PM> I can see your point about Chicago or NY, but I really wonder if,
PM> after the first game, is the attendance at a Cubs-White Sox game or
PM> the Yankees-Mets game going to be noticeably bigger than a game
PM> against a league rival on the same day of the week.
Sure it will.  You'll have all the Cubs and all the White Sox fans
there.  Same with the Yankees/Mets.  Few people will travel very far
to see their team play.  But most of us will travel cross town.  And
with intercity rivalries like Montreal/Toronto or Toronto/Detroit you
have towns near enough and rivalry strong enough that fans will travel
to see their team.    
PM>  AJ> I think it would make more sense to limit interleague games to 
natural
PM>  AJ> rivals and increase the number of games between the teams. In fact,
PM>  AJ> it would make sense to restructure the leagues and their schedules 
o
PM>  AJ> accentuate such rivalries. But making sensible moves doesn't seem to
PM>  AJ> be what baseball is about.
PM> 
PM> I like that idea! Reduce travel costs, increase local rivalries.
PM> For a few years, the old rivalries would still dominate but after
PM> the new ones are built up, I'd see big advantages to restructuring
PM> the leagues. I hope that if it ever comes to pass, the powers of
PM> Major League Baseball don't do silly things like the NFL did and put
PM> Carolina in the West. 
I hadn't thought of travel costs, but I suppose that is a point.  It
seems to me rivalry is what pro sports is all about.  Certain cities
have natural rivalries as do certain teams.  Building on that base
just makes sense.
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