I love baseball but I'm always slightly confused when they have interleague games, why its such a big deal.
2007-06-27 07:00:31 · 12 answers · asked by jess_kat04 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Until MLB started interleague play (1999) the only times an American League and National League team would play each other was in the world series. Interleague play has created rival games for teams from the same state, such as the Mets and the Yankees, and the Cubs and White Sox. I never was in favor of interleague play but most fans seem to enjoy the new competition.
2007-06-27 07:09:16 · answer #1 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the surface, the AL and the NL are like the NFC and the AFC in football. They rarely play each other except for the championship and the All-Star game.
However, unlike the NFL, American League teams and National League teams only played each other in the World Series until Interleague play was started a few years ago. The fact is that many of these teams have never played each other or haven't played each other since the 40s or 50s, or even before in some cases. You also have rivalries originating in the early days of baseball like the Dodgers and Yankees that only see the light of day thanks to interleague play.
The other reason that it is a big deal is because there are rule differences between the two leagues. The most obvious one is the DH rule used in the American League, but there are other, less important rule differences.
2007-06-27 07:11:06 · answer #2 · answered by Bigfoot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A designated hitter.
In the American League, the teams are allowd to place one batter in the lineup to replace any defensive player that may have a weak bat.
It is almost always the pitcher.
This rule allows teams to sign one more big hitter who may be a liability on defense to hit for a pitcher who may be a liability on offense.
The reason inerleague games are a big deal is historically, American League teams and National League teams could only face one another in the World Series.
When you hear someone say "They won the pennant" it refers to being the best team in each league.
The two pennant winners face off in the World Series.
For 100 years or more, teams like the Yankees and Mets would never play one another unless they made it to the World Series.
If you are from an area that has two teams in the same city like the Dodgers and Angels, Yankees and Mets, A's and Giants or White Sox and Cubs.... the towns are divided amongst their fans. Interleague made it possible to for these types of teams to play each other for the first time in a century.
FYI: When the two leagues face off in the World Series, the DH rule applies when the American league team is at home and the "no DH rule" applies when the National league team is at home.
I hope this helps.
2007-06-27 07:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by rviano11 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
National league has 16 teams American league has 14 teams The American League has won its last 11 All-star games.
2016-05-17 14:57:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is one of the few times a team in one league gets to play against each other. The extra excitement of seeing two great teams who would not otherwise be matched up unless in the World Series. Or thats why they started Interleauge play. Right now though its not that big of a deal the American League is vastly superior to the National League. They have more stars and better pitchers.
2007-06-27 07:12:59 · answer #5 · answered by magician286 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
al has a dh(designated hitter) and nl doesnt but during interleague games al does not have a dh and neither does the nl and its such a big deal cuz somtimes they dont play teas in different confrences
2007-06-27 07:38:27 · answer #6 · answered by osbaseball3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A large difference is that the American uses the DH and the National League does not. The sytle of baseball and the strategy used in the two leagues is very different because of that.
2007-06-27 07:10:54 · answer #7 · answered by fuego37 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they they're in different Leagues! In the AL we have a Designated Hitter (takes the place of the pitcher) where as in the NL the Pitchers Hit. It's a HUGE THING--it's different!
GO TIGERS!
2007-06-27 07:08:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The American League is the better league and has the DH rule. The N.L. is the senior circuit and you have to watch pitchers try to hit, but mostly they just look stupid trying to make contact.
2007-06-27 10:14:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure it's the DH rule. The AL has the DH rule and the NL does not.
In the NL the pitcher gets to bat.
2007-06-27 07:13:53 · answer #10 · answered by Jennifer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋