Phillies-Mets rivalry will come back in a big way in 2021
Expect the Phillies-Mets rivalry to heat up next season.
The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have certainly changed the narrative of their organizations in the past few weeks.
We’ve recently seen the Mets gain life with new ownership — led by sports fanatic and billionaire Steve Cohen — positioning themselves to spend big this offseason. After years of mediocrity the 2015 World Series run, Cohen has injected energy into the Mets, while putting the rest of the National League on high alert. So far, the Mets have put their money where their mouths are, already signing free-agent catcher James McCann to a multi-year deal.
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The Phillies, meanwhile, have a window and the current talent to come away with a playoff berth this coming season. Like the Mets, their organization seemingly is reaching for a quick turnaround, hiring two-time World Series champion executive Dave Dombrowski as their first-ever president of baseball operations.
The former Boston Red Sox front office leader has developed a reputation as a competitor and big player in the market, dating back to the days when he led a gutted Detroit Tigers organization back to contention.
So, it is safe to assume that leaves both organizations on a course heading toward the same electric rivalry from the late 2000s — when a young Phillies core and a balanced Mets roster battled for the National League East title year after year. There was true animosity between the teams; it’s going to take more than one or two signings to reignite this rivalry, but already things are moving in the right direction.
Major League Baseball needs more rivalries besides the longstanding one between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Free agency and comradery among star players have detracted from some of the competitiveness between individual players, but if both franchises are in it to win it, that issue may resolve itself.
Rivalries are instigated by front offices these days; there is a Cohen-Dombrowski-John Middleton competition that will stir the fire. Those flames should be felt by the players, who understand that they are playing for a city and region — something more than themselves, and something that should drive them to simply want to beat their rivals.
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To further this restating of competitiveness among division rivals, there is more to be done. Neither the Phillies nor the Mets are division favorites, although that may change when the offseason concludes.
It’s going to take landing a polarizing figure, such as Bryce Harper, to do so. The Phillies have their figurehead in Dombrowski, and with Cohen at the helm — a player such as Carlos Beltran from the late 2000s may establish the “who’s better” talk from the national vantage point.
DJ Lemahieu is the biggest fish in the free agency pond this time around — a player that has risen to become the premier bat in today’s game, aside from Mike Trout. Trade talks have surfaced around Francisco Lindor, a perfect fit for creating a villain in New York.
Creating star competition is one thing, but culture is another. And it begins with the fans. Younger generations forget how much we wanted the Mets to fail, and how much we craved the Phillies to succeed.
When sports truly come back with fans in attendance at sold-out venues, there is hope that people remember their fandom. Fans need something to cheer for — or against, in the case of New York.
If MLB is to sustain itself, it must adapt and create the intricate rivalries the NFL and NBA can advertise to fans. And in two of the biggest markets in the U.S., all it takes is a few pushes of the right buttons.
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