The Phillies/Mets rivalry is back in full force.
While the rivalry never truly faded, it was reignited by the Mets’ victory over the Phillies in last October’s NLDS. The Mets also swept the Phillies in a 3-game series at Citi Field just last week.
But as Chase Utley knows, the animosity lingers, even after careers end. Just ask former Phillies playoff hero Jayson Werth.
Werth recently appeared on the “BSBLR show” podcast, where he expressed strong opinions about New York baseball fans, including which team they should – and shouldn’t – support.
“If you live in New York, you have a choice. It’s a pretty clear one,” Werth said. “You can either be a fan of one of the most legendary franchises, one of the greatest in sports history… or the Mets.”
“I have no respect for people who choose the Mets,” Werth added.
While I respect his blunt honesty, and I understand the animosity, there’s something to be said for rooting for the Yankees’ “little brother.” Maybe some fans enjoy backing the perennial underdog, though the 2025 Mets’ $273 million payroll – the second-highest in baseball, just behind the Phillies at $274M – might challenge that narrative.
The trophy collections are certainly not on the same level. The Mets have two World Series titles, which pales in comparison to the Yankees’ 27 championships.
Regardless, Werth has certainly thrown more fuel on the fire in the ongoing Phillies/Mets rivalry debate.