In the history of the Mets it is very rare that the Phils and Mets were both high quality teams at the same time and as a consequence, even though they are so close in geographical proximity, things have rarely gotten testy between these two teams.
But heading into this season, we all knew these teams both had deep and talented rosters with this division promising to be one tough game after another. So far these teams have played six times, splitting those contests, but bad blood has been in full view as Rhys Hoskins took a laborious stroll around the bases after hitting a home run off Jacob Rhame. The man that threw a fastball behind him the night before here at Citi.
Hoskins would set a Statcast record for slowest home run trot at 34.2 seconds, significantly slower than Bartolo Colon’s 30.5 trot after he homered in San Diego.
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To a man in the Met clubhouse, players said that they paid no attention to it, but I got the sense that they were just talking politically correct. And I get the sense that the next time these teams square off the rivalry will intensify and to tell you the truth, that is a good thing because this sport needs more rivalries. This division has a real chance to be nip and tuck right through the season and it could be the first time in a long time multiple teams from this division will be in the chase for a playoff spot. And by multiple teams I mean 4 squads and that means rivalries would only add to the drama of late season baseball.
Both of these two teams have great leaders in their clubhouses and I am sure they will they will curtail the angst young players might be feeling after games like we saw the last 2 nights but they will also be the first to remind those young stars that the best revenge is living well and by that I mean winning the division.
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Todd Frazier kind of talked about that after the game as he indicated there’s a long way to go and winning the series was the more important issue than a slow trot around the bases. After the media scrum, I chatted with Frazier off microphone and he reiterated to me what he has told on numerous occasions. He has faith in this Met roster and cream rises to the top in this sport which makes him know the Mets will emerge as the best team in this competitive division when things are all said and done in 2019.
The Mets and Phillies will meet again on June 24 at Citizens Bank Park to play a four-game set.
