Interleague play was introduced in 1997, so the fans can finally see the dream matchups like the Yankees playing the Mets, White Sox vs. Cubs, Athletics vs. Giants, and Reds vs. Indians. Yes, it’s exciting to see these teams play against each other, but at the same time, it’s not exciting.
Why I say this is because, at one time, the All-Star Game meant something. You were seeing the best players play against each other without facing each other in the regular season except for spring training, the All-Star Game, and the World Series. The World Series itself was must-see television. You were seeing the best of the best, and dream matchups were created in the World Series, like in 1996 when the New York Yankees played the Atlanta Braves or the 1989 World Series when the Oakland Athletics played the San Francisco Giants.
These matchups before interleague play were awesome and, again, must-see television. Now 20 years later, the games are still exciting to watch, but some meaningful games have gone stale, like the All-Star Game and the World Series, because fans are seeing these teams play each other every year. By eliminating interleague play, the All-Star Game and World Series will once again be must-see television.
Another reason why Interleague play should be eliminated is the 162-game season schedule. Both the AL and NL play each other in 20 games. If you eliminated Interleague play, the schedule would go from 162 to 142. By going to a 142-game season schedule, the season would still start in April but would conclude in the last week of August or the first week of September.
There are too many games for these players, and a lot of them get hurt during the season. Some are out for the season with Tommy John surgery or a torn ACL. Yes, injuries are part of the game, but if MLB scrapped Interleague play, teams would have more days off in the regular season, and thus there could be fewer injuries for players.
In order for Interleague play to end, MLB must expand by 2 teams, one for each league. The last time Major League Baseball expanded was in 1998 when the Tampa Bay Rays (known as the Devil Rays in 1998) and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Milwaukee Brewers switched leagues that year, going from the American League to the National League.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has said that he would like to expand as soon as both Tampa Bay and Oakland stadium situations are resolved. Manfred mentioned Montreal, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Portland, Mexico City, and Charlotte as possible expansion teams. The cities MLB should target are Charlotte and Nashville to make 32 teams.
Some teams will have to switch leagues and divisions in order for this to work. The results of the new look would have 4 divisions in each league, with the divisional winners getting into the playoffs and thus would eliminate the wild card game. The only way the wild card game would happen is if two teams are tied for the division after the regular season ends, and then the one-game playoff would happen.
Here is what the divisions could look like if MLB did place teams in Charlotte and Oklahoma City. Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays would switch leagues, and both the AL and NL would have new divisions in North and South.
American League
East Division
Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Baltimore Orioles
North Division
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
South Division
Kansas City Royals
Houston Astros
Texas Rangers
Nashville (Expansion Team)
West Division
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Colorado Rockies (Switch from NL to AL)
National League
East Division
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets
Washington Nationals
Pittsburgh Pirates
North Division
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
St. Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers
South Division
Charlotte (Expansion Team)
Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Tampa Bay Rays (Switch from AL to NL)
West Division
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers
If Major League Baseball did go in this direction with 32 teams along with creating new divisions, not only would it be a win for the league but also for the fans as well.
What cities would you like to see get a Major League Baseball team? Leave a comment below
