While everyone is touting how great it is that the Cubs won’t be playing the Cardinals, Brewers, Reds or Pirates 19 times a year, I think there is a downside to minimizing rivalries.

Growing up a fan in the 70’s-80’s fans benefited from the unbalanced schedules. Teams played each of their division foes 18 times each year, or three home and away series. Teams played each of the six teams in the other division 12 times a year.

In the early 70’s had a contentious relationship/rivalry with San Francisco, but they had 12 opportunities to iron things out each year. While neither team won anything during that period of time, the games were very entertaining and unpredictable.

I started thinking about this as I caught the aftermath of Mike Trout’s homer against the Sox. I expect most Sox fans appreciate how great Trout is and that seeing him is a real treat, but one that doesn’t happen often enough. Even if you can’t make it out to the ballpark, it’s fun to watch your team compete against the best players in the game.

For as many relatives and friends that I have who are passionate fans, I’ve never heard them complain about Trout being a “Sox killer.” I only learned that this home run he hit today was his 10th at Guaranteed Rate/the Cell in only 31 games. It certainly isn’t the most he’s hit at an opponent’s park or against a team, but I think the rate is pretty good. In 68 career games against the Sox, he’s hit 19 home runs.

The number of homers isn’t important, rather it’s the paucity of times Sox fans see Trout each season-about 6 games each year. That stinks!

While it pains me to say this, I was lucky enough to watch Mike Schmidt play his entire career in the NL East as there were only two divisions then. Never quite understanding why the Cubs were in the east, it benefited Schmidt more than anyone. He hit more home runs against the Cubs 78 than any team in the league and more at Wrigley 50 than anywhere else. My perception then and now is that each was a game-winner. I know that’s not true, but it felt that way. Cub fans foolishly believed that if he ever joined the Cubs, he’d hit a billion homers. Of course, he wouldn’t be hitting against Cubs pitching.

I guess it’s great that every team plays every team each year, but I think diminishing some of the great rivalries in the process isn’t great for the game. Other than the Randall Grichuk effect, I’m not sure what the allure of a Rockies-Jays game in Colorado is these days.