The Sox are in the midst of their first extended homestand in weeks, which of course means the rain returned to Fenway Park on Friday.

It also means the National League is in town, the annual stretch of interleague games when the Sox face the so-called “senior circuit.”

This column has been an unabashed critic of interleague play. I don’t like the concept, I don’t like the rule changes over the course of June, and I don’t like the fact that teams competing for playoff spots play different schedules due to “natural rivalries.”

I don’t like that we see the Phillies as much as we see the White Sox or Indians this season.

Having said all that, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed interleague play as much as I have this season. The Red Sox entered the weekend 8-1 against the National League after sweeping the Braves in Atlanta and the Nationals at Fenway.

Boston’s success in interleague doesn’t make me like the concept any more, but it does have me thinking it’s time for a radical change. Let’s put the Sox in the National League! Clearly, Theo Epstein has built an NL-style team that has spectacular defense, solid pitching and a lineup that can hit one through nine.

Think about it for a minute. The Sox could play in the NL East (a division that’s as weak as it has been in years) and face Pedro four or five times a season. They’d play nine games in Atlanta, where there are clearly thousands and thousands of Red Sox fans.

The Sox could finally have a real natural rival, the Yankees. Six games a season, three home and three on the road; six games that all of baseball would stop and watch.

And, the Sox-Yanks rivalry could unthinkably move to the next level – imagine the Red Sox facing the Yankees in the World Series!

We keep hearing how the inequity between the American and National leagues has never been greater.

The Sox are one of the best teams in the stronger league this season.

Stick them in the weaker “senior circuit” and watch the wins pile up.

Just a thought. Obviously, there’s no way it’ll happen. Might as well sit back and enjoy the next week, but be warned: things are going to get a little tougher with the first-place Mets in town this week before Boston heads south to face a Marlins team that is suddenly rolling.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is NESN sports analyst for Red Sox and Bruins telecasts.