Throwdowns > Closed

The Ram said 12/08, 01:47 PM
Rivalry 1.

Rstowe vs. Adult Depends

Even though rstowe has been soiling them for the last 50 years, the Depends always seem to get the better of this matchup inflicting diaper rash and constantly failing at inopportune times.


Wait...

"Baseball" rivalries. Sorry, I missed that part of the title.


Anyway. I'd love to make more than 1 change to your list, but there's really no debating Yankees/Red Sox, and Giants/Dodgers.


I will take issue with your number 3, however.


Third best Rivalry:

Dodgers vs Yankees.

This rivalry may not sizzle for younger fans, but historically it is unequaled. The Yankees from the Bronx and the Dodgers from Brooklyn were heated cross-town rivals. Their 11 World Series matchups (Most by far between any two teams) have provided some of the most memorable and formative moments in baseball history. Reggie Jackson's becoming Mr. October, the first televised World Series, The Cookie game, Jackie Robinson stealing home, Don Larsen's perfect game, Kofax's 15 strikeout game, rookie Fernando Valenzuela turning the '81 series, and many others.

The original Subway Series has been played out with the highest possible stakes.

The Ram said 12/08, 02:34 PM
While playing more frequently can help a rivalry, that is not the only component. Kansas City plays Minnesota 18 times a year, but no one cares...Why?

Because, like T-Fo's mom, they suck.

That is what really kills the Cardinals/ Cubs "rivalry." They play often, but too often they're playing for nothing.

Here is the breakdown. Since both teams began playing in the same division (1892), they have both finished in the top 3 in their division a total of 18 times. In 117 seasons! So 16% of the time there is actually a NL or NL East race that involves both teams. The VAST majority, 84%, of the time they are playing for nothing--just jockeying for last place. They've never met in the playoffs, and both teams have finished with winning records only 26% of the time.

Just because Peachy squares off with Joe Dew 5 times a week that does not make it a great rivalry.

To consider the Cubs part of a "great rivalry" is to ignore their complete incompetence over the past century. It's hard to consider something a rivalry when one team never wins.

Yankees/Dodgers have played more meaningful games against each other than Cubs/Cards even though they seldom meet.

The Ram said 12/08, 03:25 PM
So now you want to define a rivalry as whether or not the fanbase is passionate about it right this second?

A rather self serving argument, and completely contrary to the title of the TD...you know, the "all-time" part? Consider the passion of the NY fanbase in the 1940's and 1950's. That is just as relevant as today when discussing "all-time." An intra-city matchup where two teams are meeting in the World Series year after year is as tense, divisive, and rancorous a scenario as you can imagine for a fanbase.

There are only a few matchups involving original teams that have survived the numerous realignment and divisional changes. That does not mean those matchups are automatically the best rivalries. You haven't given a single stat, memorable moment, pennant race, or game to prove your point, likely because they are few and far between (like visits from your great grandkids--face it, no one wants to hear whining about the nurses stealing your stuff).

The Yankees/Dodgers have generated more memorable MLB history in 11 World Series than the Cubs/Cards have in "117 years of forgettable mediocrity" (funny coincidence--that's also T-Fo's mom's slogan).