Given the choice, would you get rid of:
| Interleague play |  48 (19.43%) |
| The unbalanced schedule | 105 (42.51%) |
| Both | 44 (17.81%) |
| Neither | 50 (20.24%) |
As a displaced Canadian living in Chicago, it kills me that the Jays are only in town for three games each year. I couldn't even go see them this year and I won't get another chance - I hate the unbalanced schedule!
Add in the inherant disadvantage wildcard hopefuls in strong divisions have, and that unbalanced schedule has to go. Interleague play is also inherantly unfair. Each team should play each other team the same number of times.
It's just about impossible to have a balanced schedule AND have interleague play.
I'd rather get rid of the DH.
My assumption is that a vote for getting rid of the unbalanced schedule means a balanced sched with the exception of the interleague games.
I didn't think to include the DH question... is it a question? Find out for yourself in an upcoming poll right here at Batter's Box!
Add in the inherant disadvantage wildcard hopefuls in strong divisions have, and that unbalanced schedule has to go.
I don't mind the unfairness that much, but it's pretty blatant when there's three divisions and only one wild card spot. Frankly, the one thing I'd like to see (SACRILEGE ALERT) is expanded playoffs. If the playoffs were expanded, a balanced schedule might be nice - the unfairness is less when there are more slots available. (three or five wild cards or my favorite, the postseason tournament)
If IL play is to be kept and the schedule balanced, the tradeoff would be lots and lots of two-game series and a consequent reduction in the quality of play. If IL play were junked and the schedule balanced, it would work quite well in the AL but it would be harder in the NL. You could just settle for mostly-balancing it, I suppose.
I don't have strong feelings one way or the other for the unbalanced schedule, but I don't like interleague play. I read a lot of baseball history stuff and used to really enjoy the articles in Baseball Digest about the "good 'ol days;" consequently I have a bit of a soft spot for tradition and in my view, the only ways the Jays should ever play the Rockies is if both are in the WS.
The fact that I am in favour of the DH seems incredibly contradictory, but...oh well. I like the assymetry of one league having DH and one not.
Off Topic: Whenever I post, there is always an empty line before the actual comment. Anyone know how to correct that?
If given a choice between a balanced schedule, and inter-league play, I would much prefer to have a balanced schedule.
I strongly oppose the unbalanced schedule, but the silver lining is that more games are now in EST. These 10 pm starts are killing me.
And I do like interleague play only because it's a welcomed change to see different teams play the Jays at the RC and to see the Jays in parks you usually only see on Sunday Night Baseball. I like the connection to the NL. Baltimore and Tampa Bay get extremely dry after a while.
I've never been a fan of interleague and would love to see it done away with. It lost its appeal years ago to those outside a few select cities. Every year I plan on boycotting the interleauge games at rogers centre but I always end up going. This year its for the return of Carlos...
The unbalanced schedule is supposed to create rivalries. I think the unbalanced schedule destroyed good rivalries the Jays had with Detroit. Even seeing good Cleveland games seems like a dream now. Constantly inundated by games against four others in the division make me just hate seeing them play the Jays, just because it happens all the time. It is too much!
As for inter-league, I used to always have a favorite American and National League team to cheer for. After inter-league, I just stopped picking a favourite National team. Some of my baseball interest dwindled, but it is a novelty to try to attract new spectators, not please fans.
However, in a perfect world (to me) we'd see more of an unbalanced schedule. To me the division title is #1 and wild cards are wrong. Either go whole hog and do an NHL/NBA system (everyone 500 or better gets in) or just stick to the division winners.
The ideal schedule? We are close to it right now I think. Just need to lock in stone certain aspects. I'd also add two new teams (Montreal & a Mexico team) so we could have 4 divisons per league with 4 teams per.
Home and away vs your division rivals to start (3 teams, 6 games each = 18 games)
Home and away vs another division (4 teams, 6 games each = 24 games)
Home and away vs your division rivals as summer gets going (18 games)
Home and away vs yet another division (4 teams, 6 games each = 24 games)
Home and away vs your division rivals as summer gets hot (18 games)
Home and away vs yet another division (4 teams, 6 games each = 24 games)
Home and away vs your division rivals to end the season (18 games)
This would be a 144 game schedule, so I'm 18 short. Perhaps mix in another home and away vs all division rivals during each of the other division periods (ie: Play NY in first set, Boston in second, Baltimore in third, send Tampa to a south division). This way you play your own division 90 times, and get games against 3 other divisions. Perhaps the two AL divisions early and late with interleague in the middle around the All-Star game.
If you must have wild cards then make it so 4 teams go in as well so we are at the 16 team playoffs of the NBA/NHL level and if you don't make it then balanced or not isn't your problem, winning as many as you lose is your problem.
I go back and forth on interleague play, but right now I think it's a good idea. It sort of ruins what I said above since you can win the division based on wins you acquired in the wrong league, but it's fun to see the NL times once in awhile. Especially the way MLB does it, where you only see one division each year, keeps it interesting. I would scrap the "natural rivalry" thing, frankly.
I even like the DH! Nothing is more boring than watching pitchers bat.
Baseball would be hurt by this because the beauty of the sport is in its long, 162-game trek. From Spring Hopes Eternal to Fall Dreams Dashed, baseball is the true sports metaphor for life itself. Baseball and life are both tests of endurance and patience sprinkled with moments of grandeur. The Jays, in all likelihood, will have to finish first in their division to make the playoffs. That makes the summer-long journey all the more rewarding. They will have to earn it, and they will have to earn it by beating the best two teams of the last half-decade. There is great honour in that. I wouldn't want to see that diminished by having more wild-card teams.
The unbalanced schedule allows teams to catch up to [or put distance between] the people in their division. I think this is what gives us the great races we've seen in recent years.
I really enjoy interleague play. I would like to see the media stop calling them the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" and just call them the Anaheim Angels. [pet peeve from a misplaced Dodger fan]
If I were the commish, I would try to get rid of the DH rule too. I know the players association would fight it, but I like the thought of accountability for the pitchers. Also, the games go quicker.
My two cents worth.
I really dislike the unbalanced schedule. I grew up with 8 team leagues and a balanced schedule and it gets rather tiresome to see the same 4 teams over and over while rarely seeing some really good rivalries of the past.... Detroit and KC come to mind. As for interleague play it's interesting to see the NL teams play the AL so I'm ok with it. I also would not mind more teams making the playoffs. It might help to keep more fans interested later into the season, especially small market teams that struggle to compete with the big spenders.