Okay, I guess I was wrong
In my last entry I talked about why I feel Interleague games have lost their luster and are not as appealing to fans.
I received more responses on the Interleague topic than any other, and the consensus is that fans and players do still like the concept and want to see Interleague play continue.
The fans at Camden Yards seemed to enjoy the Braves, Mets and Nationals coming in for three-game series. The crowds that came out over the weekend for the Battle of the Beltways were large and enthusiastic.
I asked Brian Roberts if he still enjoys the Interleague match ups, and he said he does because it breaks up the schedule near the middle of the season and also gives the players a chance to compete against players they know about and have heard of but wouldn't get the chance to play against if not for the rotating Interleague schedule.
Major League players are very competitive and they do enjoy showcasing their talents to the other league. The three-game sweep by the Orioles over the Phillies in Philadelphia was the highlight of the Interleague schedule. Taking three straight games from the defending World Champions on their field was very satisfying and a good experience for the younger Orioles on the roster.
And the fact that the Orioles went 11-7 and won five of the six Interleague series made this season's battles against the Nationals League very rewarding for the won-loss record.
I still would rather see the Orioles play more games against the AL Central or West though. I think it's a better gauge over a championship season to have the same schedule as every team in your division and the Interleague schedule prohibits that. But as long as the fans enjoy it, there's no reason to turn back.
PS - As Bob Carpenter noted in his latest entry, we all enjoyed sharing the booth with MASN's Nats family in the six Interleague games against the Nationals. MASN has a unique position in having two Major League teams on its network, and being able to bring us all together for the series in DC and here in Baltimore was a lot of fun. Bob and Rob Dibble are pros and a joy to work with. Jim Palmer and I enjoyed the experience and the dueling analysts gave the fans a clinic. I hope you enjoyed it too.
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Categories (click for archive)Jim Hunter | MASNblogs |
Donot like both o's and nats commentators doing the game together! I like it better if they were separate! I TURN THE TV DOWN AND LISTEN TO 105.7 tHE COMMENTATORS FOR THE NATS ARE TOO MUCH OF A HOMER!! They think the nats are going to the playoffs! lol
I agree.
i could see how some would like having announcers from both teams call a game but it is just too uncomfortable and odd. Rob Dibble is the biggest homer in sports.
Hi Jim, first I wanted to say how much I enjoy you and Palmer on the O's broadcasts. I've been a fan since 66. Could you tell me if there's a way to send Jim Palmer an email, either at the stadium or otherwise ? He was the nicest guy I met during my visit to Cooperstown last year, and I would like to thank him properly. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, and keep up the good work. The future is very bright in Birdland and it's coming sooner than later. Phil
Hi Phil, the best way to get a message to Jim Palmer is to send him a letter at this address
Jim Palmer
c/o MASN
333 W. Camden St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
all the announcers have a mailbox at the office and he is certain to get your note. Thanks for your support. 1966 was a good year to start following the O's.
I think interleague play is interesting. The matchups with the Phillies are particularly fun to watch.
It's the All-Star game that I could care less about.
You and Palmer were asking who Huff looks like with his mustache. If you google a picture of David Morse from the movie langoliers, you will see that Aubrey Huff now has a twin!
Jim,
I must say that I have greatly enjoyed your broadcasts all year, especially the team of you and Palmer. The series in Seattle this past week was a pleasure to watch... you guys made staying up till 1 A.M. very easy.
The thing I like the most is how evident it is that you love your job. It is refreshing to listen to somebody whom I believe is holding their dream job, and watching a team that he legitimately loves and wants to stay a part of for years. Keep up the great work; and I look forward to your broadcasts!
I LOVED the combined booth for the games between the Nats and the O's; I hate that you are not in the booth more. No offense, but I think John Miller was the best (I grew up on him doing the O's games); but I love when you say "He got him!!!" And we are going to need that a lot for Tillman/Bergessen/Arrietta/Guthrie/Hobgood/Patton/Matusz
Tonite (7/11/09) you said that Roger Craig said if he won 20 games once they'd expect him to do it every year. It was Billy Loes.
Jim:
I enjoy your work in the booth; too bad we don't have more of it. Gary Thorne has a pleasant voice and good insight, but he makes too many mistakes like giving the wrong count or saying a pitch was one place when you can see it was somewhere else.
If you want to see a double for Aubrey Huff, check out Max Martini, a regular cast member on the recently demised series "The Unit" on CBS.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4066612736/nm0242882
I guess I am in the minority when it come to interleague play then...I hate it...
Part of my bias is probably I am an AL fan...don't like the NL. I like keeping the differences between the leagues separate. I also find it more interesting at the end of the season when you have the best team from each league facing each other in the World Series for bragging rights. If the teams happened to have played earlier in the season, it takes some of the luster of the WS match up away for me.
I also do not like that divisional rivals do not play the same teams in interleague play. This setups the possibility of favoring a team in the standings. Let's say the Yankees and Red Sox are atop of the AL East (need to be realistic at the moment). Now the Red Sox play the Phillies, Braves, and Marlins (139 wins) versus the Yankees playing the Braves, Mets, and Nationals (112 wins). The difference in quality of competition gives the Yankees a possible edge in a close pennant race.
And why can't the leagues have the same number of teams? Please remind me why the Brewers were allowed to switch leagues instead of keeping the leagues at a even number of teams? This also screws up interleague play as there is always two NL teams not playing in interleague at any given time. Does not make a lot of sense.
Finally, it was a Bud Selig thing...it can't be good. :-)