Interleague Play: A Rant
I don’t like interleague play.
I used to like the idea of it, back when there was no such thing. When I was a kid, the idea of seeing players like Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Fernando Valenzuela was very, very intriguing. These NL stars were foreign and mysterious, and everything I knew about them was printed on the back of a 2 inch by 3 inch piece of cardboard I kept stashed in the closet. Nowadays, in the age of HDTV, ESPN, FOX, MLB TV, and that little thing called “the internet”, it’s rather easy to see the stars of the National League. It’s no big deal to catch Albert Pujols on TV…because Albert Pujols is always on TV.
My interest in the NL has morphed into frustration. Why would they continue let their pitchers hit? Can’t they see how unnatural it is? Can’t they see how fans love home runs, and hate injured pitchers?
Baseball has evolved, folks. Pitchers focus on pitching. Asking a 6′5″ hurler to dig into the batters box is akin to hiring an accountant to fix your plumbing. It’s illogical, and…dare I say it: un-American. That’s right, you heard me. The National League is un-American. Letting pitchers hit? That’s socialism. Why not let everyone hit? I think fans should get to hit…let me hit. And give me free health care, while we’re at it. Everything should be equal! Let designated hitters pitch. I bet Big Papi can throw a mean slider, now that his eyesight has been fixed. Just take the MLB rule book and light it on fire, and let everybody do whatever the fuck they want. How does that sound?
It’s socialism, baby. Someone get Sean Hannity on this, pronto.
Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka are a combined 1 for 20 at the plate during their MLB careers. Even Josh Beckett, an NL transplant who is considered a decent hitter (by pitcher standards) is .147/.185/.218 during his career. Their #1 goal while hitting during this weekend’s series is to not get hurt.
Eventually, someone with power in the MLB office will realize that the current paradigm doesn’t make sense, and will set the rule-changing process in motion. Hopefully, it happens before the next Red Sox pitcher strains his oblique mid-swing.
The House That Dewey Built » Interleague Play: A Rant great article thank you.