Why isn't Interleague play allowed outside a team's opposite division?

Question

...like why can't a team from the NL West play a team from the AL East?

i know the giants are playing the red sox today. i'm asking because i just heard on the news it's the first time they plyed since like 1912(?). i'm just asking why it's so rare.

and how is it a travel situation? teams from the NL West play teams from the NL East all the time

Answer 1

because it does not metter opposite divisions don't effect eacothers standings and they never will

Answer 2

Teams play interleague game against "non opposite" divisions all the time. As you mentioned, the Giants are playing the Red Sox this weekend.

When interleague play started teams only played their "opposite" division. But a couple years back, MLB took a page from the NFL in terms of scheduling interleague games. They now rotate which divisions play each other. Last year, the AL East played the NL East, this year, the AL East is playing the NL Central.

The reason why the Giants havent played at Fenway in such a long time is because of scheduling: the Red Sox played in San Fran the last few times the two teams played. I believe that the Pirates have played in Yankee stadium the last 2 or 3 times the two teams played.

Answer 3

It's changed every year. This year the AL East plays the NL West, the AL West plays the NL Central and the AL Central plays the NL East. Next year, its probably going to be AL East against the NL East, etc. It was changed to this format a few years ago as attendance for interleague play was falling because the same AL teams played the same NL teams every year. So instead of watching the Yankees play the Nationals every year, you can watch the Yankees play the Dodgers or any NL team play them every few years.

Answer 4

It is certainly allowed. This year the Yankees from the AL East have played the Diamondbacks, and are going to play the Giants, and the Rockies, who are all from the NL West. They are also playing the Pirates from the NL Central, and the only team that they are playing from the NL East is the Mets, and that's just because they always play the Mets.

Answer 5

They do allow it. That's why Giants are playing Boston and Toronto this year.

But if your wondering why they haven't played in the past, well they have. MLB Interleague rotates leagues every year. So in 2004 the Giants played the AL East, they doing it again this year and will again come 2010.

In addition to rotating the league around, baseball still keeps key rivalry matchups going every year. For example the subway series between the Mets and Yankees, and the Giants versus the Oakland A's.

BTW - The Giants beat the Red Sox 2 out 3 games in 2004.

Answer 6

Look dude the Braves are playing the Indians, the Sox are the Giants Yankees are playing Colorado

For all I know Interleague is played outside the opposing division

Answer 7

It is allowed now days. Now it depends on how they scheule the games. They also rotate the games so the NL west will play the AL west one year the AL EAST the following year and then the Midwest the next.

Answer 8

Atlanta (Nl east) is currently playing the indians (Al central)

boston and san fransisco are playing.. Nl west vs Al east

Answer 9

last year the indians played the NL west teams and the reds, and thats it. the braves have not been in cleveland since 1995 WS.

Answer 10

it is. It just rarely happens because of the travel situation for both teams. Check out the Reds schedule. (They have to go play the A's at their ballpark)

Answer 11

they can today the red sox played the San Fransisco giants in San Francisco