Home > Furman Bisher > Archives > 2008 > June > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNo rhyme or reason to playing AL teams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Seattle Mariners came to town last week for the first time ever, and that goes all the way back to Old Hoss Radbourne and Cap Anson. And they may never be back again. Earlier, the Oakland Athletics had dropped in and stayed three days, out of the blue, which is to say that they plopped down right in the middle of some heavy business. The Braves were all tied up in some pressing business, with the Phillies on one side and the Mets on the other.
Maybe you were among those who went to Turner Field to thrill to the presence of Willie Bloomquist, Ichiro Suzuki, Yuniesky Betancourt and a box score of Mariners names all strangers to you. Swell stuff, though you and the Braves are considerably more concerned with those aliens in the more familiar cloth of your own territorial rivals. Bring them on, Howard and Utley, Wright and Delgado, all those wretches of evil intent in our own division, the day-by-day enemy.
Of course, it’s educational to see these occasional American Leaguers, but mainly, it’s an intrusion. The games count in the regular standings, but they’re nothing more than an injection of a spring exhibition schedule. First thing you’ll say, though, is, “Did you see the size of the attendance that came to see the Mariners play?” Twice over 40,000!
Sure did, and I was more than a little surprised. Our fans must have been hungry to get a glimpse of Ichiro, the Japanese import who sprays base hits around like an Asian version of Johnny Appleseed. He’s a threat to tie a record sacred to the major leagues, all the way back to Wee Willie Keeler, who managed more than 200 hits eight seasons in a row. And they called him a “rookie” when he came into Seattle. He was about as much a rookie as Andruw Jones is a rookie. Ichiro had played nine seasons in the Japan Pacific League, which is as major to that nation as the American and National are to us. It is demeaning to infer otherwise. Nevertheless, we lofty protectors of the faith anointed him “Rookie of the Year” after his first season with the Mariners.
But I drift. I’m about these American League injections into National League schedules. They come with no rhyme nor reason. I have no idea how it’s done. Apparently, somebody draws straws or throws darts, and thus you get your American League schedule fix. It’s not fair, and makes no pretense of being fair. This year, besides the A’s and Mariners at home, the Braves drew the Angels and Rangers on the road. Sometimes I wonder if the teams don’t find it difficult to take these games seriously, but more showcase stuff.
First, you have no idea what the draw may bring you. The Mariners should have been easy pickings. They had just fired their general manager, then their manager, all in the same week, and their record was the worst in the major leagues. Yet, 40,000 fans came out to see that matchup the first two nights. After a two-time dose of a lineup mostly of strangers and seeing Ichiro’s softball batting style, they’d had enough.
That’s about it, folks. As you so often do, some critics will blame this outburst on the age of the purveyor. I’ll have you know, I’m late getting to the fray. Guys the age of my sons have already beaten me to it. Somehow, none of it appears to be getting to Bud Selig, who you might recall is commissioner of this befuddled game.
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By mikeLum
June 25, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
I agree, interleague play is a gimmick that serves no purpose. All it does is interrupt the flow of the season and distort the schedule.
By ManOfTeal
June 25, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Wow welcome to the 21st century guys. I guess you old people are going to have the hardest time living in these times, but times they are changing and I think the change is good for baseball and good for the fans, who ultimately decide whether it is a good idea or not and based on attendance during interleague play, the fans love it.
Quit being so grumpy and enjoy the fact that you get to see players and teams that you normally would never get to see.
By ManOfTeal
June 25, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Also, another point that I would like to make and maybe this doesn’t really hit home so much for Atlanta Braves fans but you talk about rivalries. Well guess what, those old school rivalries between the Braves, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, and Phillies are still there. The beauty of interleague play is that you get to start completely NEW rivalries with teams.
Just look to the Marlins vs. Ray rivalry, or the Mets vs. Yankees, or the Cubs vs. White Sox rivalries. You wouldn’t have those rivalries if you didn’t have interleague play…again this is a great thing for baseball and its fans and you better embrace it because it is not going anywhere. The fans have spoken.
By John K
June 25, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Once again the sage of Atlanta sports has hit it on the head as he has soooo many times in the past. While we’re at it..let’s get rid of the Wild Card as a participant in the World Series tournament. The wild card participant in each league hasn’t won anything and should NOT be eligible for a championship. There’s a way to eliminate the wild card in each league and still have the two rounds for revenue leading up to the World Series. The team with the best record in each league draws a “bye”. The other two division winners play each other to see who plays the best record team. The winner of that series plays in the World Series. Then a TRUE champion would be decided!!
By John K
June 25, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Once again the sage of Atlanta sports has hit it on the head as he has soooo many times in the past. While we’re at it..let’s get rid of the Wild Card as a participant in the World Series tournament. The wild card participant in each league hasn’t won anything and should NOT be eligible for a championship. There’s a way to eliminate the wild card in each league and still have the two rounds for revenue leading up to the World Series. The team with the best record in each league draws a “bye”. The other two division winners play each other to see who plays the best record team. The winner of that series plays in the World Series. Then a TRUE champion would be decided!!
By GayGrayGeek
June 25, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
Wow. The next thing you know, Bisher is going to be Holding Forth on the evils of those newfangled “au-to-mo-biles”, “electric lights”, and “indoor plumbing”.
By Big Dog
June 25, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
If it weren’t for interleague play I wouldn’t have seen the Red Sox play in Atlanta last year. While I am a Braves fan I still wanted to see Schilling, Man-Ram and Papi, among others. Little did we know at that time that the Bosox would become World Champs again.
By willdave
June 25, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, I agree that any traditionalist, regardless of his or her age, will never become a fan of interleague play. However, as long as these games can spike the attendance, especially for teams like the troubled Mariners and the slumping Braves, interleague play is here to stay. Although interest in a Mariners-Braves series might have waned after the second game, that certainly isn’t the case in every series. Were there any unsold seats at Wrigley Field for White Sox-Cubs series over the weekend?
By Fan
June 25, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Wow, Bisher not only does this piece make you sound like a grumpy old man, but I am starting to see your racial bias. Guess you don’t like Asian men playing baseball do you? (Quoting “He’s a THREAT to tie a record,”?!?! What’s that all about Bisher?) What are your feelings about the folks from South America and the Caribbean who have broken records? I bet you even have a few negative opinions about American players of a different color then you’re own who have broken records. Maybe you and Don Imus should go and hang out and come up with some new racial slurs to throw around. I have just officially decided to never read your crap again.
By ChicagoPeach
June 25, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
To the Fan - simmer down with your accusations of Mr. Bisher’s being racist. You are blowing one comment way out of proportion. To the ManOfTeal - there was a rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox long before interleague play. :-) We just now get to experience the Crosstown Classic and all of the craziness, crowds, and commerce that come with it two weekends each June. I like interleague play for the reasons that Big Dog mentioned, how else would I have been able to see my Braves play at Sox Park on Chicago’s SouthSide? But two home and two away series a season seems a bit much.
I always respect what Furman has to say because the man KNOWS what he’s talking about. And whether you agree with him or not, you have to respect the experience he brings to the table. Preach on Brother Furman!
By baseball fan
June 25, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Play the games you’re scheduled to play and stop whining. How does it interrupt the flow? If you win you’re in - simple as that. Everything else is just excuse making!
By Tom Dial
June 25, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Furman, I don’t know what your problem is, but it’s time for you to retire. Why would NL teams NOT want to play AL teams? Holy mackeral, the NL needs to catch up, and the only way to do that is to compete against the better AL teams. Besides, having the Red Sox and Mariners and Yankees come in is truly exciting. Retire, Furman. Your day is done.
By Orlando
June 25, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
First of all, what would you rather see in place of Mariners-Braves? Another 3 game set with the Pirates? Another snoozefest with the Padres? Face it, interleague baseball and the wild card is here to stay. I’m so sick of “purists” downplaying these formats, as they add excitement to a 162 game season.
Leave it some of these “purists” and they would prefer to go back to the days where Blacks, Asians, and Latinos weren’t allowed in the major leagues!
By Hilllbilly Deluxe
June 25, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Bud Selig has done as much to hurt the game as Bowie Kuhn and that’s saying alot.
By Tomahawk Matt
June 25, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
If your going to complain about anything to do with MLB, COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ALL STAR GAME DECIDING HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE IN THE WORLD SERIES! THERE’S NO RHYME, NO REASON, AND NO SENSE AT ALL TO THAT!
By STRETCH
June 25, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Hey, im all for the interleague thing cause it is the 21st century, but lets stop with pitchers hitting already.
I mean, who wants to watch a pitcher hit?????
By PEPr
June 25, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Mr Bisher, American League Baseball reminds me of church league slow-pitch softball. Bring all the batters who can’t run, field or throw. we’ll find a place for them somewhere in the line-up. It amazes me that someone could possibly be considered for the Hall of Fame when all he did was bat four times and sit on his butt the rest of the game (DH). Baseball is a sport where every player should play his position and take his turn at bat. The American League has watered-down the greatest sport ever conceived in the mind of man.
By miltchocklit
June 25, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Get over it! Interleague play is here to stay. The attendance figures tell the tale. Find something else to whine about.
By BlogShrink
June 25, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Leave it to a ‘Furman Bisher column’ to elicit the mob’s symptoms of Georgia’s own peculiar strain of Sociological Psychosis… First GayGrayGeek chimes in with a few ageism barbs… Ha, ha, ha, GGG, poking fun at geezers is fun… Do you hate your parents or what? Then we have the geniuses Fan and Orlando who can divine that the writer is some kind of closet racist and slander him. Fan, I hope your promise not to return means I won’t have to read YOUR bigoted crap again. Orlando—separate your hyper-sensitive self-consciousness from your baseball self and relax…
By William
June 25, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
I normally enjoy your columns, Mr. Bisher, but in this particular instance you missed the dock and the boat. There’s inter-league play because the fans like it and attendance figures bear that out. After all, the fans pay for the outrageous salaries the players receive these days, so why shouldn’t they have some input on scheduling? Moreover, in an era where team-rooted players like Chipper Jones are practically extinct and craven mercenaries like Mark Teixeira abound, why shouldn’t the fans be just as transient with their viewing tastes and loyalties? Those of us who don’t agree with your condescending “purism” like to see teams and players we don’t ordinarily get to watch. By no means do I think you’re a racist, but whatever your issue with Ichiro Suzuki is, he’s a great player and it was a pleasure to see him perform. Apparently, if it was up to you, the Braves would become the Crackers and only ever play the Phillies, Mets, Marlins and Nats. Finally, whether you like the DH or not, it’s not going anywhere - period. Thankfully, MLB has a little more amenability and vision than today’s column demonstrated.
By j
June 25, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Did you ever stop to think that the attendance dropped on Sunday because of the hot sun and 95 degree heat? Every series the Braves host has lower attendance on Sunday than on Friday and Saturday.
By mb
June 26, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
wilddave - “Were there any unsold seats at Wrigley Field for White Sox-Cubs series over the weekend?” Are there ever any unsold seats for weekend series at Wrigley? No - so how can you attribute a sell-out to interleague play?
By chipdip
June 26, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
INTERLEAGUE PLAY IS A FRIGGIN’ JOKE,SO IS THE ALLSTAR GAME THAT DECIDES HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE…IT JUST WATERS DOWN THE SPORT….BUD SELIG IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FURMAN IS TOTALLY RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Swamp child
June 26, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Gees, Shut and enjoy the game. Sit back put your feet up, get some peanuts, a beer and teach the kids to score the game.
Yes Inter league, is wierd, the DH is stupid, nobody knows how to bunt or hit and run, and pitchers are over managed. The ASG should only count as a good time. This is still baseball(!!) not global politics.
Time spent watching the game is time spent outside your daily life. If you are wound that tight go root for the mutts or bhillies.
Go Braves, and Yes, BC drives me crazy, but I love him!
By hop
June 26, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
mr. bisher i respect you as one of the top writers around,but the fans love to see the other league teams and attendance is up sigificantly since interleague play started.
By Furman Bisher
June 27, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
There’s no rhyme or reason to all these bed sores I have! I’ve got a Jitterbug phone! My Granddaughter is sixty! I think my colostome bag is full!
By Interleager
June 27, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I LOVE seeing the Washington Nationals for three series a year.
By kirknga
June 27, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
You play the game to win. It should not matter who you play so much as you’ve won more games than your divisional rivals.
I don’t want the Braves to play their divisional foes some many times. I think 4 series(2home 2 away), 12 game, against each is plenty.
So more interleague play please. I fail to see why I can’t pay my money to see Ichiro. And wow, Furman, what’s with the hating on Ichiro? He gets his hits, he steals bases, he always hustles. What’s not to like?
Only in baseball would people complain about doing something that has developed into something to increase interest and revenue. Amazing.
In the day of the jet travel and the Internet, artificial boundaries like American League and National League are meaningless except for the DH rule.
The World Series and everything is no longer “special”. All is ruled by tv.
A Kansas City Houston World Series would not generate more interest if the two leagues weren’t permitted to play.
By Interleague
June 27, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
It’s actually a three home/away series..nine games each city..too much.
By mdodge
June 27, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Furman — Please do something about the copyediting for the AJC. The caption for the photo of Jeff on the AJC website states: “As frustrating as it has been for Jeff Francoeur lately, Terence Moore says the Braves’ right fielder could help himself a lot if he’d stop listening to others’ advice and figured things out on his own.” PLEASE “and figure things out on his own.”
By Warren
June 28, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
I agree with you Furman, playing the American League teams has no standing except in the World Series and it should be limited to that. Otherwise each National League team should play each American League team to make it fair to all.
By Who Cares
June 30, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
He should not have been rookie of the year? Would you allow his stats from the nine seasons in Japan to carry over in your league? I don’t hardly think so. If you will not allow his stats to come with him then he is a rookie. If you do not like someone or something….just say it and stick by it, at least then you are honest. This article should have said, I do not like change or Bud Selig because I am set in my ways. That’s it. Next time try using feasable examples….or at least try being honest.