What is it about: DIVISION RIVALRIES

Diamondbacks' outfielder Chris Young reacts
after nearly being plucked by a pitch in a game versus San Diego

Since the dust settled from the Players Strike of '94, Major League Baseball aligned to a six-division baseball league with three divisions in both the American and National Leagues. Membership in each division is static save for a few instances of teams with no chance of postseason play jumping from the Yankees-Red Sox duopoly of the American League to the free-for-all National League (The ultimate exception is the Houston Astros, but I think it's all about the money).

As the saying goes, "Familiarity breeds contempt", so when division rivals such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox match up the eyes of the baseball world turn in their direction, in particular during weekend series culminating in Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. The same could be true in other divisions as well, which is why genuine scenes of goodwill across battle lines are popping up all over the major leagues to quell the fires of rivalry and bad blood. Errant pitches, like the one thrown at Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young in yesterday's game against the Padres, almost led to a benches clearing melee. Once year-round inter-league baseball rears its ugly head next season, there will not be so much time dedicated to fuelling the fires of season-long rivalries and the mixed signals of every wild pitch thrown during division matchups.

Rangers owner and former Angels great Nolan Ryan, honoured
by the  Los Angeles Angels prior to yesterday's contest,
throws the first pitch prior to the Angels-Rangers matchup

Historical rivalries such as Yankees-Red Sox, Giants-Dodgers, Brewers-NL Central, or Jim Leyland-Umpires are the most difficult to find fans mingling and getting along in the stands. Google and YouTube searches provide loads of examples of wacky behaviour of players on the field, and rival fans sitting in the wrong section of the visiting stadium off the field. I remember when Roger Clemens announced his (first) retirement from baseball as a New York Yankee. In his last game in Boston against the rival Red Sox, Clemens left the field for the last time to a standing ovation, and was even interviewed on the field while wearing YANKEES gear! So it is possible, if only for a moment, for historical rivalries to take a back seat, even if for a moment.

So then, what makes up a good rivalry? What ingredients do you need to start a rivalry between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners, for example (the Astros will play in the American League West Division starting in 2013...I know, I'm upset about it, too)?