With the All Star Week just around the corner, it seems fitting to talk about one of the most recently publicized rivalries in baseball. No, I'm not talking about the Yankees-Red Sox, or Cardinals-Cubs, or Mets-Phillies or Mets-Yankees. I'm talking about interleague play, which began in 1997.

Interleague play was discussed as early as in the 1930's. It hadn't became popular until 1997 when the San Fransisco Giants came over to Arlington, Texas to play the first interleague game mach-up ever.

Many people dislike interleague play, as the National League use their pitchers to hit and the American League uses a designated hitter in their line-up instead.

Which league is better in interleague play?

The American League has simply dominated in American League play.

Year AL NL AL%-----------------------1997 97 117 .4531998 114 110 .5091999 116 135 .4622000 136 115 .5422001 132 120 .5242002 123 129 .4882003 115 137 .4562004 126 125 .5022005 136 116 .5402006 154 98 .6112007 137 115 .5442008 149 103 .5912009 138 114 .5482010 138 114 .548-----------------------Total 1811 1648 .524

 

In 2011, as of July 1, the American League has 104 wins, and the National League has 102 wins this season in interleage play.

The American League has obviously done an amazing job against the National League, but it seems as though the National League is getting better versus the American League.

The AL, no doubt have the better hitting, but the NL now has the better pitching. The AL has better hitting because of their designated hitting spot in their line-up. The NL, when away, don't have a that one hitter that hitter, that designates for the pitcher, instead they have a guy who is cold right off the bench.

The NL simply has better pitching right now, as the Braves and Phillies lead the MLB in ERA.

But whats better? Hitting or pitching?

The AL proves that hitting is worth more, most likely because the hitters play almost every game, pitchers only play 1-2 games per week. Just ask the Yankees.

The AL teams also spend about $10 million (per team) more then the NL teams. That also helps the American League dominate their National League opponents, they simply have better players, again, thanks to the Red Sox and Yankees. Not only that, the AL teams spend about $1 million more per first round draftee.

Though the American League might spend more on their first rounders, the National League has better prospects in most peoples opinions. Starting with Strasburg, to Harper then to Cole, the NL has a bright future.

The AL might be better right now, but I do believe the NL is going to get better and top the AL soon. Right now the AL teams buy their great players, but the NL wait on their prospects. Also, the AL is in fact a harder place to pitch because of the DH in the lineup, allowing AL to win more games.

Should the MLB even have interleague play? Should the NL add a designated hitter to their lineup? Better yet, should the AL let go of the DH spot?