Much fun yesterday, as the third game of the Boston Red Sox/Tampa Bay Devil Rays game featured two hit batsman (nearly three), six ejections, two bench clearings, and one eyepoke. Strangley, stuff like this is common between the two teams. Last year, Scott Kazmir was ejected for hitting two Red Sox players in the span of four pitches. I remember similar incidents dating back to 2002 (look for Bill Simmons' "My Dance With the Devil Rays" column for more details).

Why are these two teams feuding? Let's look at the classic reasons for rivalries.

History: Perhaps two teams have a rich history of battling each other in emotional games, the types of games your fathers and grandfathers remember.

The Boston Red Sox, as an organization, have been around for over a hundred years.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays played their first game in 1998.

Location: Let's face it, geographical closeness breeds contempt, and it's easier to fight with someone if they're close by. Interacting with the opposing team's fans on a consistent basis always adds fuel to the fire.

St. Petersburg, Florida, is 1400 miles away from Boston, while Toronto, the next fartherst team in the AL East, is only 550 miles away. Curiously, there are always more Red Sox fans at Tropicana Field than D-Ray fans, although if you look at Tampa Bay's attendence, that's not saying much.

Competition: Maybe two teams are always duking it out for the top spot in the division, leading to a lot of meaningful, emotional games.

In the seven year history of the D-Rays, they've averaged a 64-98 record. The Red Sox, in the same timespan, has averaged a record of 91-71, a 27 game difference. The Sox have also made the playoffs four times since 1998, and won the World Series in 2004. But 2004 was also a banner year for the D-Rays, as they won the most game in franchise history (70) and also finished highest in the standings (fourth, the first time in history they did not finish last).

So this redefines "inexplicable."

Two more thoughts from yesterday's game:

1. What is up with the D-Rays jerseys? Actually, they're not jerseys: they wear long sleeve green shirts with a jersey-vest over it. It looks so low rent.

2. John Kruk on Baseball Tonight lambasted Jay Payton for watching his grand slam leave the park, dropping the "act like you've done it before" lines. Actually, I don't think Jay Payton has ever done it before. Do you still have to act like you have if, in fact, you haven't?