Here we are, interleague play, the biggest joke in a long line of jokes that is baseball scheduling.

Let's see, the Reds get to play six games against the Indians and three each against the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays. The Cubs don't play either the Yankees or Red Sox. Seems fair.

It may not make a difference this year, but it could in the future. The Reds are punished that they're in one of the same state as one of th best organizations in baseball, while the Cardinals have been able to play the Royals six times for several years in a row now.

Last season the Cubs played only 12 games against the stronger American League, while the Brewers played 15 games against AL teams. While the teams had similar winning percentages (the three teams the Cubs played -- the White Sox mariners and Rangers had a .484 winning percentage, and the four teams the Brewers played, the Tigers, Royals, Twins and Rangers had a .480 winning percentage), the Cubs played the 72-90 White Sox six times and the Brewers played the 79-83 Twins six times.

The Cubs were 8-4 in Interleague play, the Brewers 8-7 and Chicago won the division by two games.

While their opponents had similar winning percentages, teh Brewers' four interleague opponents had a .639 winning percentage in interleague play, while the Cubs' three opponents had a .444 winning percentage in interleague play. The Rangers were the only American League team on the Cubs' schedule that had a winning interleague record -- and they played the Brewers too (the Rangers were 1-2 against both the Cubs and Brewers).

The difference between the two teams came down to the Cubs' two series against the White Sox (the Cubs went 5-1 against their cross-town rivals) and the Brewers' two series against thier "rival" Twins (Milwaukee was 3-3 against Minnesota.)

Really, interleague play has run its course. It was to try to get people interested again after the strike of 1994. It's happened, it worked, it's done.

Interleague play is why you only see the Mets once a year, or the Giants or the Marlins or the Braves (there is a quirk this season that brings the Dodgers twice this season). With no other trip to Cincinnati this season, the Marlins and Reds will have to squeeze in another trip to Cincinnati at some point.

* One of my favorite writers, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports disagrees with me and has some ideas to make interleague play "better".

* While at Yahoo! check out this interview with Bob Uecker with more than you ever wanted to know about Mr. Belvedere.

* I'll tell you what, I've seen the Brandon Phillips bobblehead, and it's pretty darn nice. I'm looking forward to adding that one to my collection. And make no mistake, it's no coincidence that it's being given away during the series with the Indians. (It's odd, the Indians seem to try to honor the Reds during the series at Jacobs Field -- a couple of years ago they did the duel Vizquel-Concepcion bobblehead and last year they had the Gapper and Slider bobblehead -- not so much this year, though).

That said, I'm most excited about the beach towel day on May 31 -- that thing looks awesome. It could beat the blanket as the best give-away this year.

* The season finale of "The Office" was pretty good. When Andy asked Angela to marry him and she said, "OK." Just awesome. Everyone knew Dwight and Angela had to get back together, but that last scene was still a shocker. I loved the Ryan angle. And Kelly's repsonse...

* I just got around to getting the Flight of the Conchords album. I haven't listened to all of it, but Faux du Fafa is great.

* Interesting stuff with Billy Wagner yesterday. I'll say, most of the Reds are really, really good about stepping up, good or bad, and talking after the game.

* A note from The Hardball Times, the Reds haven't had an ERA leader since 1944.

* Odd note from "real" life. Both my uncle and one of my best friend's fathers were in Chengdu this week. Both, I'm happy to say, are fine. My mother has talked to my aunt, she said my uncle was there for a conference and was in a building when the earthquake hit and then they evacuated and was among everyone in the streets running from the buildings. Really scary. While happy they're safe, there are thousands that are not. Very sad.

* You know the best thing on ESPN.com? Its ETickets (whatever that means) are pretty good, especially this week's look at Yu Darvish, but even better is its ombudsman, Le Anne Schreiber. Today she has a great look today at the Miguel Tejada deal from E60. Just awesome. Not that this kkind of silly shock stunt is anything new for ESPN.

You might remember its Georgia basketball and Jim Harrick story from a couple of years ago. The journalists there did some good work, however, its lone source -- and one that was discredited -- was Tony Cole. A guy I knew pretty well and wouldn't trust him if he told me his name was Tony Cole. The last words he ever spoke in my direction were "I gotta get away from all these honkeys." Anyway, there's a bit in ESPN's on-air report of Jeremy Schaap -- a reporter who has never failed to get himself in the story -- jumping out of the bushes by the parking lot behind Stegeman Coliseum. In no way, shape or form do I believe Jim Harrick was innocent. However, I do know that Jim Harrick's office was one of the most accessable in college basketball. He didn't have a fingerprint scan or any of that crap Coach K has. In fact, I was in Harrick's office that very day.  I walked in. All Schaap had to do was call Sandy, Harrick's secretary, and schedule a time to bring in the cameras, that, or just go to Sandy's desk and ask when he could talk to Harrick. Instead, Schaap went for the visual of Harrick going to his car and "running." It was a cheap stunt and in no way journalism.

I'm glad someone at ESPN realizes that.