Belated rebuttal

Two days after Cole Hamels stated the obvious - the Mets have choked away the last two seasons - New York's official rebuttal came today from recent signing Francisco Rodriguez, who backed into proclaiming his new team the one to beat in the NL East.

"Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat," he said Saturday ... "I don't want there to be a controversy or the other ballclubs in that division to take it personally or take it in a bad way," he said. "If they ask me, 'Oh, which ballclub is going to win the National League East?' It's going to be the Mets. Easy question."

Like his teammate Carlos Beltran did early in 2008, F-Rod ripped off Jimmy Rollins' 2007 move. Again, there are some differences:

1. Not original. There should be at least a 10-year moratorium on proclaiming your team the one to beat in the NL East.
2. The team with the highest payroll should be the favorite.
3. The team with the highest payroll in this case has choked away the division the last two years in monumental fashion.
4. Until/unless they're eliminated from the playoffs, the Phillies remain the team to beat by virtue of their 2008 World Championship.

Otherwise, not much doing in SoxandPhils land. Personally, though, we had a very nice day and did a couple things I hope become part of our Christmas tradition.