There are many reasons not to like interleague play. For one, it is grossly unfair. League standings are skewed because teams don’t play the same number of games against their opponents, but are judged on the number of games won at the end of the season.

The one saving grace of the concept is the rivalry matchups which do bring more enthusiasm to the game.

I like the Mets and Yankees playing one another, the Giants and A’s also.

These games matter in the standings and have determined division races. For instance last year the Giants barely lost out to Arizona in the West, losing four of six to the A’s didn’t help the Giants in late September.

This year the six games may have more of an impact on the final standings because both teams are locked in tight races for the playoffs.

So, what to look for this weekend?

Click below and let’s see.The A’s are 26-10 at home, they are riding a six game winning streak. The first three games between these two teams are in Oakland. The A’s will either win two of three this weekend or sweep the Giants. The Giants are struggling at the plate, unless you hit like Atlanta, you just don’t come into the Coliseum and push the A’s pitchers around.

Tonight is the Giants best chance to win. Aaron Harang has been awful as a starter. John Halama is in the wings, while Halama has been excellent in long relief, you shudder to think that is your strength as the first pitch is thrown.

The Giants just faced the best pitching staff in baseball in LA. Seeing Harang will rejuvenate their tired road bats. The real question is what to expect from Damian Moss.

Will he throw strikes? In many ways he is similar to the type of pitchers the A’s eventually knock around. He is usually behind in the count, relies on a change up to get out of trouble and is capable of hanging one with men on base. The formula the A’s will use against Moss is…patience, patience, and more patience, then get the extra base hit that will excite the 45,000 fans in attendance.

By the way, we just touched on the main reason interleague play exists, increased attendance.

Art Howe never let Barry Bonds beat him. Ken Macha must resist the challenge to get Bonds out in the key situations that invariably come up with Bonds late in the game. If the A’s do have to go after Bonds, I’d let Bradford do it and pray he keeps the ball down where the grass grows. The A’s do not have one reliever who can slow Bonds down. If the Giants can get Bonds up in the late innings with the game on the line, then it will get interesting for Oakland.

Anyway, it is one game out of 162 tonight, but it has my interest.

The Reds Paul Wilson charged the mound yesterday after a close pitch and got tackled by the Cubs pitcher Kyle Farnsworth who proceeded to knock the hell out of Wilson, bloodying his face.

This was a nasty baseball fight that requires Wilson and Farnsworth to be suspended for more games than Sammy was for his corked bat.

Why Wilson charged the mound is unknown to me because the inside pitch wasn’t anything to get excited about. Dusty Baker even shoved Reds coach Ray Knight who got a little too close to Baker for the Cub managers comfort.

The Twins woke up and pounded KC senseless Thursday. Everybody hit and Joe Mays pitched the game Ron Gardenhire has been looking for the past two weeks.

Now KC faces the Cards with Jose Lima on the hill for the Royals against Matt Morris who has had a knot in his shoulder for the past couple of starts.

Lima doesn’t have much and it should be batting practice for the Cardinals who trail the Cubs by one game.

The Cubs are at home to face the White Sox. Shawn Estes is so inconsistent it is hard to predict what will happen in this game. Suffice to say, the White Sox with Jon Garland are a tough matchup today for the Cubs even in Wrigley.

Rockies outfielder Gabe Kapler was released by Colorado yesterday. Kapler, often the subject of trade rumors, suffered from Ruben Sierra disease, too much muscle mass which prevented him from generating any serious bat speed.

The Dodgers should give him a look.

Speaking of LA’s finest, they play the Angels tonight in Chavez Ravine. The Halos got a much needed win Thursday, slowing Seattle down and holding their deficit to 12 1/2 games. The Angels haven’t hit with any regularity, but should have enough on the ball to beat LA, as the fans in the Bay Area like to chant.

Cory Lidle leads the Blue Jays into Montreal where the Expos finally return. Javier Vazquez ran out of gas in Oakland last Sunday after throwing four great innings. The way the Blue Jays are hitting this game will be a challenge for Frank Robinson’s very tired team. Toronto is putting a nice bullpen together. Aquilino Lopez and Tanyon Strutze are the latest additions who are getting the ball and succeeding late in the game.

Steve Trachsel has been phenomenal in his latest starts. The Mets are in danger of getting shut out every time they play. Trachsel will become very attractive to some AL teams if he can shut the Yankees down tonight. Big start for the Mets righty who will trade everybody, but shortstop Jose Reyes.

Trachsel is no stranger to long odds, beating Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens in what looked like huge mismatches a couple of seasons ago.

Brad Radke has been hammered lately, Ben Sheets should be pitching better as well. Let’s see who is standing when this one ends. I’ll say Minnesota because Milwaukee simply stinks, but it won’t be a pretty game, lots of action.

Texas is a team of disinterested veterans. They have lost 16 of their last 18 games, not good.

The GM better back up the truck and do it soon before the young players are tainted by this crew. Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, and Carl Everett, we hardly knew ya, see ya later.

Wade Miller has thrown well lately and Texas better win one this weekend because Oakland shows back up in Texas Monday with Barry Zito and Mark Mulder in the first two games. What a nightmare for Buck Showalter, who by the way doesn’t tell his players the starting lineup until just before game time, how weird.

Christmas comes early for Seattle as they get six games with the Padres while the A’s and Angels are fighting it out with real teams.

You never know in baseball, but Oliver Perez, even if he has found his control, against Gil Meche going for his tenth win, just doesn’t seem right. The only thing going for the Padres is a home game which means no DH and Seattle is weaker without Edgar in the lineup.

Mike Maroth takes one step closer to 20 losses tonight in Colorado. Maybe the thin air will revive the Detroit bats enough to spare Maroth his 12th loss.

These games count in the standings and will be played with more than the ususal intensity. I don’t care how much the players try to downplay the hype, these games are different.