It is perfect that the Nationals-Phillies rivalry is rising to a new level in 2019.
Tuesday was a great renewal of the rivalry with Bryce Harper making his debut wearing a Phillies No. 3 jersey in front of a mixed crowd at Nationals Park.
The boos from Nationals fans were thick and heavy, and the cheers were loud and boisterous when Max Scherzer — who was moved up a day to make the start — struck Harper out in their first two battles on Tuesday.
Nationals fans continued to enjoy their night until Harper won the third at-bat, hitting his second double of the season.
He then drove in a run with a single in his next at-bat off a lefty reliever to help send many of the Nationals fans to the exits, and in his fifth at-bat, he gave the remaining Nats fans a reason to leave.
He absolutely punished a ball 458 feet for his third homer in three games. His final line, 3-for-5, single, double, a homer and three RBIs.
Those Nationals fans will come back with more boos on Wednesday, and the rivalry will sure heat up some more.
Now, I started this column by writing that it is perfect for this rivalry to reach a new level in 2019.
Why? Because 100 years ago in 1919, the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, and a great rivalry was born.
The Red Sox were the most successful team in Major League Baseball up until 1919 when the trade of Ruth occurred. That trade sparked a dynasty that won four World Series titles with Ruth in the lineup from 1921 to 1932.
Now, let me be clear, in no way am I saying Bryce Harper is Babe Ruth — although, if I was, I know Adam Ottavino would strike him out.
I also agree that the parallels do not align. The Nationals haven't won World Series — the Red Sox had won four prior to the trade — and I can't say that the Phillies are going to have a Yankees-like dynasty.
Although, I would certainly welcome it.
What I am saying is a major face of the game, a player who knows how to market himself, changed teams to a division rival, and the spark provided from this big move may be just what both cities needed to heat up this rivalry more than it has been since the Nationals came into existence in 2005.
The other aspect that is going to absolutely create more turmoil in this matchup is the fact that the national media is all over Harper.
Yes, even as a Phillies fan, I can admit that it is a bit much. The number of interviews, live cut-ins for at-bats and the national chatter is overbearing at times.
But at the same time, I must say, I enjoy it.
Harper is baseball’s villain. He has been for a while. Fans outside of Washington, D.C., have not grown to love and admire him like they have Mike Trout — I mean, who hates Mike Trout?
No one. He's the best player in baseball. No one argues that.
Who didn’t like Harper before he came to Philly? A lot of fans — including us in Philly.
Maybe that's why we — the city — have turned to love him so much.
The city of Philadelphia is Bryce Harper. Nobody likes us. We’re the worst. We do the absolute worst things, and when other cities commit the same stupid acts, it’s simply shrugged off as a “that’s a Philadelphia thing to do.”
Now that the vile Harper is in the wretched city of Philadelphia, it makes all the sense in the world — nobody likes us and we love it.
It’s why Gritty worked. Nobody liked Gritty, but Gritty is this city. We love what you hate. And strangely enough, we loved what you hated so much that the world started to like Gritty.
Maybe, just maybe, Harper will get some of that same national love.
I said, “national.” Not “National.”
He’s never getting that.
Never.
And that’s just fine with me.
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