Interleague Play Becomes an Old Story

Interleague play is here to stay. The question: In what format?

One of the initial concepts was to allow fans in every city to see every team on a rotating basis: National League West against American League West one year, then West vs. Central, then West vs. East.

It hasn’t happened, and might not. The response to the geographic or natural rivalries--Dodgers vs. Angels, Yankees vs. Mets, for example--has been so strong that baseball is not inclined to break it up.

And West Coast clubs, particularly those in the American League, are strongly opposed to adding more travel.

“My level of enthusiasm [for interleague play] is as high as it was two years ago [when the format was introduced],” Commissioner Bud Selig said. “I hear all kinds of grumbling about the schedule, but that has nothing to do with interleague. We have structural problems that can only be corrected with more realignment, even if only minimal.”

All West Coast clubs, with the exception of the San Francisco Giants, continue to favor realignment in the form of an eight-team division of the Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, but that would create a major revision unlikely to be approved by clubs in other regions. Baseball tried that three years ago, with self-interests prevailing.

In the meantime, Selig said, work is in progress on an interleague schedule that would retain the best of the natural rivalries while including games pitting West vs. Central, West vs. East and Central vs. East. Attendance for interleague games last year averaged 8.2% more than for intraleague games, but will that hold up under the current format?

“Interleague play is starting to get boring now,” Pittsburgh outfielder Al Martin said. “I thought it was a great idea when it started in 1997. The fans would get the chance to see some new teams, and there was a lot of excitement. Now it’s the same teams every year, and the novelty is already wearing off.”

Added Texas Ranger Manager Johnny Oates, whose team follows the Angels into Dodger Stadium: “If it was up to me, I’d say drop it entirely.” Oates and others, including Angel Manager Terry Collins, believe the way to stimulate rivalries and increase attendance is by playing more games within the division.

Said Dodger first baseman Eric Karros: “People might think [we have] a greater rivalry against the Angels, but it’s just not like that. There’s much more of a rivalry against the Giants, the Padres, the Diamondbacks, the Rockies--the teams in our own division. The environment surrounding the game is what’s different. Proximity doesn’t create a rivalry. History does.”

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One of the major problems with interleague play stems from the two sets of rules under which baseball operates. American League clubs are built with a designated hitter in mind, but the DH goes in National League parks. The Angels lost a hitter this weekend--whether Mo Vaughn’s ailing ankle permitted him to play in the field or not. Edgar Martinez has been used only as a pinch-hitter during Seattle’s weekend series in San Diego.

Texas’ Rafael Palmeiro, who had two knee operations in spring training, had not appeared at first base this year until Saturday night at Arizona. Entering the game, he led the Rangers in homers with 15, was second in runs batted in with 43 and had provided protection for Juan Gonzalez by batting fifth.

“I’m going to play in some games,” Palmeiro said before Saturday. “Write it down.”

Against the Diamondbacks, Palmeiro hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six.