Opening Day Interleague Number Crunch
Who’s ready for Opening Day???
I was reading an article in the Journal News about scheduling issues, and it brought me back to the one thing missing from interleague scheduling since 1997:
When are the Dodgers coming to Yankee Stadium? Including the 2010 schedule, there are 2 NL teams that have not visited the Yankees since interleague play started in 1997.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers. The old Brooklyn team. The Dodgers have played their share of World Series games in the Bronx, but never a regular season game. In fact, they are the only existing team to have NEVER played a regular season at the late, great original Yankee Stadium.
2. Milwaukee Brewers. They switched from the AL to the NL in 1998. Since then, the Yankees visited Milwaukee in 2005, but the Brewers haven’t come to visit them. But they did play in 1997, but they were still AL.
I then did some research, to compile the entire home and road breakdown of interleague series for the Yankees. From 1997-2001, the Yankees played exclusively vs the NL East, before hitting other divisions. Additionally, since 1999, the Yankees have played a home and home against the Mets.
This year will mark the 14th year of Interleague play, and the 13th regular season subway series series hosted by the Yankees and Mets. The Yankees host their 2009 World Series opponent Philadelphia Phillies for the 2nd straight year (and 5th time overall, more times than any NL team not named the Mets) as well as the Houston Astros, whose combined pitchers accounted for the last no hitter at the old stadium. They visit the Arizona Diamondbacks and aforementioned Dodgers each for the 2nd time ever, but still no Dodgers in the Bronx.
But interleague doesn’t start until May. Tonight is opening day vs the Red Sox at Fenway. Go Yankees!!!
