Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays Bring New Bad Blood to Baseball

For the last few years, and really since the 2003 season, the biggest rivalry in Major League Baseball has once again been Red Sox-Yankees.

It has provided all kinds of great baseball moments since it's been renewed on the national level: A bench-clearing brawl featuring Pedro Martinez facing off against Don Zimmer, in possibly the most-comical fight in sports history, and Aaron Boone's Game Seven game-winning homer off of Wakefield in the 2003 NLCS. 

No to mention, A-Rod's elementary playground-esque slap of Bronson Arroyo's glove at first base at an absolutely crucial point of Game Six in the 2004 NLCS, helping him to cement his position as biggest postseason goat of all time (other than the one from Wrigley).

And we can't forget about the Red Sox finishing the comeback from 3-0 in that same series, becoming the first team ever to do so and then sweeping the Cards for their first World Series win in 86 years to break the curse of the Babe; Boston winning the Series not once but twice since the New Yorkers have brought home the trophy (it's still hard to believe).

The incredible moments and stories have been neither few nor far between.

It has been great to watch this rivalry once again grow in importance on the national scale, not just confining the fun to New Englanders and scattered lifelong fans.

However, most disappointingly, it has grown a little stale lately. I know this because for the last few years, I, as a Red Sox diehard, have drooled over every single game the two teams have played, from Spring Training through October.

However, of all years, the final year of Yankee Stadium, it didn't mean as much. No matter how good it is to beat the Skanks and experience the sweet justice of those pinstriped pansies sitting at home in October in the last chance for playoff baseball at the House that Ruth Built, it just wasn't the same.

Maybe it's because the Yanks are getting old and just aren't as good as they used to be. Maybe winning has changed my outlook as a Red Sox fan. The games haven't been as crazy, fiery, or competitive lately. Whatever the reason, it's just not the same.

Then, just when one of the few nationally entrancing rivalries began to fade again for awhile...

The Rays exploded onto the scene! I don't know where they came from, and I can't stand them for taking the A.L. East title with such seeming ease, but I'm so glad they are here. New bad blood in baseball! This is even better than steroid-munching power hitters breaking home-run records.

A reason for fans all over to continue to be involved, even when their teams are out. It's a pairing that's just waiting to explode into a brand new rivalry, full of even more tight games, division races, fisticuffs, and long, exciting playoff series.

This is an interesting matchup for so many different reasons. It's David vs. Goliath. Reigning champs vs. perennial cellar dwellers. Huge media market vs. tiny media market. Haves vs. Have-Nots. Wiley vets vs. upstart kids.

This matchup, at least for the next week or two, is going to keep America tuned in to the playoffs. The reason is this: Whether you love them or hate them, the mightiest team in baseball over the last four years is giving you a reason to watch.

They're either going to make their third World Series in five years, bringing the upstart Rays back down to earth, or lose to the greatest worst-to-first story in sports history.

I, for one, can't wait for the ALCS to begin. As a Red Sox fan, I hope it's another Boston blowout. But as purely a baseball fan, there's a little piece of me that wants a banner hanging in Tampa, cementing hatred between the two teams for years to come. Win or lose, this guy's going to be one happy camper.