An Intriguing Inter-league Idea

An Intriguing Inter-league Idea says Joe Brackets

I didn’t come up with this idea.  I saw it a couple of weeks ago on ESPN.com, and I thought it was an interesting idea.  Then the Yankees began a three-game series in Colorado tonight with a grand total of FOUR available position players on the bench, one of which was the backup catcher, one of which was Travis Hafner, and two of which were left-handed hitting outfielders.  Not much flexibility in the way of double-switches.  Anyway, the idea that was proposed was allowing teams to expand their roster to 26 players for interleague games.

With interleague play now taking place throughout the season, you’ve got American League pitchers hitting in April and National League teams using a DH in September.  I don’t have a problem with this schedule at all, but it definitely changes the way you have to construct your roster, at least for three games.

In the past, when teams played their interleague games in a designated window, everybody would fenagle their rosters for the road games.  If a National League team played all three of its road series in a row, they might call up somebody from the minor leagues for the sole purpose of DHing those nine games, then immediately send them back down.  Other NL teams might take it the other way and add another relief pitcher, since the AL game is much more matchup-driven.

Likewise, how many times did the Red Sox face the David Ortiz dilemma when they had an extended interleague road trip?  There’s no solution to having a DH that can’t play anywhere on the field, but maybe an AL team would want an extra position player just to have a little more flexibility.  You obviously need to use a pinch hitter a lot more often in the National League, but an extra position player could also be useful as a late-game defensive sub or you might need a utility guy in case of a double switch.  If you don’t have a long man out of the bullpen for a couple of days, so be it.

If teams were allowed to expand their roster to 26 for interleague play only, it would save teams from having to make those sort of decisions.  An NL team wants to add a DH?  Sure.  Go ahead.  An AL team wants to add that extra bat off the bench?  By all means.  And that way, teams would also be able to make these roster changes without dropping a relief pitcher, which is usually what they have to do.  It could easily work the other way, too.  You’re facing a lefty-heavy lineup and want to add a left-handed reliever?  Go for it.  The only choice left to be made is add a pitcher or add a position player?

Of course, there would have to be certain restrictions to this rule.  If you’re calling somebody up, they get sent back down immediately.  I’d also give teams the option of activating somebody off the DL to fill that 26th roster spot.  Should they do that, they need to drop a like player.  If you activate a pitcher, a different pitcher has to get sent down once the roster is reduced back to 25.  Same thing with position players.  If you add one, you drop one.  Just like they do when there’s an injury in the postseason.

I’m not saying this is a perfect idea or that there’s necessarily a problem with leaving it at 25.  Just throwing it out there.  Although, I think it’s something that could definitely have the potential to catch on.  They’ve already done something similar with doubleheader.  It’s more a consideration for bullpens and the fact that you’ll need two starting pitchers, but teams are allowed to use a 26-man roster for double-header now.  Similar thought process here.

Year-round interleague play is going to take some getting used-to.  For all involved.  (I’m already on board.)  But I think the option of using a 26th player for interleague games is an intriguing possibility that could help make that adjustment a little bit easier.