The rivalry is dead. And major league baseball killed it. Or maybe The Dodgers killed it. Regardless it was evident last night, that Dodger fans just don't feel as strongly about their ballclub as they used too. The true test will be how packed The Big A is tonight.
When I was a kid, the Freeway Series was a big deal. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who spent their springs in Dodger Town Florida, and the California Angels who spent their springs in Palm Springs, California, would meet for three games prior to the start of the Season. Because we all knew the liklihood of the Halos making it past the ALCS were slim and none, those games were meaningful, how often would the Angels play the Dodgers. How often could LA/OC Sports fans point and say "Shut up! My Team is better and that spring training W proves it!"
But long gone are the days when the Halos were entrenched in the basement. And in the past ten years, the Halos have played in more meaningful games in September than their BLUE counterparts. Yet, the Freeway Series means very little.
Inter-league baseball made the match-up a common thing, ain't so special now is it. We get six games through out the year, when we have our line ups set and a 25 man roster. Three games at home, three away. Although it means something for the ole Win Loss record, it doesn't have the same meaning as a guy wearing #99 hit the game winning single to crush an entire fan base.
Secondly, the Dodgers chose to move from their longtime home in Florida to Arizona, leaving the Grapefruit League to the Cactus League. Which again made the Pre-Season match up a more common occurrence. What's so special about the Freeway Series when it happens a handful of times in Tempe, Arizona and now the teams split an exhibition game before the season starts.
The next time the Freeway Series means something, it'll be in October for the Worlds Series, until then... You Killed It. Its dead. It means nothing.
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