Will MLB's 2013 switch to a full schedule of interleague play doom the pitcher's at-bat?

[Auggie]

I think it will ... eventually.

With more interleague games scheduled, I can see MLB coming under pressure from ratings pigs like FOX and DISNEY to dump the pitcher's at-bat citing the age-old (and WRONG) argument that the DH makes for more exciting baseball. They could start by televising more A.L. home games than N.L. home games, and/or offer to pay more for the DH games.

I think we're going to see scheduling problems too, such as A.L. teams in pennant contention in September suddenly losing their DH for a series or two in N.L. parks. Or the other way around -- N.L. teams facing teams with a powerhouse DH while their benches are built for situational hitting.

I'm not totally against interleague play. White Sox/Cubs, Mets/Yankees, Cleveland/Cincinnati, A's/Giants, etc. makes sense. Those six territorial games a year created new, awesome rivalries.

But to play a full season of baseball under two sets of rules is absurd. I think it'll become so noticeable that the Commissioner's office, with the help of FOX and DISNEY, will eventually force the National League to adopt the designated hitter.

Of course, maybe the opposite would happen and the American League would dump the DH. But that would make too much sense.

What do you think?

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	Yes: the National League will eventually be forced to except the DH rule
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	No: the National League and American league will play under separate rules indefinitely
	0 (0%)
	Other: the American League will eventually be forced to drop the DH rule
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	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[El Supremo]

1. Relax. There won't be that many more interleague games.

According to this theory ( http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings120518/mlb-2013-interleague-schedule-huge-step-right-direction ), it will look like this:

• 20 interleague games per team.
• No more than one interleague series per day in April and over the last five weeks.
• No more than one road interleague series per team in the final five weeks.
• Division-by-division matchups rotate annually.
• Every team in a division will play the same five teams in a corresponding division in the other league, plus four "rivalry" games.
• Only four "rivalry" games per team, likely played home-and-home and back-to-back in this format: Monday-Tuesday in one park, Wednesday-Thursday in the other.

It will eliminated the disparity that currently exists with teams in the same division not playing the same interleague schedule.

Oh "accept" and "except" have opposite meanings. I think you meant to say "accept".

[joeybee12]

2. MORE??????

[Kingofalldems]

3. I say do away with the DH

Also increase active rosters to 27.

[madinmaryland]

4. $elig has completed fucked up baseball. What a fucking disgrace.

If you want even divisions, either go to 32 teams or drop back to 28.

At 30 teams split evenly, there will always be an interleague series.

[El Supremo]

5. I say drop the Marlins and Rays.

Fucking teams' attendance sucks.

Can trumad hear me????

[Auggie]

6. +1, though ...

I don't advocate attrition unless a franchise or market no longer becomes sustainable or shows no competitive hope due to these arcane non-profit sharing rules that FAVOR LARGE MARKET TEAMS.

Even then, if teams like Oakland, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati can reinvent themselves every five to six years by unloading free agents and through smart drafting, so could anyone. So who do throw under the bus?

Add two teams and thin the talent pool further? I guess it's the lesser of two evils.