View From Stands: New York V.S. Miami Again?

With the surprising Florida Marlins enjoying the early lead in the National League East over the expected competitors, in particular the pre-season favorites, the New York Mets, one question comes to mind. Can the 2008 baseball season bring us to a new chapter in the sports rivalry between teams in New York and Miami?

We have the history of Knicks/Heat and Jets/Dolphins all battling in what has often been bitter, but great rivalries nonetheless. All one would have to do is mention the names P.J. Brown, Charlie Ward, Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Ken O’Brien, Dan Marino among many others and fans from either side can recall memorable moments when they enjoyed laughter and gloating or tears and agony. The ingredients needed for an extension of the rivalry between the areas are definitely present in Major League Baseball.

One of the existing elements that is needed are some seeds that were planted at the end of the 2007 season with the highly tense final series between the two teams. As we remember, big seeds were planted, watered, and fertilized in the 161^st game of the season by the actions of one Lastings Milledge (traded to Nationals) and Jose Reyes, two young talents that are often considered as over-rated by opposing fans and perceived as disrespectful by opposing players. As they incited the eventual brawl, they sealed the Mets doom for game 162 as they woke up a team that was preparing for the offseason and turned them into a monster determined to eliminate the Mets as they did. Now, as we are in 2008, the Mets are trying to forget the pain finished off by the Marlins and the Marlins will not allow the Mets, especially Jose Reyes, to disrespect them like they did in 2007.

Another contributor to the possibility is the fans’ dislikes of one another. Now, with the baseball fans, where the Mets fans in New York are consistent, it’s a little tricky with the Marlins fans since so many of us in South Florida come from every where else. With that comes loyalties to other teams. However, as we have seen in the past, if the Marlins are winning, a lot of those fans will put away their other caps and put on the teal and black caps to support the Marlins with the greatest of love and the most powerful venom against foes. In addition, they adopt the same loyalty that they have shown for the Heat and Dolphins. The key part with both sets of fans lie in their opinions of one another. Miami sports fans see New Yorkers as loud, obnoxious homers with the same blurred vision that leads drunks to taking Miss America home, but waking up with something that barely looks human. New York sports fans see Miami baseball fans as lousy, non-supporters that lack loyalty, and are more of an urban legend then an actual existence. Overall, with the history in the other major sports, the two groups of fans have no love lost for one another.

Next, a common contributor to fueling rivalries, although never admitted by fans, is a hidden level of envy bringing forth the fire. There are things with both of these teams that each may long for. For the Mets, they may envy the Marlins on the field achievements as, through 15 seasons, the Marlins have matched the Mets with 2 World Series championships and have surpassed them with 4 no-hitters. The Mets won their second championship in their 25^th season and are in their 47^th season trying to win their 3^rd as the Marlins attempt to do it in just their 16^th season. As far as no-hitters, the Mets have never had one. Also, where the Marlins have had success at scouting and developing young players into quality ballplayers, the Mets, for the most part, have had a history of doing a poor job at scouting and developing players. For the Marlins, they may envy the obvious things about the Mets. The Mets organization has deep pockets to acquire most high priced players that haven‘t gone to one of the other big market teams. In addition, just being in a big market and all of the other rewards that come with that, is something that the Marlins can feel envious of. Finally, there is the biggest thing that the Marlins and Miami as a whole have been bothered by — the fact that no matter what the case is, or where the Mets sit in the standings, the Mets have far more national attention and respect from the media.

Finally, another element that fans and teams never will admit, is that both teams need each other. I know that eyes may open regarding this statement, so I’ll ask and answer — why do they need each other? Everything on the Marlins side is simple. The Marlins need the national attention. If they could build a rivalry with the Mets to go along with the new stadium and a competitive team, for the first time in their team’s history, they wouldn’t have to beg for attendance. The attention alone, would gain them the same loyal support as the Dolphins and Heat have enjoyed thanks, in part, to the Jets and Knicks. As for the Mets, they need a steady rival. Where the Mets have had their share of battles over the years, they have never had that 1 team that they always go to war against. They have battled the Cubs, the Cardinals, the Pirates, the Braves, the Marlins, the Phillies, and so on, depending on the year. If there is anything that can get them close to the same attention as the Yankees, it is by finding 1 team that builds a consistent history with them in the same way that the Red Sox have done with the Yankees. If this is built, it gives them the opportunity to enjoy the same benefits that the Yankees have when the Red Sox are in town.

With some components that could help this along, could 2008 be the year that New York versus Miami extends to Major League Baseball? If so, the Mets can have something to get some of the attention that the Yankees are used to having and the Marlins could enjoy a bigger bite of the big apple that’s more sweet than the taste they had at the end of last season or in 2003. Well, maybe not as sweet as 2003.

This is a view from the stands.