Let’s be real—it takes some serious nerves to challenge an entire fanbase, doesn’t it? Well, a former Phillies star has both the nerves and the confidence to invite the entire Mets nation to come at him. He’s just extended a clear invitation to the New York Mets fans to start a backlash. It all stems from the latest episode of Baseball Today, where Trevor Plouffe and Chris Rose discussed the hotly debated topic: ‘Are the Mets THIS much better than the Phillies?’.

Rose kicked off the heated discussion by noting that the Phillies are now five games behind the Mets in the NL East. He then questioned the former Philadelphia Phillies‘ star, Plouffe, “How much better is New York than Philadelphia?” And if you think Plouffe went subtle, he didn’t. If anything, he’s just made Mets fans even more unhappy.

The moment when Plouffe may have crossed a line was when he said, “If I’m being honest, there is not much separating these two teams. Go ahead, Mets fans, tell me why I’m an idiot, but I really don’t think there’s too much separating these two teams.” Now, the Mets have won 18 of their first 25 games this season, including the iconic seven straight wins after the recent matchup against the Phillies. So, why would Plouffe make such a bold claim?

He already knows the consequences. Before chiming in with his hot take, he mentioned that he always gets crushed on social media whenever he talks about the Mets. What else does he expect? It’s inevitable. Despite the recent 4-3 sweep against the Phillies, Plouffe stated, “I don’t think the Mets are that much better than the Phillies. Like, yes, they just swept them, we talked about the Phillies going into Citi Field and how bad that’s been for them. You know, two of these games were one-run games.” It’s just that Citi Field has never been kind to the Phillies. They’ve gone 7-18 in their last 25 games there, dating back to 2022.

But it’s not all bad. Plouffe also acknowledged the Mets’ strengths. He pointed out how concerning it is for other National League teams that “both of these teams haven’t played great baseball.” He further noted that the Mets’ record is impressive; however, their biggest addition—Juan Soto—is yet to shine through. Well, it’s known to everyone that Soto had a slow start to this season. He posted a slash line of .225/.368/.408 for a .776 OPS over the first 20 games.

Plouffe implied the same for the Phillies, noting that many of their players haven’t performed when it matters. Here’s where Plouffe may have stirred the pot again: “If I’m being honest, there is not much separating these two teams.” Let’s not forget, it’s still April, and there’s plenty of season left. There are enough matchups ahead to observe both teams, even if the Mets currently seem ahead of the Phillies and have enjoyed several memorable wins since the season began.

Plouffe didn’t hesitate to share such a bold claim. Now, it’s a given that he’s riled up Mets fans.

Are the Phillies going through a slump?

We’re here in April—the make-or-break stretch of the season. While there’s still a long way to go, the Phillies already seem to be experiencing a slump. You all are no strangers to the way the team was swept by the Mets. This is disheartening for the entire Phillies nation. Moreover, the Phillies are holding a 13-12 record. Is that ideal? Far from it. It’s not the kind of record a World Series contender should have. Losing four games back-to-back and standing five games behind the Mets puts them in a tough spot.

Amidst their struggles, the word is already out that the Mets make a much better team than the Phillies. But who started this conversation? It all unfolded during the Phillies’ postgame show on NBC Sports.

An analyst bluntly stated, “You don’t sweep a team out of your stadium again and not be a better team. The Phillies tried; they gave everything they had. It was not enough.” Did the Phillies give their all? That’s up for debate. But if you ask Ricky Bottalico, he says yes. He stated, “It is what it is.” He emphasised that perhaps the Mets are indeed much better than the Phillies. The Mets are currently in a great position. It’s a dream scenario for most MLB teams. But it will be interesting to watch the upcoming Phillies matchup against the Chicago Cubs.