Why Inter-League Play Is Great

I’ve read a lot of blog posts and heard pronouncements from broadcasters that the Subway Series has become a lame, contrived rivalry. I do agree that the Mets and Yankees series itself isn’t the heated rivalry that we looked forward to in 1997.

But every year I look forward to seeing some of the stars of Major League Baseball that I don’t normally get to see. It’s a 162 game season, so there’s plenty of games to deal with the National League East “traditional” rivalries.

For example, last season I couldn’t wait for the Twins to come to town to get a look at Johan Santana and Torii Hunter. Little did I know that Santana would soon become a Met, but the interest was there on my part. I wasn’t thrilled that Santana threw a four-hit shutout against the Mets but it was fun getting to see one of the best pitchers in the game.

The argument that I’m hearing against inter-league play is that there’ll be no juice when the Mets play the Rangers, Mariners, and Angels next month. The teams have no natural rivalry being in different leagues and disparate locations. That’s the argument that I disagree with. I’m looking forward to seeing Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, and Ervin Santana. Why wouldn’t I? I’m a baseball fan! I hope that the Mets go up against King Felix, Bedard, and Santana. I want to see the best players in the game.

In my opinion, watching these games is no different than seeing the Mets play the Brewers or Padres. There’s no rivalry there either, even though the Mets are in the same league.

I consider myself somewhat of a baseball purist. I hate the designated hitter. It ruins the strategy of the game. But I have to admit that Major League Baseball got some changes right. The playoff wild card is an undisputed success. I’ve never heard one baseball fan that didn’t agree with that. Now it’s time to admit that they got inter-league play right too.

Scottie-B New Yawk

Yes, The Metropolitans have a chance to do something tonite that hasn't been done often enough - Win 2-straight. The last time these Mets put together the easiest winning streak possible - 2-games - they put 24-runs on the board, and displayed a wink of hope.

Two-weeks later, they have yet another chance to start a winning streak, with whom better to do it against than those Damn Yankees. A chance to win a mini-series in effort to continue their winning ways into a 4-game series with Atlanta. Huge.

Winning 2-games against the Yankees in this shortened subway series is acceptable - yet, winning 2-games versus the Bravos will not be. It's time for some true series victories.

The Mets Report