Thursday marks the start of 214 regular-season MLB
interleague games this year, and according to David Bush of
the S.F CHRONICLE, "Nothing seems to come easy in baseball,
and interleague play, which has been under discussion for
decades, is no exception" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/11). USA
TODAY's cover story profiles interleague play, as Tom Weir
writes, "The change has fans and insiders in a hot debate
that pits the game's gloried past against its uncertain
future" (USA TODAY, 6/11). In Ft. Worth, T.R. Sullivan
writes the "idea" of interleague play "has enjoyed at least
partial success." Tomorrow's Rangers-Giants game is sold
out and all games at The Ballpark in Arlington this weekend
"appear to have a chance to sell out." In Pittsburgh, the
Pirates "expect" 90,000 for this weekend's three-game set
with the Royals (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/11).
REAX: Interleague play continues to be a popular topic
among the media. A sampling: In Atlanta, Terence Moore
likens interleague play to a circus under the header,
"Interleague Play Attracts Interest -- Like All Freak
Shows." Moore: "Ringling Brothers also knows how to draw
folks with a freak show, and that's exactly what this
opening dose of interleague play is all about" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 6/11). In N.Y., George Vecsey echoes the
circus theme: "[L]et's be honest: Who among us has not
slipped into the carnival tent to take a peek at JoJo the
Dog-Faced Boy?" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/11). On CBS SportsLine, Ray
Buck calls interleague action an "exercise in futility.
It's also embarrassing. It's a desperate attempt by the
powers-that-be to prop up the corpse and make it look like
it's a party" (CBS SportsLine, 6/11). In Charlotte, Tom
Sorensen: "Interleague play will be great for three or four
days. But next season the games will cease to be special.
And the damage will be irreparable. The qualities that
distinguish each league will blur" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
6/11). But in Toronto, Richard Griffin writes, "There's not
a damn thing anyone can do about it [interleague play], so
sit back and enjoy the ride. ... Face it folks, baseball's
claim to purity died a long time ago" (TORONTO STAR, 6/11).
SCHEDULE CHANGE: In N.Y., Murray Chass reports on MLB's
unbalanced schedule proposal for '98, being discussed at the
owners' quarterly meeting in Philadelphia. The new format
would feature teams playing "more games and more series
against each of the teams in their own division than against
each of the teams in other divisions." The interleague plan
for the schedule has "teams in corresponding divisions ...
paired based on rivalries." The new schedule could be
"linked to a realignment of several teams" (N.Y. TIMES,
6/11). In Tampa, Bill Chastian writes that Devil Rays
Managing Partner Vince Naimoli said that he will "fight" an
unbalanced schedule, but "at least" one NL exec said that
"such a schedule ... was inevitable" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 6/11).
SELIG NOT ACTING? In Toronto, Marty York writes this
morning: "Rumblings last night suggested strongly that [MLB
Acting Commissioner Bud] Selig would be appointed permanent
commissioner of the major leagues on Friday and that Paul
Beeston, president of the Jays, would be identified as his
second in command." Beeston did not return York's phone
calls, while Selig "would not respond to questions about
possible changes" at MLB (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/11).
