The Revolutionary War pits the Boston Red Sox against the Philadelphia Phillies. This one is interesting only because the Sox current manager Terry Francona is the Phils former manager. Okay, I agree, that is not a rivalry even in the Francona household.

There is the Battle of the Beltway as the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals face off in a series between two mediocre teams. The battles on C-Span should be more interesting. That is not a rivalry.

Next is the M-i- Mix-up – this features Milwaukee and Minnesota to determine which team is the best team that comes from a city that starts with the letters “M-i.”. That is not a rivalry.

Up next is the Show Me Showdown as the Kansas City Royals face the St. Louis Cardinals. Later on this season the Cardinals will be battling for National League championship while the Royals will be battling the Brockton Rox for the Can-Am League title. That is not a rivalry, although the latter may be.

The Battle for the AFC North will take place as Cleveland meets Pittsburgh. Oops, wrong sport. In football it’s a rivalry; in baseball it’s nothing.

It’s hard to find a connection between those “natural” rivals, the Mariners and the Padres other than the weather – the rain of Seattle versus the sun of San Diego. The losers should have to spend winter in the other team’s home city, although I fear the M’s might take a dive. That is not a rivalry.

Two overachievers face off as the Reds and the Tigers match up. The losers will soon start drifting down in the standings while the winners will soon start drifting down in the standings. That is not a rivalry.

Finally, it’s the great North American Beer Battle as the Colorado Coors face the Toronto Labatts. That is not a rivalry.

With all these rival-rific match-ups who should you watch? Well, if I were you, I’d watch the National League West Arizona Diamondbacks versus the National League East Atlanta Braves. Of all the games being played this is the only one that has the potential to become a rivalry.

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