Apparently Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel does not like interleague play. It's not that it's against the tradition of the game, but that he thinks his team and others get tougher schedules then the rest of the league.
The full articles is here: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20100522_Manuel_not_crazy_about_interleague_play.html#axzz0ordEOZKF
While Manuel's frustrations are somewhat justified, it's hard to feel bad for the two-time defending National League champions. Especially when the outcome of the schedule (the Phillies play the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox this year) results in more entertaining baseball for the fans.
No one really wants to see the Phillies play the Kansas City Royals, or the Yankees play the Pittsburgh Pirates. They would most likely be blowouts and display the difference between big and small market teams. Fans want to see the best of the leagues play each other and get some kind of preview to the World Series.
Manuel should embrace the opportunity to see how his team measures up against higher levels of competition. Would he make any comment if the Phillies got to the play the Royals, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox this season? Probably not.
In a more general note, I enjoy interleague play. It gives fans of the different leagues and opportunity to see teams they normally wouldn't, which is a good thing. The baseball purists out there hate it, but I don't understand why. No major sports league in America made it so teams from the different conferences/leagues played each other during the regular season. It has also been a great success for attendance and ratings, meaning the fans actual like it.
Interleague play is one of the best things baseball has done in recent memory. Now if only they can get rid of that stupid DH thing.
John Fogerty - Centerfield
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