Read: Phillies In Mets Heads?
In his most recent column for Phillyburbs.com, Mike Sielski writes as spring training approaches, the Phillies, due to their dominance over the Mets in 2007, enter the season with a ‘psychological edge’ over their National League East rival.
Sielski even goes as far to suggest the Mets mental struggle against the Phillies drove them to acquire Johan Santana, writing…
“A similar force drove the Mets’ trade for Santana, for a two-time Cy Young winner, for an elite left-handed pitcher the Mets can use to counteract Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Make no mistake: As much as their rotation required improvement, the Mets shelled out $150 million for Santana for the sake of their clubhouse’s collective confidence.”
…whoa, mike, way to jump to conclusions…first off, the Mets did not acquire santana because they are scared to face the Phillies left-handed batters…they acquired santana because they desperately needed a number one starter…however, of course, santana should do a great job neutralizing the likes of utley and howard, but this moves was not solely based on the reasons you provided…
…secondly, sir, i highly doubt, as your spin suggests, the Phillies are in the Mets heads…yes, when David Wright says the Phillies are the team to beat this year, this may imply your suggestion, but come on, mike, you know just as well as i do, wright was just saying the right thing…
…and, as you note, the Phillies did play a part in the Mets collapse down the stretch last season, by defeating them eight consecutive times, but no one, except for perhaps their own doubts got in the Mets heads last season…and, yes, the Mets do have their own demons to expel this season, but in no part does that have anything to do with the Phillies…
…lastly, what is with these philly writers of late…first, Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News reeked of jealously with his coverage of the santana press conference, now this…
…to me it looks like perhaps the Mets are getting in the heads of Phillies fans…
