Philadelphia Phillies: Did Cole Hamels Just Ignite a New Rivalry with Nationals?

It was surprising to hear Cole Hamels admit to hitting the Washington Nationals‘ up-and-coming star Bryce Harper intentionally on Sunday night. 

Hamels received a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine. The punishment really doesn’t mean much. The Phillies confirmed Hamels will only miss one start and it will be pushed back to Sunday against the Padres. 

Given the National League East standings and other past events, trouble could be on the horizon when these two teams meet again. 

For Phillies fans, the Nationals have left a bad taste in the Phillies’ mouths that had not previously been there. When the Montreal Expos moved to D.C., Phillies fans welcomed the idea. A two-hour drive down I-95 meant they could see their team play more games in person. It gave Phillies fans a great excuse to visit the nation’s capital. 

For a period of time, Nationals Park was coined Citizens Bank Park South (CBP South for short) by Phillies fans. The Nationals were not a contender, while the Phillies were in pursuit of another World Series title. Attendance still isn’t where the Nationals brass would like it to be. Once the Nationals have a little success, more people will start going to games. A large population of longtime Baltimore Orioles fans in the area have contributed to the low attendance at Nationals games as well.

The first inkling of a rivalry was when Jayson Werth signed a seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals after the 2010 season. Werth said he believed in the Nationals future and that it had a lot to do with him signing there. That future included Stephen Strasburg and Harper. 

The new “Natitude” at Nationals Park appears to be gaining momentum following last Sunday night’s nationally televised game on ESPN.  Part of the “Natitude” campaign was to not sell tickets to Phillies fans until the day of the game if there were any tickets remaining. By the looks of things, it looked like that wasn’t a problem for Phillies fans.  

A second player on the 2008 World Series winning team has taken the train south to play for the Nationals. Brad Lidge signed a one-year deal with the Nationals in January. It seems like just a small point right now. Lidge has continued to battle injuries that have plagued him to near minimal success since the 2008 season. He had surgery Tuesday morning and is scheduled to begin throwing again in three weeks.  

Now the Hamels incident has opened the public’s eye to a rivalry that only had a seed planted but hadn’t shown any promise of becoming a bitter rivalry. 

It even got the Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo in a little bit of trouble with his comments. Rizzo was fined an undisclosed amount for basically calling Hamels a “fake.” Maybe that will add to the tension building between the two teams.

Oddly enough, Hamels could have been a possible target for the Nationals to bolster their lineup this winter. Right now, if Rizzo had the option to sign Hamels to a long-term deal in free agency, he probably wouldn’t. Whether or not the benches clear, Hamels could still wind up in Washington. Rizzo could see this as another opportunity to stick it to the Phillies and their fans. It will all depend on how Rizzo feels months from now.

According to Philly.com, Hamels didn’t want to go any further in the saga when given a chance to do so Tuesday when he talked to the media.

“I’m just going to let it go,” he said.

The Nationals or Harper may not be willing to let it go. 

Now Jayson Werth has expressed some hatred for some of the fans who once loved him in an email to the Washington Post. What Werth just doesn’t realize is that he has kind of done the same thing as a bride leaving the groom at the altar. 

There is a chance for the benches to be clearing the next time these teams meet. The best part about that is it won’t be a long wait. The Nationals and Phillies will meet again at Citizens Bank Park in about two weeks.

The whole incident does raise an interesting question. Could it be possible that Philadelphia fans will look at Bryce Harper similarly to the way they look at Sidney Crosby?

Follow me on Twitter: @Rob_Gsinger25 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Battle of Pennsylvania: 5 Reasons It Will Matter in 2012

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates has not been an important matchup in a long time. Some young fans of the Buccos have never seen a winning season. 

The Pirates have five World Series titles to the Phillies’ two. To say that there is a rivalry between these two teams would be false. For now. 

Right now, the numbers say that it will matter.

Both teams are putting up eerily similar numbers. The Phillies are supposed to be the favorites to win the NL East, while the Pirates are supposed to be one of the worst teams in the entire National League. 

The Phillies, in all of ESPN’s regular-season rankings, are mostly in the 20s (runs 28th, 15th batting average, 27th on-base percentage and 24th in slugging percentage).

In comparison, the Pirates are in last in all of those rankings. The number 30 nearly streaks across the screen (with their 29th-ranked batting average being the only stat that keeps them out of the cellar).

With all of these numbers being close, it could mean something big down the road for the Phillies. Strangely enough, the Pirates do not have the worst record in baseball. That shameful spot belongs to the 3-14 Kansas City Royals. 

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Jonathan Papelbon and 6 Players Who Need a Fast Start

Phillies fans have expectations. After winning it all in 2008, every year since then has been a World Series win or bust. Phillies fans this year are definitely quieter about their chances this year. Some expressed that they were not as excited as they once were.The infield has so many question marks because of its health and age. 

Opening Day is one of the best days of the year for Phillies fans. The season started off the right way. Roy Halladay out-dueled Pittsburgh’s Erik Beddard, giving up only two hits. 

It set up a near-perfect scenario for Jonathan Papelbon to come in and get his first save of the season. The Phillies lacked offense in last year’s NLDS because they were too banged up. They lacked it again against the Pirates on Opening Day. 

Papelbon came in and retired all three hitters he faced. He struck out one, and the other two grounded out. Out of 10 pitches, nine of them were strikes.  

The Phillies very well may have offensive struggles early on in the season. If that is the case, Papelbon could wind up being the guy that gets the Phillies some key wins early on in the season. He looked like an All-Star closer on Opening Day. He will need to be that way for most of the season. The Phillies will need Papelbon if they are going to win pitchers’ duels like the one on Opening Day. 

After all, Brad Lidge’s 2008 season performance won the Phillies the World Series. It may come to that for the Phillies in 2012, only this time it will be Papelbon.  

Begin Slideshow

Domonic Brown and 7 Philadelphia Phillies Trade-Bait Prospects

The Philadelphia Phillies set a franchise record last season with 102 wins—yet the season ended way too early for Phillies fans.

To make matters worse, the final out of the season left Ryan Howard hobbling down the first base line after tearing his Achilles tendon during the final swing. At the time, Howard appeared to be doubtful for Opening Day 2012. Jim Thome—the man who Howard replaced—is back, but it could only be a temporary solution.

In addition, Chase Utley’s whole season is in doubt and Placido Polanco’s health is always a question these days. In order to make a trade, the Phillies will have to use prospects to entice other clubs in giving up some of their top talent.

Begin Slideshow