Interleague play began in 1997, the brainchild of MLB commissioner Bud Selig and it is one of the few moves the commish has made that fans have embraced. Historically, the Atlanta Braves seem to like interleague play as the team, as of Thursday morning, was 113-103 (.520) against the American League, including 3-2 this year. The .520 winning percentage is third-best in the National League behind Florida and St. Louis.
The fans may enjoy seeing the senior circuit jump over and scramble to find a DH or watch the AL’s pitchers try awkwardly to swing a bat, but how do the players feel about the cross-over games?
“I like it. I like getting the different teams in,” said Matt Diaz before game two of the Tampa series at Turner Field. “The Rays actually traveled well up here to Atlanta, and that’s fun.” The Braves dropped game one of the series to the 2008 American League Pennant winners 10-4 before taking game two 6-2.
Braves catcher David Ross echoes Diaz’s enthusiasm for the interleague experience. “It’s nice to go to some (new) cities, like we’ve never gotten a chance to go to Minnesota (before last weekend), and it was unbelievable. A nice new park and some of those guys I’ve never played against. Joe Mauer is really good and the whole deal, so that was fun and a good experience.” The interleague games give Ross a chance to also face a few teams he has only seen on television, which he enjoys because of the change in strategy. “They’ve got to adjust to us and it is good for the fans. They get to see some players they may not normally get to see, especially when you play a Yankees or a Red Sox.”
Several members of the Braves bullpen also seem to enjoy the interleague games. “I think it’s cool to face some different teams, especially as a reliever,” says Eric O’Flaherty. The lefthander thinks that the pitcher holds the cards when the two leagues square off against each other. “You’re facing some guys that haven’t gotten a look at you, so you’ve got a little bit of a, well I wouldn’t say ‘element of surprise,’ but they’re unfamiliar with you and I think that gives the pitcher a little bit of an advantage, so I don’t mind it at all.”
Fellow lefty Jonny Venters agrees that keeping things fresh is good for everyone. “I think it’s pretty cool. It’s a chance to see a team you don’t usually see. You go to parks you don’t usually go to.”
Interleague play typically draws some of the biggest crowds across major league baseball, and for some cities, the games are some of the only ones that sell out during the season. Ross recognizes this point. “I think (big-market teams visiting) is good for the fans and for the front office with attendance, I think they like that stuff. (Interleague play) works for everybody.”
The system isn’t perfect though. This season the Braves don’t play the Yankees or Red Sox while Philadelphia does. As the Braves currently play the Rays, the Mets are facing the Cleveland Indians after traveling to Baltimore. The Indians and Orioles are both in last place in their respective divisions, a combined 36 games out of first place. “I think it could be done a little differently,” said Matt Diaz. “It’s frustrating watching different teams playing lesser opponents. I think there is a fairer way to do interleague play, but it is better than not having it at all.”
Perfect or not, the fans still dart through the turnstiles every year when the two leagues face each other and Turner Field is no different. The Tampa series opener drew over 30,000 fans, higher than the average attendance that The Ted has drawn this season. Braves fans will get to see the Royals and Tigers come to Atlanta as well this season, likely pushing the attendance numbers even higher. If Atlanta keeps playing well against the American League during the regular season, the fans might just get to see the Yankees come to Turner Field after all this season, in the World Series.
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