Official MLB Thread

[Johnny M]

[Russ-L]

Lowest rating ever. I'm really saddened by this. The game was pretty good I thought.

[Johnny M]

[Russ-L]

[Dezreavey]

Stupid question from the Australian that only got into American sports a few years ago.

What is the significance of the AL and the NL? Why do you have these in MLB as well as NFL?

[Russ-L]

Way back when there used to actually be two different leagues in both baseball and football. Like two different companies. In the case of football the Super Bowl was a way for the champs of each league to play each other. Then I think after SB III they merged into the NFL. I'm not sure when the actual merge in baseball happened to form the MLB but same concept. Hell 20 years ago there were only two divisions in each league and no wildcard for baseball.

[Adam]

The AL and NL began as just two separate leagues. Eventually they started playing each other in the World Series which is the best team from each league as decided by a playoff system. There are small differences in the rules of how the game is played in each league most notably in the American League you can have a designated hitter in the place of your pitcher hitting, in the National League the pitcher always hits. When the two teams meet in inter league play who ever has the home field determines what rules are followed. The National League is the older of the two leagues. Throughout the history of baseball the two leagues have began to interact more and more first with the All-Star game which in the middle of the season players who are voted on by the fans from each league face each other (The American League historically wins). There is also a often despised part of baseball where throughout the season NL teams will face AL teams in regular season games. Bottom line really is there isn't much difference it is just another division of Major League Baseball. This is my understanding from being a life long baseball fan, however I easily could have made some mistakes.

Oh and the Yankees suck!

[Johnny M]

PLease refer to them as The World Champion Yankees when you say they suck.

[Adam]

[Dezreavey]

Adam, Thanks for the input.

I never realised that there were actually different rules between the two leagues! Is this the same for football?

You mentioned the rules relating to pitchers/hitters, are there any other interesting differences in the leagues' rules?

[suburbanhood]

[ljacone]

[Dezreavey]

[suburbanhood]

Phils send Kyle Kendrick to the Minors and rumor has by the time he start comes up the rotation the Phils will have traded for a new pitcher.

[Johnny M]

[ljacone]

Mets can't buy a win. This West Coast trip is going to kill us. Yeeesh.

[suburbanhood]

[Johnny M]

If Oswalt goes to St. Louis they are going to be extremely tough. Especially in a short series.

[kwoktalk]

BRING ON OSWALT!!!!!

[Russ-L]

He's been a little inconsistent in recent years but he's having a better year this year than last. He'd be a good veteran to bring onto the staff.

Plus Drayton Mclaine will be happy to dump the salary. Cheap ass.