The difference in interleague schedule of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees could mean the difference between playing in October or going home. And the Yankees have the advantage. Apart from the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros that both the Red Sox and Yankees face, the two teams go in completely opposite directions in regards to how tough the opponent is. Interleague opponents of the Red Sox are 27 games over .500, while the Yankees face teams that are 17 games under .500. A .25 win percentage difference. (Thanks to Sean O for the math.) That’s a huge, huge swing.
Not all the blame can be laid at the feet of the schedule-makers. How are they supposed to know which teams are good and bad? How could they have projected the Seattle Mariners or Chicago White Sox?
But what you CAN lay at their feet is the ridiculous notion that teams should spread out and play different teams. The schedule needs to be similar to absolve any illusions of wrongdoing or unfairness. The teams that the Red Sox play should be the same teams the AL East in its entirety plays. Period. That’s the way it used to be sans the “rivalry” team, and it’s spiraled out of control since. Should we fix this? I say yes. What say you?
