BY SCOTT LAUBERFive days.
That's all it took for Francisco Rodriguez to jump into the Mets-Phillies rivalry.
K-Rod, as Rodriguez is often called, held a teleconference with the New York media today after agreeing to a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday night. Prompted, I'm sure, by a reporter, the record-breaking closer predicted the Mets -- embolded after beefing up their bullpen with Rodriguez and J.J. Putz -- will win the NL East in 2009 and even referred to the Phillies as "the other team."
"Of course we're going to be the frontrunner," Rodriguez told reporters. "Of course were going to be the team to beat. I don't want there to be a controversy. I don't want the other team to take it personally, or take it in a bad way. But I'm a really competitive guy. I like to win. ... If they ask me, 'Who's going to be the ball club that will win the National League East,' it'll be the Mets."
Two days ago, Cole Hamels referred to the Mets as "choke artists," something that, in addition to being accurate, got plenty of attention in New York. The trash talk between the Phillies and Mets is entertaining, but at this point, it's getting kind of tiring, too. Personally, I can't get too worked up over it. Can you?
(Photo: Associated Press)
5 comments:
The Mets choked in 07 but in o8 they lost one of their best starters and their closer. What would happen if the Phillies lost Lindge and Moyer for the month of September?
It would be about as devastating as if the Phillies lost Ronllins for a month in April, follow by injuries to Vinctorino and Wernth. They may never have been World Funking Champions!
I can't either because
1) Calling last year's WS champs the "other guys" is just silly
2) The plagirazation of J-Roll continues unabated..."Team to beat" was only fun before 2007.
At least our players' trash talk is original and entertaining. Theirs' is just repeating what J-Roll said. Then again I wouldn't expect anything more from a New Yorker.
Fransico Rodriguez? He's the guy blew all of those playoff games, right?
Yawn.
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