The other day, I was reading the paper and saw a headline mentioning how the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres’ “rivalry” had been renewed as the teams faced off for the first time since the playoffs last year (the Dodgers won the series 3 games to 2 after shutting out the Padres in Games 4 & 5). For the last few years, people have been hyping the Dodgers versus the Padres because of all the things the Padres have done over the years. Their late owner popped open the piggy bank and brought a lot of talent to the team. No longer a laughingstock, everyone bought the Padres hype, and the “experts” have always considered them and the Arizona Diamondbacks as the biggest rivals to the Dodgers. I am here to tell you…that is wrong.
This past weekend confirmed one very important fact that many “experts” overlook: the Dodgers’ greatest rival is the San Francisco Giants. How can people forget one of the longest running rivalries in sports? Well, I don’t want to admit that the quote from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is right when they said “…we’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories…”, but it may be right (for more reasons than just sports…). Let’s take a quick look back in time, before we recap the fireworks from this weekend’s battle between the Dodgers and Giants.
BEST ENEMIES FOREVER
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants is one of the most storied in Major League Baseball. It began long before their West Coast relocations in 1958, when both teams were based in New York City. The Dodgers, originally the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Giants, based in Manhattan, had a fierce competition that captivated New York fans. When both teams moved to the West Coast in 1958, the rivalry intensified due to geographic proximity, creating a natural and passionate rivalry between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Over the years, they have faced each other in numerous playoff battles, including memorable postseason moments in the 1960s, 1980s, and 2010s. The rivalry is marked by legendary players (such as Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays), dramatic games, and cultural significance for both cities.
THE BATTLE CONTINUES
This weekend was full of action as the two teams came together again. The Giants struck first winning on Friday night 6-2 thanks to Casey Schmitt’s first career grand slam. However, the Dodgers came up with a big comeback punch the next night with 11 runs and the best night that future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw has had in a while: 7 scoreless innings allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 5 to lead the Dodgers to a 11-5 victory. Then came Sunday night, which would be the decider for this latest round in this great rivalry.
Before the first pitch, the Giants made the news in the best way. It was reported by multiple sports writers before the game that the Giants made a stunning blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox for three-time All-Star Rafael Devers. The move was seen as a surprise by many sports writers, including me. However, people that followed the Red Sox saw the move as inevitable. The relationship between the Red Sox and Devers had been deteriorating ever since the signing of Alex Bregman during the offseason. Devers was angered about being moved from third base to designated hitter. Then came the season ending injury to first baseman Triston Casas, and so the Red Sox asked Devers to move to first. That became the last straw as Devers flat out refused and told the front office to “do their job”. The front office did their job…and traded him.
Obviously, Devers wasn’t in the lineup for Sunday’s game between the Dodgers and Giants, but the trade did shake up who would be starting since the projected starting pitcher for the Giants was included in the trade. However, the fact San Francisco went for a big run producer means that the Giants were ready to take their own swing at their bitter rivals. It’s pretty obvious that the Dodgers have a big target on their back as the reigning World Series Champions. From the Giants’ point of view, it was probably insulting to see the “experts” write about how the Diamondbacks and Padres were the biggest threats to the Dodgers…and they were left out of the conversation. Yes, they are under a rebuild under new baseball operations president Buster Posey (who has firsthand experience of the rivalry with the Dodgers from his playing days with the Giants), but to come second fiddle to the rest of their division (except the lackluster Colorado Rockies) was something their fan base probably couldn’t stand.
Despite news of the deal, the Dodgers still won the rubber game 5-4. However, we’ll have to see what the Giants look like with Devers in the lineup, but if he does bring life back to the Giants’ offense…the Diamondbacks and Padres will be the least of the Dodgers’ concerns. This weekend has made clear one very important thing: the biggest rivals the Dodgers have are still up in San Francisco. The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants is one of the greatest rivalries in not just baseball, but all of sports…and the “experts” better remember that as both clubs look geared up for another heavyweight bout later in the season.
