Most Overrated Rivalries

[HomeRunHomer]

What do you consider to be an overrated baseball rivalry?

IMO, Giants/Dodgers is slightly overrated. Very rare are the dramatics between the two; also, there has been a lengthy dry spell between big moments.

Since the 1960s, the big moments have occured far ans few between: 1982, 1991, 1993, 2001 2004.

[mojorisin71]

You can say the same for Yankees/Red Sox as well.

[Steve Jeltz]

Mets/Phillies. Both teams have rarely been good at the same time. I wouldn't even mark this as a rivalry since the Phils backed into the NL East title last year.

[Pere]

I think your answer to this question depends on what you think a "rivalry" is, or should be.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

You can say the same for Yankees/Red Sox as well.

Yankees/Red Sox as well? Theres a difference between that rivarly being overrated and some getting tired of hearing about it.

[Victory Faust]

I agree: it's Yankees/Red Sox. Although it's a legitimate rivalry, it's still way overblown by the Eastern Seabord sPorts Network.

[Spazz]

I don't know about overrated but I agree with Chipper Jones that the STUPIDEST rivalry in baseball has to be MLB's decision to make the Braves play the Red Sox six times per year in interleague games, just because seventy years ago they were in the same town. I realize MLB needed to capitalize on interleague play but that's totally ridiculous. The Phils should be matched up with the A's if there was actually a method this madness, but no, the Phils have to play the Blue Jays because of what happened in the 1993 World Series. What kind of mental midget makes this stuff up? Meanwhile the Cards get six "freebie" games against the hapless Royals, the Astros get to snap up six easy ones in Arlington. And the Indians get to knock homeruns into the Ohio River at the Great American Smallpark.

Chipper is right, it's not a bit fair. But there it is...

[Minstrel]

I agree: it's Yankees/Red Sox. Although it's a legitimate rivalry, it's still way overblown by the Eastern Seabord sPorts Network.

I agree. It's a good rivalry, but the Eastern media hypes the rivalry almost like it's what best defines baseball, which is a bit absurd.

An underrated rivalry recently has been Oakland/Anaheim. Since about 2001, they've basically split each season series (almost perfectly in most years) and every game seems to be within a run or two. They've also been fighting for playoff spots much of the time.

[HomeRunHomer]

I don't know about overrated but I agree with Chipper Jones that the STUPIDEST rivalry in baseball has to be MLB's decision to make the Braves play the Red Sox six times per year in interleague games, just because seventy years ago they were in the same town. I realize MLB needed to capitalize on interleague play but that's totally ridiculous. The Phils should be matched up with the A's if there was actually a method this madness, but no, the Phils have to play the Blue Jays because of what happened in the 1993 World Series. What kind of mental midget makes this stuff up? Meanwhile the Cards get six "freebie" games against the hapless Royals, the Astros get to snap up six easy ones in Arlington. And the Indians get to knock homeruns into the Ohio River at the Great American Smallpark.

Chipper is right, it's not a bit fair. But there it is...

Just curious, but who's your favorite team?

I agree. It's a good rivalry, but the Eastern media hypes the rivalry almost like it's what best defines baseball, which is a bit absurd.

Would you say the Western media does the same for Dodgers/Giants?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I agree: it's Yankees/Red Sox. Although it's a legitimate rivalry, it's still way overblown by the Eastern Seabord sPorts Network.

That I could accept, it's definately a rivalry, one of the fiercest and long standing but some times over done. I just don't agree with any who say it's not what it really is, no love lost.

This is one of the oldest, many Red Sox fans still smarting from crazy Frazee for sending Ruth to the Yanks. Well although being a Yankee fan hats off to the Bosox, a long wait but their loyal fans got their reward.

Not as intense as it once was the Giants when in New York and the Dodgers when in Brooklyn, very intense. Putting it mildly.

[Spazz]

Just curious, but who's your favorite team?

I don't really have a favorite team. I guess you could say I'm an all around baseball fan. Of course I watch more National League games than AL games. I really don't like the DH. Takes too much away from the game. :cap:

[Minstrel]

Would you say the Western media does the same for Dodgers/Giants?

Most of the national media seems to be Eastern-based. As for local media, I wouldn't say so. There's a tone of the rivalry being a great tradition and fun, but not much implication that the rivalry is important to/for baseball.

[frehleyscomet]

You can say the same for Yankees/Red Sox as well.

AGREED! For 90 years it was one-sided.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

AGREED! For 90 years it was one-sided.

It may have been one sided for a long period but that soes not take away the rivalry. For that matter it probably makes the side on the short end for a long period hate their arch rival even more.

Plus if you look at the last 10 years the Yanks and Bosox have finished one-two in their division, not to mention the battle in to settle things in 2003 and 2004. The Yanks with the most success in the late 1990s and the Bosox playing greta ball in the last 4 seasons.

[Minstrel]

lus if you look at the last 10 years the Yanks and Bosox have finished one-two in their division

Nine of the last ten. In 2006, Boston finished third, behind New York and Toronto.