Home Run Derby

The Interleague Inequity Series is winding down …

And since Nick just previewed the Angels, let’s head out West.  As in the American League West.

There are two likely contenders in the AL West (Angels and Mariners) and two likely also-rans (A’s and Rangers) … even before a singl;e pitch has been thrown.  Seattle and California will be locked in a tight battle all season … so a easy Interleague schedule for one of them could easily tip the scales in one team’s favor.

The MLB Schedule makers didn’t absolutely screw one contender over another one like they did in the NL Central.   But the Angels have a right to complain …

2008 AL West Interleague

A quick glance shows you that the AL West is playing the NL East.  All four teams in the Division have Interleague Rivals, so each team misses at least one team from the NL East.

And among the Contenders … the Angels drew the short straw.  They get back-to-back series against the Phillies and the NY Mets, missing only the lowly Florida Marlins.  They also get six games against the crosstown Dodgers, who will likely be better than their 2007 record. 

Meanwhile, the Mariners also miss a NL East team.  But they don’t miss an also-ran like the Marlins or Nationals.  No, the M’s miss the defending NL East Champion Phillies.  The Mariners do get the honor of facing the pitching-rich San Diego Padres for six games.  Someone needs to explain to mean why this is considered a rivalry?  San Diego?  Seattle? 

Meanwhile, rebuilding Texas and Oakland get sextets against two lousy teams.  And get to get whomped by the Mets and Phillies and Braves.

We’ve analyzed the Senior Circuit’s 2008 trip through the American League … let’s move on to the Junior Circuit’s 2008 Interleague opponents. 

Teams from the American League always have a bit of a dilemma for their road Interleague games, because there’s no DH in NL Parks.  On top of that, AL pitchers have to hit for themselves, which they don’t do in their other 144 games. 

Is it a disadvantage?  The AL leads the NL 1,250 to 1,202 in Interleague games over the past ten seasons … so not really.  Then again, maybe that Win-Loss Record would be even more in favor of the AL if DH’s could rake against NL Pitchers.

But it still doesn’t sit well with some AL Managers …

We hate it when our pitchers have to start hitting. We have to do a lot of extra work and take a lot of risks for not that many at-bats.
Ron Gardenhire, Manager, Minnesota Twins (2005)

Gardy’s gonna dislike it even more this season, without the NL-killing Johan Santana in his rotation anymore.

But when you’re 100-75 in ten years of Interleague Play, you don’t seem to mind …

If we played National League teams, the Central Division, we might win 150 games in that league.
Ozzie Guillen, White Sox Manager (2006)

Let’s take a look at the AL Central and see if there’s anyone with an early schedule advantage … on paper.  Matched up against the pitching-rich NL West … someone will surely have an advantage if they avoid two of the tops teams.

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Home Run Derby continues the analysis of 2008 Interleague Schedules, compared by Division. 

So far we’ve seen that the Cubs have a clear advantage in the NL Central and the East is sorted out according to competiveness.

In 2008, the NL West is matched up against the AL Central.  Or is it?

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Last season, Chipper Jones griped about the inequities of Interleague Play …

What’s not fun is when they’re all contenders and your competition doesn’t have to play the same competition you do. If you play the top teams in the AL and everybody else doesn’t, it’s pretty unfair.
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves OF (2007)

Chipper might not be so chipper about interleague play again this season.  Because the NL East has another tough road against the AL in 2008 …

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