Mets-Phillies Series Preview

For 45 years the Mets and Phillies never had a rivalry, despite their close physical approximation and being in the same league and division (since 1969). The problem has been that for the most part they just haven’t been good at the same time. When the Phillies were winning, the Mets were at the bottom, and vice versa.

But finally, we have a full flat-out rivalry. Phillies fans hate Jose Reyes because of his handshakes and high jinks and Billy Wagner because he’s, well, Billy Wagner. Mets fans hate Jimmy Rollins because he’s constantly whining and crying about the Mets and Shane Victorino because of his taunting and celebratory antics. Rollins recently made comments about getting extra motivation playing against the Mets because of their shenanigans (hey, Jimmy, you’re 5-10 against them and can’t be bothered to show up for the game on time―I’d hate to see how you’d do when you’re not motivated). Meanwhile, Victorino practically does cartwheels whenever he gets a hit, Ryan Howard stands at home plate admiring his home runs, showing up the opposing pitcher, and Rollins himself is the master of hot dogging it around the bases wagging his finger in the air when he hits a home run. So his whine-athon is a little off-target―look at your own teammates first. Unfortunately, players in most sports celebrate and hot dog their way through the games nowadays. That’s just the way it is, like it or not (I don’t). You have to have pretty thin skin to let that bother you.

This is the last series between these two teams this year. The Mets are in first by three games and look to extend their lead while the Phils try to make up some ground. The Mets and Phillies have been the two best teams in the NL East the last three years (Braves? Who are the Braves?), they hate each other, their fans hate each other, and all that adds up to one thing: fun.

Here are the pitching matchups:

Friday: Brett Myers (8-10, 4.40 / 0-0, 5.40 vs. Mets) vs. Mike Pelfrey (13-8, 3.66 / 1-0, 5.40 vs. Phils)

Saturday: Jamie Moyer (12-7, 3.80 / 1-1, 4.40 vs. Mets) vs. Pedro Martinez (5-3, 5.07 / 1-0, 6.10 vs. Phils)

Sunday: Cole Hamels (12-8, 3.01 / 0-1, 5.14 vs. Mets) vs. Johan Santana (12-7, 2.71 / 1-0, 3.10 vs. Phils)

League Rankings:

Average: Phillies .254 (11th), Mets .267 (3rd)

Runs: Phillies 676 (3rd), Mets 693 (2nd)

OBP: Phillies .331 (6th), Mets .340 (4th)

Slugging: Phillies .443 (3rd), Mets .418 (7th)

Home Runs: Phillies 185 (1st), Mets 147 (8th)

Stolen Bases: Phillies 113 (4th), Mets 121 (2nd)

ERA: Phillies 3.88 (4th), Mets 3.96 (5th)

WHIP: Phillies 1.38 (7th), Mets 1.34 (5th)

Saves: Phillies 39 (3^rd), Mets 39 (3^rd)