(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
A true Dodgers fan understands the meaning of the upcoming Interleague series against the team's crosstown American League rival. These Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—so called for marketing reasons—are not true rivals in our book.
The Dodgers and Angels cannot go back in history and recall any turbulent battles between the two teams. Each organization does have its history of great players, but they never met in a meaningful game—let alone the World Series.
Yes, these games count because it's the regular season, but they mean nothing more to average Dodgers fan than would any other game on the schedule.
Plus, I don’t see any “Beat L.A.” signs or chants at Angel Stadium. I do when we play our true rival, the Giants, up in San Francisco.
Fans aren't obligated to make it a rivalry because their home stadium is only 30 minutes away or because a former Dodger catcher is now is the manager of the Angels.
As Dodgers fans, we would rather not see the Angels twice on the schedule every year. It’s not like the Mets and Yankees games, where we all get excited for a Subway Series. Even the A’s and the Giants had the Battle of the Bay series.
I would prefer to see us play the Yankees or the Red Sox more often then the Angels. A poll was actually done on KCAL 9, the Dodgers station in L.A., during a Texas Rangers game. When asked who they would like to see the Dodgers face more during Interleague Play, more fans chose the Yankees than the Angels.
If and when these two teams meet in a World Series, we can create some hype and call it the "Freeway Series." Until then, Dodgers fans should not really care.
This weekend's series will still be an exciting one to watch. The Dodgers are still on top of their game and leading the NL West, and the Angels are looking to get back in contention in the AL West.
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