Baltimore as equals to the mighty National League. What say thee, men?
people hate you, but why do they hate you? because the are jealous!
by satyricrash on May 16, 2008 1:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I say...
...that women shall have the vote before the American League can equal the Nationals!
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Outrage!
The word around the saloon is that this modern incarnation of these Orioles of Baltimore does not even employ the highly effective “Baltimore Chop” as their National League namesake did under the on-field leadership of Mr. McGraw. Shame be brought to Baltimore! Harumph! Harumph!
people hate you, but why do they hate you? because the are jealous!
by satyricrash on May 16, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The new frontier
Next stop: pants.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've already got pantsuits...
Why can’t we keep pants?
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Share
Nobody’s saying you can’t wear skirts. The right ones are really comfortable.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You mean..
Kilts?
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I must be getting old
I can remember looking up skirts and almost never seeing a penis.
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on May 16, 2008 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Frankly, I can’t remember the last time I looked up a skirt and didn’t see a penis.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, but that’s just how your memory operates.
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on May 16, 2008 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate AL baseball in general
Never could ‘stomach’ the Designated Fat Guy.
by Lars The Wanderer on May 16, 2008 1:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Prince Fielder?
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 16, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan Howard?
Carlos Lee?
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on May 17, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather see them play the White Sox once every 5 years
Than see them play the Pirates for the umpteenth time every year.
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on May 16, 2008 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I oppose the DH as well. It puts “REAL” baseball teams(NL types) at a disadvantage. NL rosters are not built to have a DH and often carry extra pitchers. Now, the relative value of David Ortiz vs. Keichi Yabu is obvious. But, even when dealing with teams using less spectacular players at DH(Jose Vidro), the matchups still favor the AL. What’s the difference between Zito batting or CC Sabathia? Johan Santana or Erik Bedard? Besides, if everybody(AL types) loves the DH so much, how come there aren’t any in the HOF? Exactly.
The best argument for the DH is that it’s gimmicky cool. Like if AFC teams had to have two QBs on the field on offense or in the NBA, Eastern teams had to a use one player on another player’s shoulders to play center. It’s kind of neat, but also, pretty dumb.
"Candlestick made me a man." - Will Clark
by MeSoKrabby on May 16, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea.
And then you get the arguments that the AL teams are put in a disadvantage because where do they play their DH when they can’t use him as a DH? First base? But….we don’t have a glove for him!
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quibbles.
There aren’t any DHs in the HOF because it hasn’t been around for long enough for HOF players to fill that role. You’re just now seeing the Thomas and Ortiz types falling into that role. All-hit former 1B are now DHing from the start instead. That’s adaptation to a changing environment.
It’s not just a gimmick unless you want to view it that way. I think it adds a difference to the game that has to be adjusted to, just like raising and lowering the mound, and even later on the power surge (and its’ recent retraction). I like that the two leagues have different rules, because it makes them unique. In the NFL, can you tell me what team belongs to what conference? And more importantly, why it matters? Both leagues have the same rules. I think it takes away from the uniqueness that baseball has when the postseason or interleague rolls around.
by Faux on May 16, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The DH has been around for more than 30 years and it’s JUST NOW starting to develop HOFers at the position? As someone else might say, I poo on that notion. The best players can hit and field. Just like the best pitchers are starters and the not as good ones are relivers. How many starters are in the HOF vs. relivers? You can’t compare the mound thing because that was a league wide change, even though most parks vary on the exact heights as it is.
I thnk it’s gimmicky. You like the gimmicky nature of it. That’s fine.
"Candlestick made me a man." - Will Clark
by MeSoKrabby on May 16, 2008 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You could call anything a gimmick, if you wanted to.
Changing mound height? Gimmick. Regulating ball hardness (ala Coors)? Gimmick. Requiring managers to wear team uniforms? Gimmick. Short porches in RF? Gimmick.
Do you realize that some of those affect how the game is played, and some don’t? Maybe there’s a difference there. But if you want to spew “gimmick” at everything you don’t like, without realizing some of your “gimmicks” matter more than others, and add different elements to and change strategies in the game, then that’s a problem with perception on your part.
It doesn’t look like you are interested in learning, so I shouldn’t even bring up that some relievers are better than starters. See Papelbon/Rivera/KRod vs I dunno, maybe Zito would be the best example on the starter side? Maybe some people are better at focusing more intently in short bursts, that doesn’t make them worse pitchers. Sprinters win gold medals just like marathoners.
And what do you know, it took a while after relief pitchers started to be used for them to get into the HOF. About 30-40 years for modern relievers, amazingly (Sutter was the first, BTW).
If you ask me, a “gimmick” is something like the manager uniform, or splash homers. It doesn’t affect the game, it just gives something for the fans to do in their spare time. If it affects the game, maybe it’s a little more than a gimmick.
by Faux on May 16, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe soon?
There might be a DH in the HOF soon, and his name is Edgar Martinez of the Seattle Mariners. Not first-ballot, but lots of his offensive numbers are extremely impressive. Depends on whether the voters are willing to accept the fact he didn’t field for most of his career.
Eagerly awaiting Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night on 7/18.
by Kitspool on May 16, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But that’s the thing. As good as Martinez’s numbers are, any non-DH who has similar numbers deserves to be in more because they actually played in the field. Now, The Big Hurt and Papi will probably and most likely get into the HOF, but 30 years is a long time to have a position with no players in the HOF.
"Candlestick made me a man." - Will Clark
by MeSoKrabby on May 16, 2008 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Edgar Martinez
played 563 games at 3b. If you are going to penalise him for DHing, then you need to give him credit for playing 3b. Most guys who put up the numbers he put up are either corner OFs or 1b.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on May 17, 2008 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh and for the record
Dusty is responsible for us not winning the World Series in ‘02.
AJ is responsible for us not winning the World Series in ‘04.
Any suggestions as to ‘06 (to stick with the multiples of 2)? I think it’s time for Sabean to be acknowleged.
Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!
by UnleashTheGore on May 16, 2008 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Fer It
Especially, if it increases the chances I will be treated to a top notch broadcasting crew on MLB tv like the Sox have. If any of you have not heard The Hawk and DJ, you are really missing out on something quite amazing.
As long as the mix gets mixed a little, and we get to see all the teams, I guess it keeps an new feel to it. I know a lot of Giants fans went to Boston last year. It will be interesting to see how many Sox fans are here this weekend.
by out machine on May 16, 2008 2:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope you are kidding.
Hawk is the Plan Nine from Outer Space of broadcasting.
you can't block the Bocock
by oldjacket on May 16, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aginn!
1. Competitive imbalance.
2. I don’t get to go to many games in a season (being down in Santa Cruz and having small kids and all). Interleague play always seems to fall on the weekends I might actually be able to go. I therefore resent it being forced on me.
3. Who in their right mind wants to play a team that once wore these unis?
Or even worse…
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm so busted.
But I did link to the page with the shorts uni, click on the warning image…
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Candlestick made me a man." - Will Clark
by MeSoKrabby on May 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also poo on your competitive balance!
At this rate, there won’t be a competitive balance on the site left unsoiled.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re paying for the dry cleaning bill.
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fur it
When the Motor City Kitties come to town in June I get a Father/Son situation as my Pops is coming to watch the series with me. He is a dyed in the wool Tigers fan since way back and is excited to get to come to ATT with me.
I like to off-balance schedule as well. Now that Barry is gone, I HATE the DH.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist."
-Crash Davis
"Cain, Lincecum, and Sanchez coverted me to Anti-Crashist Fascism in 08."
-Toofruss
by toofruss on May 16, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Off-balance schedule for the wins!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Generally fer it
I only wish we could get a couple different AL teams every year instead of the two series against the A’s. There are already enough Oakland/SF preseason games as it is.
by rocketdog on May 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yea at least don't have so much of this.
Play 2 games at each stadium. If the two teams playing eachother don’t play near eachother…THEY SHOULDN’T BE GEOGRAPHIC RIVALS IN THE FIRST PLACE!
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
by WalrusMan on May 16, 2008 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently I'm in the minority
Balanced schedule. I don’t think it’s good that teams in the same division play different schedules.
I did enjoy seeing unusual matchups at first, but the thrill is gone… except for the Pierzinsky thing. But that’s more of a silver lining to me now.
by Johnny Disaster on May 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I also poo on your balanced schedule!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Downside of Interleague?
Trips to Oakland.
That boy Giggsy
He's won it ten times
by ChrisHero on May 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You might want to hold off on those trips to the Colisseum
Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate interleague play
I don’t consider myself a purist by any means, but just because something is new and novel doesn’t make it superior or even good. I’d rather see the Cubs a few more times – or the Mets or the Phillies or the Reds or the Cardinals or the Pirates like the good ol’ days. Who cares about the f’ing Royals or White Socks.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on May 16, 2008 3:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I actually think it’s cool to see the Giants play the Royals. The chances of that EVER happening in my lifetime without IL play were like -2000%.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case my negative sign is on the top line for anybody else, too… I said negative 2000%.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see them play the Toledo Mud Hens.
Now there’s real interleague play for you!
All-Father Watch: 1.21 ERA, 4 saves, 0.99 WHIP, 22 Ks in 22 1/3 IP
by EliminateMe on May 16, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fer it!
I LIKE watching the Giants play AL teams, and with the exception of the A’s, we see each one like… once every ten years. STILL PRETTY DAMN INFREQUENT.
Plus, I like the unbalanced schedule… a lot… because I don’t personally understand the need to make every team have exactly the same difficulty over a 162 game season. It’s like “But Jimmy got 10 Jelly beans and I only got 9! Waaah!” Get over it! Eat your stupid Jelly Beans!
It’s like nothing turns sports fans into a bunch of idealistic 5 year olds like an unbalanced schedule does….
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Although
Having beaten Twilight Princess earlier today, I now know that light and dark can NOT mix. Therefore, I suppose, interleague is bad in Hyrule.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It cannot be mixed
But, a gateway exists in the form of the Twilight Mirror, or simply, Bud Sleig. For some reason it cannot be destroyed.
Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rather, it can only be actually destroyed by the true ruler of the twilight realm, which is is why Zant was only able to break it into four convenient pieces.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So I guess what we need to do is find the other three pieces of Selig, and then get our hands on the true ruler of the twilight realm. I believe the three missing pieces are scattered in the mountains, the woods, and the sky, but I need to go to Telma’s bar first just to make sure.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The other three shards are scattered in the Snowpeak Ruins, the Temple of Time, and the Oocca’s City in the Sky. But you knew that already.
The true ruler of the Twili is, like Link, with us the whole time. We all have the power to destroy Selig.
Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!
by SoFa King Mike on May 16, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aginn it
simply because it adds to schedule imbalance. If all teams in a given division played the exact same interleague opponents I might not care.
by fwoty oz on May 16, 2008 3:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I also poo on your schedule imbalance!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 16, 2008 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is why I’m aginn it too. Let the teams in each division play the same other interleague opponents without this artificial “cross-town rivalry” crap. Especially when you see what some of those artificial cross-town rivalries are.
So until they get rid of that glaring stupidity, I can’t love it.
Well, except for when the Giants play the Tigers. My daddy raised me to root for the Tigers.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
by can of corn on May 16, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
“Pierzynski is personally responsible for the Giants not winning the world series in 2004.”
Guys like us, we’re not some brainiacs on the nerd patrol. We’re not members of the factinista. We go straight from the gut. Right, sir?
That’s where the truth lies, right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? You can look it up. Now, I know some of you are going to say, “I did look it up, and that’s not true.” That’s ‘cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut. I did. My gut tells me that’s how our nervous system works.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
by shikantaza on May 16, 2008 3:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Now and Forever: AGIN' IT (I've sprayed this with Scotch-Gard because of HowTheyScored)
First, it is an abomination against logic: teams in the same division are pursuing the same title against each other, and so it necessarily follows that they should have to travel the same road to do so. Period. It is no answer to point out that teams are different on different days and at different parts of the season and that rosters vary all season, and so on. That’s a true observation, but it’s impossible for each team to play all 162 games on the same day so that everyone faces the same roster on the same day under the same conditions. To have the Diamondbacks face the Royals in the same year a challenging NL West team faces the Red Sox is illogical and is not rescued with, “well, teams are different on different days, so it doesn’t matter.”
I hope that the logical notion that everyone should have to travel the same road if they’re expected to fight for the same flag is sufficiently different from the ‘schedule imbalance’ to avoid HowTheyScored’s poo.
As a secondary matter, it is uninteresting to me to see AL teams. And not only because I happen to live in one of the handful of metro areas that have both AL and NL teams. Rather, in an age in which practically every game is televised and available either online or through cable, and if not televised then available on radio broadcast over the web at prices affordable to most, then the pseudo-interest in actually SEEING these exotic interplanetary aliens who call themselves “Rays” (gee, I wonder what that word means on their home planet!) is overblown.
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on May 16, 2008 3:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was all ready to poo, but...
There is a significant difference here, actually. The “same path” is not the same as the “same difficulty.” When you say that one team shouldn’t play the Royals while another team shouldn’t play the Red Sox, what you are saying is not only that it puts the team playing the Red Sox at a disadvantage, but that (and this is where you distinguish yourself) it ALSO necessarily puts the team playing the Royals at a disadvantage. Reason being that complaints about an unbalanced schedule qualify disadvantage through difficulty. That line of thought dictates that the team playing the Red Sox is at a disadvantage to the team playing the Royals because the Royals are a less difficult team. Your line of thinking qualifies the disadvantage through inequity, regardless of the direction of the inequality. This is a line of thought that dictates that both teams are at a disadvantage to each other not because of the difficulty of the road, but because of the difference of the road.
I still don’t necessarily agree, but I find that significantly more palateable than anything else I’ve heard.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 17, 2008 2:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you from the bowels of my heart
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on May 19, 2008 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Have a Plan...
Aginn it, because I am aginnst everything Bud Selig stands for.
Seriously though, I like the concept, but it is way overdone. I’d rather see more home games against teams like the Braves, Mets,or Cubs; you know, teams actually in our league? Even the geographic rivalries are overdone now.
How about doing a random lottery each year to determine interleague matchups. 1 team plays 1 team. 6 games; 3 home, 3 away. And the only flaw in my plan is because of the lame NL/AL division alignments. 16 NL teams, 14 AL. The 2 NL “losing” teams get extra games against each other. Wrap your mind around that plan!
With all that said, I’ll be at the game tonight. And I was looking forward to seeing this year’s “World Champion” Tigers at home, until they started Tampa Bay-esque.
Keiichi Yabu: Best 39-year old Japanese pitcher on your San Francisco Giants.
by BaysideBaller on May 16, 2008 4:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
2:1 in favor of ILL play
democracy sucks.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN
by zenbitz on May 16, 2008 4:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is San Francisco
the ballots will all end up in the bay anyway, thus explaining why “everyone” voted for this abomination.
by natteringnabob on May 17, 2008 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a MYTH, dammit!!one!!bbq
The insignificant TOPS of boxes that are used during election day are what blew into the Bay; NEVER ballots. And those boxes weren’t even ballot boxes. The contents of those boxes had long since been emptied, a few were hosed off, and a couple of box TOPS were left on the pier to dry. Predictably, they blew into the Bay.
This persistent myth is aggravating. It’s also ten years old. We’ve had six years of clean elections, and the SF Dep’t of Elections is now an example for the rest of the state. (Literally. Many counties come steal SF’s election ideas and methods.)
Want a screwed up elections department? I won’t mention anyone specifically, but it rhymes with “palameda bounty.”
DFA all Giants over 34 years old.
by Mayor of 311 on May 19, 2008 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aginn it, and for reasons already posted
DH.
Tradition / World Series not as meaningful.
Unbalanced schedules
by positiveuphemism on May 16, 2008 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
POO!!!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 17, 2008 2:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
howie must be going through a year's worth of laxatives
This much poo is unhealthy, man.
If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?
by groug on May 16, 2008 4:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The trick is rationing.
You can’t poo a lot each time is the thing. That’s why they call me the pinch-master.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 17, 2008 2:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I lived in an NL city, I’d probably be against it…mainly because I already get to boo Pierdickski a healthy amount. But since I live in KC, I only get to see the Giants when I want have time to drive across state to The Lou. With it, I went to all three games in ‘03 and have duckets to all three next month.
"In the game of chess, you can never let your adversary see your pieces."
by sfgiantsflgators on May 16, 2008 5:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
fer it
I love watching career AL pitchers (attempt to) bat, plus we get to see some different teams instead of the Padres for the 2901831098th time. Also, the competitive balance thing is way overblown. Playing two or three different teams than the rest of your division isn’t going to decide the world series.
by UnstoppableTurtle on May 16, 2008 7:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
fer it
Yankees and Tigers at AT&T? Hello
"Hello. My name is Russ Ortiz. You robbed me of my World Series victory. Prepare to die."
by willsetrakian on May 17, 2008 10:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hi
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 18, 2008 2:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interleague is stupid
So is the wild card
2 leagues, 4 divisions, 4 clubs each
(318)+(48)(47)
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
by S.F. Giangst on May 19, 2008 4:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
stupid markup
3×18 + 4×12 + 4×8 + 4×7
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
by S.F. Giangst on May 19, 2008 4:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
