METS V. NATIONALS: RIVALRY BORNThings got nasty between the Mets and Nats again today. The benches cleared as words were exchanged between K-Rod and Willie Harris. Harris, the same bum who robbed Delgado of a game winning 9th inning HR a couple years ago in a key game against the Braves, has been a Mets enemy for some time now.
The Nationals are clearly not the same team they were last year. Their pitching has improved drastically, from John Lannen to Tyler Clippard to Livan Hernandez, the Nats have a far better pitching staff and rotation in 2010 then they did in 2009. With the addition of baseballs best minor leaguer Stephen Strausburg, they are a formidable defense for the first time ever. And we all know they have a hell of a lineup. Run production has never been an issue in D.C. Meanwhile, the Mets are better now then they were in 2009. The addition of Jason Bay, as well as additions to the bullpen (Hisanori Takahashi and Jenrry Mejia) solidify and opponent no longer suffering from teamwide injuries.
With all this said, neither team has been predicted by FOX Sports, USA Today, the New York Times, or Baseball Tonight to finish above .500. Thus a rivalry can never grow too intense if their aren't fans to pack the stands? Right? Wrong. The rivalry can only be uglier. Scrappy, mean, beat-em-cuz-you-can't-beat-anyone else. That's the rivalry one can expect from the Mets and Nationals.
The Nationals are clearly not the same team they were last year. Their pitching has improved drastically, from John Lannen to Tyler Clippard to Livan Hernandez, the Nats have a far better pitching staff and rotation in 2010 then they did in 2009. With the addition of baseballs best minor leaguer Stephen Strausburg, they are a formidable defense for the first time ever. And we all know they have a hell of a lineup. Run production has never been an issue in D.C. Meanwhile, the Mets are better now then they were in 2009. The addition of Jason Bay, as well as additions to the bullpen (Hisanori Takahashi and Jenrry Mejia) solidify and opponent no longer suffering from teamwide injuries.
With all this said, neither team has been predicted by FOX Sports, USA Today, the New York Times, or Baseball Tonight to finish above .500. Thus a rivalry can never grow too intense if their aren't fans to pack the stands? Right? Wrong. The rivalry can only be uglier. Scrappy, mean, beat-em-cuz-you-can't-beat-anyone else. That's the rivalry one can expect from the Mets and Nationals.
I've been to a Nats game in D.C. Those fans are silent. How can we have a rivalry with such a lame fan base?
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