FanHouse

Things to watch for in 2008 is, well, FanHouse's attempt to keep track of what's worth keeping your eye on as we roll into the 2008 season, be it good, bad, or ugly.

For the first 45 years of the Mets existence, the most natural geographical rivalry was with the Philadelphia Phillies. But every time the Mets were good, the Phillies were bad, and vice versa. The Mets' rivalries have always been dictated by the standings ... the Cubs in 1969 and the early 70's, a fierce one with the Cardinals in the mid-80's, and the Braves in the late 90's through now. But in year 46, boy did that change. First, Jimmy Rollins proclaims the Phillies "the team to beat". Then, with the Mets having a seven game lead with seventeen games to go, a furious Phillies run combined with an inexplicable Mets collapse made for some drama between the two teams never seen before. (Along the way, the Phillies beat the Mets the last eight times they played in '07.)

So now in '08, it's a brand new ball game. The Mets upped the ante and got themselves Johan Santana, prompting Carlos Beltran to fire the first shot of the season, telling Rollins that the Mets are the team to beat this season. Rollins, of course, responds diplomatically, but playfully accuses Beltran of plagiarism.

And from that, now we have talk of brawls before the season even starts. First, it was ESPN's Jayson Stark that basically predicted a brou-ha-ha this season. And in response to that, now there's this quote from Pedro Martinez:

"I don't believe there's a reason to be fighting, but we're over here," Pedro told The Post yesterday. "Basically, if [they're] going to have to brawl or whatever, we're over here. We'll wait."

Martinez, who knows a thing or two about blood rivalries from his days with the Red Sox, then ratcheted up the ongoing war of words by saying his friendship with some Phillies won't hold him back on the mound.

"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," Martinez said.

Mets/Phillies games are going to be a treat this season. The games that were played between the two teams last season were ridiculously entertaining on their own merit, and usually came down to the last inning or two. Put it this way: if the Yankees and the Red Sox had played those games, at least five of them would have been considered "instant classics". Since it was the Mets and the Phillies, the world outside of Flushing and Philadelphia hardly noticed. But considering that there is now a history between the two teams, I think the general baseball world will pay attention a little bit more, and the world will be glad it did.

But a brawl? Naaah. First off, players on both sides do seem to have a mutual respect for each other by and large. Besides, usually when there's actual talk of a brawl, it never materializes. If it does, it will be in the stands as Met fans regularly travel en masse to Citizens Bank Park, and Phillies fans are planning a hostile takeover of Shea this season. I'll go so far as to say that if there is a Mets brawl in '08 with an N.L. East team, it will be the Marlins ... considering the near brawl that happened on the last Saturday of '07, and considering Hanley Ramirez's comments after that game.

Even without a brawl, Mets vs. Phillies will be worth watching ... and not just having the television on in the background while you're reading FanHouse on your laptop. Mets/Phillies in '08 is deserving of your undivided attention as you plop down on the couch with chicken wings on the coffee table.