[Lefty Noob]

Sounds like Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones isn't a fan of interleague play.

"I don't think there's any question it's not fair, but I don't think major league baseball is concerned with fair," Jones told reporters before yesterday's Braves game. "If you play the top teams in the American League and everybody else doesn't, it's pretty unfair... Is it fun? Yeah. It's fun playing in new cities. It's fun playing in front of new crowds, it's fun playing new teams. What's not fun is when they're all contenders and your competition doesn't have to play the same competition you do."

"It's a factor (in the pennant race)," he added. "We play Boston six times, and they've got the best record in the American League. We play the top three teams in the toughest division in baseball (the AL Central). We, without a doubt, have the toughest schedule in baseball, bar none. You don't play in our division and play the interleague schedule we play and not say we don't have the toughest schedule."

So, does Chipper have a point? Should baseball be mixing it up a little more than they do?

[LSC9901]

I don't care for the interleague play anyway you look at it. They play two different styles of baseball so as noted it just isn't fair for all involved. It just isn't equal all the way around. Once again it is all about the media and money.

One way to make it fair would be to just make them exibition games, then watch it disappear.

[simple simon]

i dont really think any pro sports league has a "fair" schedule

every team in the NFL's AFC East has to play the Patriots twice a year, some teams dont have to play them at all ..... is that fair ?

Chipper needs to shut up and play ......................... oh yeah, and collect his huge damn check

[EmpireWF]

Of course he has a point. The Mets play the Yankees 6x while the Marlins play the Devil Rays 6x. Is that fair? Hell no!

But MLB loves it since it's a big ticket seller and that's all that matters.

[azrael492]

I really enjoy the interleague play, but I see Chipper's point about it. They have to play the Redsox while their division rivals get to play the Royals. I would like to see them rotate divisions between playing their division games. I don't care whether it is the same league or not.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Sounds like Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones isn't a fan of interleague play.

"I don't think there's any question it's not fair, but I don't think major league baseball is concerned with fair," Jones told reporters before yesterday's Braves game. "If you play the top teams in the American League and everybody else doesn't, it's pretty unfair... Is it fun? Yeah. It's fun playing in new cities. It's fun playing in front of new crowds, it's fun playing new teams. What's not fun is when they're all contenders and your competition doesn't have to play the same competition you do."

"It's a factor (in the pennant race)," he added. "We play Boston six times, and they've got the best record in the American League. We play the top three teams in the toughest division in baseball (the AL Central). We, without a doubt, have the toughest schedule in baseball, bar none. You don't play in our division and play the interleague schedule we play and not say we don't have the toughest schedule."

So, does Chipper have a point? Should baseball be mixing it up a little more than they do?

well you can always go to a college football rating with strength of schedule beig a factor... ...hell Chipper...it's luck of the draw...not any different then playing in a tough Division as opposed to a weak one.

[vincesanity82]

Hes got a point. Hes not complaining about having to play the tougher teams, hes complaining that its not fair other teams dont have to, it certainly effects the pennet race. While the braves play red sox, tigers, twins, and indians. and mets play yankees 6 times, tigers, twins, athletics. you ve got the phillies playing losing record teams like the blue jays and royals three times each. Doesnt make sense but I doubt it will change anytime soon.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Hes got a point. Hes not complaining about having to play the tougher teams, hes complaining that its not fair other teams dont have to, it certainly effects the pennet race. While the braves play red sox, tigers, twins, and indians. and mets play yankees 6 times, tigers, twins, athletics. you ve got the phillies playing losing record teams like the blue jays and royals three times each. Doesnt make sense but I doubt it will change anytime soon.

That makes the assumption that the schedule makers knew that the Yankees pitching staff would be decimated and that the Sox would be sitting pretty...it's luck of the draw...did the Chip gets screwed this go around, yep...will he next time?...maybe...maybe not...parity is such an ugly word...

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

it's luck of the draw...did the Chip gets screwed this go around, yep...will he next time?...maybe...maybe not...parity is such an ugly word...

With that same assumption the schedule makers banked on the royals to be a playoff contender right? no, wait the past three years they lost 100+ games and the past 11 of 12 seasons under .500..