Reds vs. Pirates: Is It a Big Brother vs. Little Brother Rivalry in the Making?

Bean balls, ejections, shoving and fiery words have filled the first two games of the Reds/Pirates series during the first weekend of August. The team making a statement in this series seems to be the Cincinnati Reds, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are taking offense at that statement.

Before we delve any deeper into this rivalry in the making, let's look at how we got to this point in the first place.

The landscape atop the N.L. Central has been evolving over the past few seasons, and it seems that two young and exciting teams are taking charge this year and poised to take charge for years to come.

The Cincinnati Reds began this changing of the guard when they claimed the 2010 N.L. Central crown with a 91-71 record. Their youthful jubilance was stymied, however, in 2011 when the team faced a slew of injuries and a sophomore slump of sorts that saw them drop to 79-83 and third place in the division. The Reds did, however, maintain a positive run differential that showed there were still a lot of positives hiding behind that losing record.

While the Reds were facing trials and tribulations last season, another young club was emerging in the division. The Pittsburgh Pirates would take a winning record into August of 2011 before facing a major late-season collapse that would see them drop to fourth in the division and finish with a 72-90 record.

The 2012 season has seen these two clubs emerge as the favorites—battling it out for top dog in the division. The city of Cincinnati and the Reds have faced their fair share of losing seasons since their last World Series ring in 1990, but Pittsburgh fans and the Pirates have faced an unfathomable streak of 19 consecutive losing seasons—that streak looks to be coming to an end this season.

Let's fast forward back to the present. We have two young clubs that are hungry for success and for national respect. The Pirates are where the Reds were in 2010 when Cincinnati was out to show St. Louis that their time as top tog was ending.

Cincinnati was little brother at that point, and now Cincy has swapped roles, playing big brother to the Pirates. Pittsburgh is taking that little brother mentality into this weekend's series, and unfortunately for them, it is big brother Cincy that is making the statement.

Personally, I believe Aroldis Chapman placed that 101-mph fastball into Andrew McCutchen's arm on purpose—sending a statement Friday night. But when Mike Leake plunked Josh Harrison during Saturday's game, Harrison's reaction was a bit overboard—staring down and jawing at Leake on his way to first. The pitch was obviously not intentional. First of all, Josh, you are a rookie. Not only that, but you are a rookie with only 142 at-bats this year and you have yet to accomplish anything at the major league level—check yourself, son.

Then there was another Pirates rookie, pitcher Jared Hughes, who felt it necessary to shove Dioner Navarro while tagging Navarro out as he was running to first base on a weak grounder that Hughes fielded. Let me tell you something, Jared: The runner has the right of way when you stand between him and the base. But what makes this a childish move by Hughes is that Navarro was playing in his first game of the season and actually even tried to avoid Hughes.

So, let me tell you something, Jared Hughes: You looked ignorant as you strutted around the mound after your shameless act. The best part about it all is that the Reds didn't even react, seemingly understanding that this was just a case of little brother jealousy and temper tantrum in action. After all, Hughes was simply ticked that he had just given up the go-ahead and eventual winning run.

The last bit of gasoline being tossed into the already red-hot flames is the fact that Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was ejected while arguing with the home plate umpire after both benches were warned after the Mike Leake/Josh Harrison incident. Umpires wanted to end any possible retaliation before it started and Hurdle obviously took offense to it.

So far, big brother seems to have the upper hand. The Reds have simply been making their statement on the field, but that little brother mentality by Pittsburgh is sure to fuel a fire and end of season rivalry. I am pretty confident that there will be fireworks in the near future between these two teams.

Be sure to follow Josh on Twitter @JRamCincy