Links: Mets and Phillies Edition
The Mets travel to Philadelphia tonight to begin 
a three-game series with the Phillies, who they will again meet for two games in Citi Field towards the end of next week.
Philadelphia columnist, and provocateur, John Gonzalez writes a letter to Mets fans in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, saying:
“This might be overstepping our relationship, but can we tell you something? You guys seem awfully haggard. It looks like you haven’t slept much lately. Guess choking away two straight division titles will keep you up at night. It has to be brutal to be a Mets fan. For once, we won’t blame you guys for making the trip down to Philly. Generally it bugs us. But if we had it that rough, we’d want to get away, too.”
Peter Botte writes about the match up in the Daily News, while quoting Jerry Manuel as saying:
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to how we react to what they do. I 
want to see what we do, how our guys do… Hopefully, we’ll be at full strength at that point. I just want to see where we are with those guys and (the Braves). I’ve seen Washington, I’ve seen the Marlins. I want to see where we are and how we compare in the division with those two teams.”
The Mets play the Braves and Phillies 10 times in the next 13 games.
The Brooklyn Met Fan is hoping the Mets get in to an on-field drawl with the Phillies, writing, “In my estimation, there’s no surer way to unify, inspire and kick-start a placid team then a good old-fashioned brawl.”
That said, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News explains, “The hyperbole surrounding the rivalry is driven more by the media and fans than by those who actually take the field.”
Nevertheless, in the Bergen Record, Steve Popper says, “The bus ride from Citi Field to Citizens Bank Park is about two hours, long enough for the Mets to nap. But it would be nice if they woke up by the time that they take the field tonight.”
