There are many reasons I could hate interleague play (a.k.a. how the American League hoses the National League), at least from a Blue Jays standpoint, and from this year only:

• 0-6 against the second tier of the NL East (Florida and Atlanta) with Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Washington to come…
• Two of Roy Halladay’s no-decisions have gone against the National League – a scoreless seven-inning outing in Atlanta, and last Friday’s outing against Florida where an injury forced him to leave in the fourth inning – both starts the team should have won, but the bullpen blew it late in the game.
• Seeing the pitchers hit, or not – they’re 0-for-5 so far, with the latest a bases-loaded strikeout by Ricky Romero against the Phillies.
• The bullpen’s been raked over the coals – three of the six losses, with a 7.83 ERA.  They’ve also allowed the eventual winning run in two of the contests, even though the starting pitcher was credited with the loss.
• The hitting’s been abysmal – outhomered 9-4, with a .214 batting average and .600 OPS through those six games.  Outfielers Vernon Wells (2-for-24) and Adam Lind (2-for-23) are the main culprits in the horrendous hitting performance, while shortstop Marco Scutaro’s stellar season is stained by his 4-for-22 against the NL so far in 2009.

But truth be told, I like interleague play as a fan.  However, like many a critic, I agree it needs tweaks.  There are too many games, especially matchups that just give automatic series wins against for one side (anybody vs. the Washington Nationals?!), and the DH should be played in all parks.  The pitchers – save for a couple in the NL – can’t hit.

Okay, as I write, Romero makes it 0-for-7 for Jays pitchers at the plate with two more K’s.  With the bases loaded.

Why do I like it?  Variety.  Matchups we’ve never seen before, or parks they’ve never played in previously.  For me, when the Jays played the Montreal Expos, it was a treat – the Battle Of Canada, such as it was.  Sure, it wasn’t as sexy as the Leafs facing the Habs, but it was Toronto vs. Montreal all the same for supremacy on the sandlot.  Of course there were some dog matchups – did anyone really want to see the Pirates?  Or try to resurrect some rivalry with our old World Series opponents, the Braves?  I can’t stand the Nationals for the reason that they were once the Expos, and are the symbol that even though the name on the front of the uniform has changed, the home attendance is still the same. 

Also, interleague play allows the baseball fan, even in this day and age of constant video and internet coverage, how certain top players would perform against their home side.  I still haven’t seen Ryan Howard of the Phillies hit in Rogers Centre, or how Roy Halladay would pitch to Marlins star shortstop Hanley Ramirez (Han-Ram went 1-for-1 against Doc on Friday).  Cincinnati’s Joey Votto, one of the NL big hitters, is an Etobicoke native whose team will come to Toronto for a series next week.  That being said, I’m cheering on the Jays to get out of this interleague slide, as their NL record is preventing them from having a more decent record (they would be 34-25 without their winless string against the NL).

One more note – props to my boys for taking me out on my birthday to Sightlines.  The Jays were facing the Red Sox, and they broke their nine-game losing streak that night by doubling them 6-3.  Best of all, I got an Alex Rios bobblehead – one I missed out on a few weeks ago!

Until next blog…