Let me off the Subway
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- June
- 15
I’m sorry, but I take no joy in the Subway Series. It’s the two worst series of the year as far as I am concerned because they represent the interleague gimmick that I believe has tarnished the sport.
The thinking used to be how exciting it would be if the Mets and Yankees played in the World Series. Well, that happened, so now it is anti-climatic. Despite lip service you might hear and read the next few days, most players, coaches and managers are traditionalists and don’t like interleague play.
Interleague play damages the integrity of the regular season in that not everybody runs the same race. It’s like one runner racing 100 yards and the other 105. It’s not fair.
Things were fine for 100 years until Bud Selig fooled around with tradition of the regular season schedule and by extension the World Series like a man who keeps poking with the coals at a barbeque. He didn’t know when to leave well enough alone.
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on Friday, June 15th, 2007 at 10:04 am by John Delcos.
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John, the fans like it and attendance seems to go up during interleague. If it’s good for the fans, why isn’t it good for the game? Sure, there may be a few instances where matchups may be unfair to a certain team, but nothing is always fair. They all don’t “run the same race” as it is anyway because there is too much disparity in payrolls, even with luxury taxes and revenue sharing. So if the Mets have to play a tougher schedule than their division rivals, that sort of makes things a little more even.
gail.. the fans dont like it.
it overly extends the season
besides .. american league ball is peewee league.
Steve, how can you say the fans don’t like it when they go to the ballpark in greater numbers during interleague than at regular times of the year? Is this some weird voting-with-their-wallet reversal?
Attendance figures prove that fans like it.
I don’t mind the Yanks/Mets series, but I hate the fact we have to play a dozen other AL teams. A 3 game series with the Yanks every year wouldn’t be bad, but all the other games can go.
I couldn’t help but grab this from another site—-too funny. The bugs bunny thing had me rolling!
Mets Quiz:
1. Which of the following players has the greatest chance of getting a hit with runners in scoring position?
(A) Carlos Delgado, 2007 New York Mets
(B) Carlos Beltran, 2007 New York Mets
(C) Moonlight Graham, 1905 New York Giants
(D) Mert Hackett, 1883 Boston Beaneaters
2. At this rate, Tom Glavine’s 300th career win will occur:
(A) In mid-August
(B) In late September
(C) Early in the 2013 season
(D) Increments of time are incapable of measuring such an event
3. Moises Alou will return to the Mets’ lineup:
(A) In a few weeks
(B) Just in time for the playoffs
(C) One day before he goes on the DL again
(D) When Mercury aligns with Jupiter
4. The only reason the Braves haven’t passed the Mets in the standings yet is:
(A) They stink, too
(B) The Curse of Chris Woodward and Roger McDowell
(C) They’re waiting to rip our hearts out in October
(D) Doesn’t really matter, they’ll have passed us after this weekend
5. Who was the last Met to drive in a run with a sacrifice fly?
(A) David Wright
(B) Paul Lo Duca
(C) Willie Montanez
(D) Kelvin Chapman
6. How should Willie re-shuffle the lineup to wake up the team?
(A) Slide Lo Duca back to the #2 spot
(B) Drop Delgado to the #6 spot
(C) “First base, Bugs Bunny…second base, Bugs Bunny…third base Bugs Bunny, shortstop Bugs Bunny catching Bugs Bunny pitching Bugs Bunny…. whew!”
(D) Four words: El Duque leads off
7. Why was an as-yet unidentified Met heard laughing in the locker room following a recent loss?
(A) Reyes told him a great joke
(B) Overheard Delgado giving Gomez advice on “how to hit with runners in scoring position”
(C) Heilman told him, “I think I still have a chance to be a starter this year”
(D) Saw Schoenweiss in the shower
8. Which of the following events has the LEAST chance of taking place?
(A) Mets plate a runner from 3rd with less than two out
(B) Schoenweiss works a tidy 1-2-3 inning against the heart of the order
(C) Julio Franco sends a 97-mph heater over the left-field fence
(D) Space aliens land on the Home Run apple at Shea, drop their pants, and dance the hokey-pokey to “Sweet Caroline”
The correct answers are below.
Answer key: 1.D, 2.C, 3.C, 4.B, 5.C, 6.B, 7.D 8.C.
Here’s how you rank:
7-8 correct: Congratulations, you’re a “David Wright.”
5-6 correct: Not bad, but could be better. You’re a “John Maine.”
3-4 correct: Sub-par. You’re a “Scott Schoenweiss.”
1-2 correct: Pathetic. You’re a “Chan Ho.”
0 correct: Helloooooo, Mr. Delgado!
I agree to an extent. I don’t mind interleague play as long as the schedule isn’t made to be unfair as is the case for the Braves and the Mets. TV ratings reign supreme so I don’t see an end to it anytime soon. Plus I wish there weren;t so many interleague games. I also think the novelty of interleague has worn off and the subway series is not half as much fun as it used to be, especially when Clemens is involved (unless the Mets win of course :) )
aj – i love the scoring..
gail – people want to go to games. regardless.
IMHO interleage is played out. and it takes away from the series. Also extends the season and i like baseball. but its gotten way too much..
ok everyone.. since john doesnt want to go there i will..
All in favor of having delgado sit a few games raise your hands…
(raised)
I don’t like it – didn’t much like the Mayors’ Trophy Game either from whence this came. Selig has proved to be a really out of touch Commissioner – out of touch with everyone but his cronies. Think that most Americans know more about baseball than Selig.
But steve, why do fans want to go more when it’s interleague? It’s true, they shell out more money for interleague so it makes sense to keep it.
If you’re a businessman and you have 2 stores, and store A draws more customer than store B, why would you get rid of store A and keep store B?
I agree that Delgado should sit for awhile. But I wouldn’t do it just now. They face 3 righties this weekend, don’t they? So keep Delgado at least just for this series since they also have the DH. But if he continues to stink, then sit him for a couple of games.
They play stankee stadium>? God DH is such a pansy rule…
ok thats 2 hands raised…
who else??? John we will make you join this… and right about it.. the fans want this …
;-]
right=write. ugh time for coffee
Steve, I’m talking league-wide. It’s up throughout the entire major leagues. Per game attendance is higher with interleague games than with regular games.
If they did away with interleague they’d actually be losing money.
Interleague is not my favorite. I wish it would go. But if it is not to go the least they could do is dminish it. Pick a natural rival for each team. Play one series against that natural rival and move it each year from one home team to the other. Who really cares to see the Mets and Twins? Please!!!
Sit Delgado? Who on the bench would perform better? Don’t sit him. Drop him in the lineup again.
As far as Bugs Bunny? 1-2-3 Strikes, Yer OUT!!!
Um Franco played well. when they had the second stringers playing after the night day game ..
and if easley is feeling better. or maybe.. perish the thought .. Gotay? (not my favorite but better than Smellgado)
oh also you have easley.
the subway series isn’t too bad. i think it lights a fire under the team’s motivations and it gives us that early playoff atmosphere.
no doubt the subway world series really sparked something. i think it was sad that it only got up to game 5 of the series but regardless it was pretty crazy. i think it got one of the highest ratings of recent world series…or at least in new york.
cant wait to see clemens sweat
It’s spelled “Schoeneweis.” But don’t worry, he probably can’t spell your name either.
Delgado is on pace for 100 rbis. Nobody on the bench would be an improvement. Drop him to 7th in the lineup until he gets his act together, or sit him next time we face a tough lefty. There is no way you are going to convince me that sitting him for more than a game in place of Julio Franco or Damian Easley is a good idea, unless he is injured and actually needs the time to get himself well.
maybe thats why he sux right now. come on. his bat has sucked the entire season so far. AND his basemanship is mediocre. I rather have a glove. and besides Easley HAS BEEN HITTING.
and franco has more successful hits than Delgado at this point.
Every other sport plays uneven schedules. Why does baseball have to be different and why do sports writers have to attack everything for no reason? Football goes out of its way to produce uneven schedules and I think they do fine.
then go watch football.
Lets tackle one argument at a time:
1. You would rather have a glove.
a. When has Delgado’s defense been that bad? He made an error in Atlanta in April and he had a bad night against the Dodgers. Has he been that bad otherwise?
b. Do you think Easley, who doesn’t play 1B or Franco, who is 107 years old, would be an improvement on defense?
2. His bat has sucked the entire season so far.
a. Yes you are correct he hasn’t hit well. But he’s still on pace for 100 RBI, which isn’t too bad.
b. As an every day player do you honestly think Easley/Franco would be an improvement? Both of those guys are valuable off the bench, but when they play everyday they are clearly exposed.
Trust me, I am very disappointed in Delgado as well. But we just don’t have any realistic, viable options that would be an improvement. Once Beltran and Reyes start hitting again things will look a lot better.
The balanced schedule was what defined baseball, each team played the same teams the same number of times. That really told the tale of who had the best squad. That pure simplicity was what made baseball different. I understand some markets need it for revenue and that is why it is going to stay, but I do not have to like it. BTW, I HATE the DH too.
jr-
1.) a. when has a player not used to a base stopped the Mets from trying him out at the new base?
b. that 107 year old guy is in better shape then most of us.
c. this is my opinion from suffering through almost every game this season. every other player has made a huge contribution. i am waiting for delgado to start…but tired of waiting…
2. 100 RBIs? and ? how many of those RBIs have helped us lately? whats is avg? oh yeah. .226 if that…
Listen we can argue all day. all i am saying is rest him up or fix him either way .. i think sitting him and having him write in his journal. i effed up and have to wake up may get him back on track..
Your, entitled to your opinion, but this a clear example of Baseball elitism (I know better than all other fans). The fans like going to these games. They are hot tickets, they generate media coverage, but ohh they are bad for baseball. I just don’t buy that. Of course if as you believe baseball should exist only for the purist then sure we don’t need anything that might make the sport more exciting or interesting.
Selig was right when he realized that rivalries are what is at the heart of building baseball. If your home team isn’t in the championship game (with the exception of the NFL) no one watches other teams play. I don’t really mind ruining the sanctity of a game that most fans don’t bother to watch.
Moan about interleague, play and the unbalanced schedule too if you like, but at the end of the day fans want to see games like Yankees Sox, Mets Yankees, Cubs Sox. Sure now the Yankees and Mets both draw without interleague play, but its moronic to claim that interleague play wasn’t a component that drove up interest in baseball in NY. Particularly for the Mets. So as much as the Mets playing the Yankees 6 times a year is unfair, doing so also built their franchise and lets them sign a lot of top tear talent.
Of course when you are on a blog expect more of the hardcore fans who feel that only they matter, but I’d argue that everyone who watches these games is voting strongly for Interleague.
I only care about my team. dont care about the rest of you.
however, i dont like my team playing school yard rules with a DH.
;-]
and as met fans we are not elitist, you confuse us with yankee fans.
and please dont assume i want to see mets play yankees every 2 weeks or the sox or anything of the such. I just want them playing national league ball until the series.
Thats all. We all have our opinion and we are all right and wrong for it. But when if the decision is to milk more money out of us .. when do we just say enough is enough?
Sorry you guys and gals: I LOVE the Subway Series and have even flown from my home in San Diego two years running, to attend it at Shea.
Any opportunity to put a dent in the Yankees’ armor, I’m all for it. I get the feeling, though, that we Met fans may be more afraid of the potential embarrassment of being beaten by the hated Yankees – and the snsuing damage to our collective psyche – than embracing the spirited competition.
I’m a firm believer in this axiom, when it comes to sports: “To be the best, you have to beat the best.”
That’s why I like the fact this year the Mets have the most challenging schedule. When we’re sipping celebratory champagne as October turns to November, we’ll all look back at this period of time and laugh and we’ll also feel such proud satisfaction that we overcame great adversity to win the big prize.
i am never affraid of the mets losing. its knowing when they will lose is always the challenge ;-]
i watch every game with the mindset they will win. except in the mid 90’s. everygame was painful. but i never left the team. born a met fan. always gonna be a met fan..
Steve – Franco (and Willie admitted this) can no longer get around on a good fastball.
So, do you start him against Clemens? I think not.
Same for Pettitte.
If anything, he may start tomorrow against Clippard, while Delgado DH’s.
As for other players playing first out of position, the Piazza experiment didn’t work out to well.
My fear is that if they move someone else there (I’ve heard people say Green), and he makes an error, people will blast him, which is unfair.
Delgado is hurting us, I admit that (and my fantasy team as well, along with Beltran), but he is still a feared guy. I’m hoping he gets hot this weekend so we can all forget this bad stretch.
Piazza wasnt even a good catcher. thats apples and oranges.
Franco is old lets face it but he has the heart and the desire. unlikely as it is i was just making an inflated point.
Easley is our best bet…
and switching a player on the field is old..Kevin Mitchell played almost every position. i think he even picthed that one game that went 14+ innings.
Although they’ll never do this, Julio Franco should be made a coach. From what I’ve seen and heard, he’s a tremendous person and mentor and has a great future in managing or in the clergy.
He should NO LONGER be an active player. We all know the five possible outcomes when he pinch-hits: 1)strikeout 2)walk 3)basehit to right field 4)out to the right side 5)double play.
Does the attendance really increase for inter-league games, besides if the Mets play the Yankees and maybe the Red Sox?
Right, let’s make everything like it was 100 years ago. No people of color in the game and every game during the day with a heavy ball.
Nice try, Shakes the Clown.
Agree completely!!!