Read: Is it a Rivalry Yet
Willie Randolph talked with reporters and explained that his team’s relationship to the Phillies is not yet a full-blown rivalry, though he 
hoped it gets to that level, because, as he said.
“It gives you that instant incentive to go out and kick someone’s butt…And I think we’re lacking that in the game.”
The notion of a heated rivalry began over the weekend, when Carlos Beltran sent a message to the Phillies and Jimmy Rollins, who were then asked by reporters to respond to Beltran.
In the Daily News, John Harper goes back to Beltran, to get his response to Rollins’s comments in response to his comments.
…wait, i’m getting dizzy…slow down…
Beltran, as quoted by Harper, while smiling and saying:
“I know probably when we go to Philly I’m going to hear a lot of things, but that’s all right, I’m not worried about that. This is good for baseball. A lot of people are focusing on the steroids thing. We’re putting the focus back on the game.”
…he’s right…and that light-hearted, smiley response is exactly what willie is saying, in that these rivalries tend to be a bit softer than what you think when you imagine a real rivalry…and so, let it play out…let’s see what happens when these two teams actually face each other on the field, not just in the newspapers…then, and only then, will we be able to truly call this a rivalry…
…that said, i’m looking forward to the 19 games they’re set to play against one another through the course of the year…
For more on Randolph’s commentary on what defines a rivalry, check out the Star-Ledger, Newsday, Journal News, SI.com and the Bergen Record.
Lastly, during a recent interview with Sports Radio 950 in Philadelphia, ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark said he recently overheard players in the Phillies locker room suggesting, ‘There will be a brawl.’
Pedro Martinez, on brawling, as quoted in New York Post.
“I don’t believe there’s a reason to be fighting, but we’re over here. Basically, if [they're] going to have to brawl or whatever, we’re over here. We’ll wait…I love Jimmy Rollins, I love [Brett] Myers, I love everybody…but I would love to beat the [snot] out of them on the field.”
…ya know, i miss pedro…sure, he pitched a few games there at the end of last season, but my mind was elsewhere…freaking out over losing…but, i look forward to watching a full season of pedro, back in the saddle again…
