Annoyed Mets Announcer Rips MLB Over ‘Glorious Decision’ About Schedules
There was a time not so long ago when interleague play was exclusively the domain of the World Series. The American and National Leagues were separate entities that played under separate sets of rules, the logic went, so what was the point of having them cross paths in the regular season?
Since the concept of interleague play was introduced in 1997—after a slow, 94-year march into existence—games between AL and NL squads have crept further and further into baseball fans' lives. Initially relegated to pockets in May, June and July, interleague games now take place on a regular basis as every MLB team plays every other MLB team every year.
That did not sit well with the New York Mets' commentary team Thursday, as they bemoaned the fact that the Mets would not play the Atlanta Braves in Georgia again until September.
"(It's) thanks to that glorious decision to play all the American League teams and cut back five games, two series, in the division... I just do not understand that one bit," color announcer and former All-Star first baseman Keith Hernandez said.
Play-by-play commentator Gary Cohen was quick to agree with Hernandez.
"It's created more travel, less familiarity for the fans of the teams you're competing with, and fewer head-to-head meetings to decide the division, which is a huge piece because of the (playoff) bye involved for the top two division winners in each league," Cohen said.
Seemingly on cue, New York will play three games against the Kansas City Royals this coming weekend.
