Finally….this weekend showcases the Cubs-White Sox rivalry. This is the only reason I remotely support interleague play. Bragging rights are very important in sports…duh…but this one hits very close to home. My parents are split…Dad is a Cub fan….Mom is pro Sox. I’m a firm believer you like one or the other…not both. My Dad has actually been very pro-Sox the past few years, but because he grew up in Chicago (as did Mom), it’s a city thing. Anyway, this is our weekend!

So…what are the best interleague rivalries in baseball? Let’s weigh in on this.
-The afforementioned Cubs vs. Sox. Yuppies vs. Working class. North vs. South. People visit Wrigley and avoid New Commiskey. The Sox have the last World Series Championship (2005). We know about the Cubs.
-New York, New York! Yankees vs. Mets. Success vs. upstarts. Always will be vs. wannabe. The Bronx vs. Queens. The Mets gave their best George Stinebrenner impression when former Yankee player and most recently a Met manager Willie Randolph was fired. When they play, it will be interesting. But because it’s New York, most consider this one the best matchup.
-Los Angeles Dodgers vs. SoCal Anaheim greater LA Angels. Think anyone gets to this game on time??? I’m not getting all gooey about this one…

Bay Area Bash: San Francisco vs. Oakland. Sourdough vs. Black Hole. Again, not terribly exciting, but the locals may disagree

-Washington vs. Baltimore. Battle of the Beltways. I’d like to see this one grow. It’s very young, but since Peter Angelos made a big stink about the Expos moving to DC, a rivalry was born.

Others that fans may like: Tampa vs. Florida; Kansas City vs. St. Louis; Houston vs. Texas

Some other musings from this past week:

-You’re fired!!!!. Willie….you got screwed; John McLaren…wow, the Mariners are a clusterfk; and now John Gibbons…no more fighting the players for you. I don’t remember three managers getting fired in one week…during the season! Will the teams affected fare any better? I doubt it.

-.400 watch: Chipper is down to .390 and out with a quad injury. I doubt now he’ll be back to the .400.

-Anyone notice how well the Orioles are still playing? Same with the Tampa Devil Rays. The AL East may now boast the best division in baseball, especially now with the Yankees on a roll.

-The Dodgers are 6 games under .500, but only 4 1/2 games outta first. What gives? Arizona is playing horribly of late, and while I think they should finish off as a solid team, I am a little nervous for them.

After a week’s absence, the Hunter Flops return. Who still stinks? Lets see:

Teams:

-Toronto: The manager has been fired and the team is in last place. Too late for Cito this year; I would start to look for some hitting

-Cleveland: I thought they’d make a run for the wild card; instead, they’re drawing blanks.

-Seattle: Just bad, bad, bad all over

-NY Mets: You guys stay on this list all year just for the Willie Randolph situation alone.

-San Diego and Colorado: Same sh*t, different week

**Detroit: you’re close to still being on here, but you’ve been playing better lately. Still on probation with me.

Players:

-Ryan Howard and Adam Dunn: You both get the Dave Kingman award for best hit or miss. Howard, 19 HR with a .219 BA; Dunn checks in with 18 HR and .224 BA. Congrats!

-Jose Vidro and Richie Sexton for Seattle: no wonder your manager gets fired; you both are hitting .219 and .216 respectively.

-Bill and Richie Weeks. Among qualifiers, you are the bottom feeders ( .214 and .210). You haven’t gotten your manager fired…..yet.

-Boof Bosner. Welcome to the flops you big boof. 6.48 ERA and 3-6

-Brad Penny. Pitching like you’re worth a penny: 5-9 and 5.88 ERA

-Bret Myers. 3-8 and a 5.58 ERA. We expected more. Amazing how much better shape Philly could be in….

-I saved the best for last…..Barry Zito. 2-11. 6.38 ERA. Go home. Now. You. Suck.

I will try to do a live blog tonight. If you can avoid listening to Joe Morgan on ESPN, I would strongly advise it