Last year in another publication, I predicted the Dodgers and Yankees would meet in the World Series.

Both teams have been part of baseball’s biggest rivalries.

As we know, neither made it to the Big Dance, but the Phillies shocked the baseball world. The winning Astros were among the favorites to get there.

Most of us are aware of the Phillies’ second-half surge last year that helped carry them to the World Series. Former manager Joe Girardi was fired on June 3 a season ago for the team’s lackadaisical performance, and current manager Rob Thomson took over the team.

Now, a year and two days later, Thomson is faced with the same task. The Phils climbed out of last place in the NL East with wins over Washington this weekend to raise their record to 27-32, but they still had lost 13 of their last 20 games.

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column, I will look at the possibilities of the Phillies’ return to respectability - as well as the fabled Yankees-Dodgers rivalry. The two played over the weekend for the first time since 2019. Also, I’ll look at the current status of the Mets, and some hardball trends.

Here We Go Again ... On June 5 last season, the Phillies were 25-29 and 11 games off first place. From there, they went on to post a 52-26 record and finished third in the NL East. That was good enough to earn a Wild Card, and the Phils went on to blank the Cardinals in two games in the opening round of the playoffs.

From there, they shocked the Braves in four games, and then the Padres in five games. Even though they lost to the Astros in six games, their season was satisfying.

So, now Thomson has the task of re-igniting his team again in the face of mediocrity. This was supposed to be a season of contention with the lineup having another year under its belt and the addition of pitcher Taijuan Walker.

But the pendulum of fate once again hasn’t swung in the Phillies’ favor.

It began with the loss of first baseman Rhys Hopkins at the start of the season - one fact most people have forgotten.

Alec Bohm slid across the diamond to first, and has had a solid year with a team-high 37 RBIs. Unfortunately, Bohm now has a hamstring issue that could plague him longer than expected.

As for the 30-year-old Walker, he hasn’t lived up to his $18 million salary with his 4-3, 5.65 ERA slate. Neither Aaron Nola nor Zack Wheeler have found their groove, even though each has shown flashes of their capabilities.

Matt Strahm arguably has been the team’s most consistent starter, but he has lacked run support. Ranger Suarez is back from his injury, but he has struggled in the early going. The overall team ERA is 4.61.

This is a staff without starters Kyle Gibson, who won 10 games last year (Gibson is 7-3 this year with Baltimore, and the free agent signee has been a big part of the Orioles’ success), and Zach Eflin, who after battling through injuries and health issues managed to appear in 13 games with three victories in 2022 (Eflin is 7-1 with Tampa this season). Youngster Bailey Falter had a breakout season a year ago.

This year’s team has been searching for reliable fourth and fifth starters. Falter couldn’t find his mark early and was sent to Lehigh Valley, but did have a recent quality start with the Iron Pigs.

The bullpen has been more effective with a 3.92 ERA and has issued 21 home runs. Craig Kimbrel and Seranthony Dominquez have been rounding into shape.

As for the team’s offense without Hoskins, they were hitting a modest .255. Kyle Schwarber has a team-high 15 homers, but he has been deemed the team villain with an average basically around .160. Unfortunately, Schwarber is the lone Phillie with double-digit homers.

Nick Castellanos has raised his bar to a .315 average with 34 RBIs, yet Bryce Harper only has three homers despite his .298 average.

Thomson’s job security reportedly isn’t an issue with Phillies’ brass. The players are behind him. Still, if the club continues to falter and the expectations stay high, it will be interesting to see what happens at the All-Star break.

From Brooklyn, the Bronx, to LA ... If you were a child of the 50s, you remember the Brooklyn Dodgers and their rivalry with the Yankees. When the Dodgers moved West, the rivalry stayed on the same track.

If you were a child of the 70s, there were plenty of memories between the two teams of great postseason showings in the late 70s and early 80s. It was some memorable, postseason baseball between the two in true Broadway/Hollywood style.

In the 1977 World Series Game Two between the Dodgers and Yankees, ABC briefly cut away to show a fire burning a building in the Bronx, and the “Bronx Was Burning” phrase and book title (a good baseball book) was born.

However, it was Game Six when Reggie Jackson hit three consecutive home runs that gave the Yanks the title. Howard Cossell had the legendary calls on ABC, and added even more hype to the event.

The following year, the teams met again in the Fall Classic, and the Dodgers staked themselves to a 2-0 lead.

However, Ron Guidry came back and sparked the Yanks, who won the next four games, and Bucky Dent won the MVP. Brian Doyle also was a viable candidate for the Bronx Bombers.

LA finally got its revenge in 1981 behind Rookie-of-the-Year Fernando Valenzuela, and a first-time co-MVP shared by Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager. This time around, the Yanks won the first two before the Dodgers won three one-run games, and then had a 9-2 victory at Yankee Stadium.

The Yanks’ Dave Winfield was 1-for-22 in the series, and former Phillie Jay Johnstone had a key pinch-hit homer for LA in Game Four.

These current Yanks have won 11 of their last 16 games. Still, these were classic baseball lineups and match-ups that captured our youth.

Does the Buck Stay Here? ... The Mets were swept by Toronto over the weekend, and they fell back to .500 with a 30-30 record.

They were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position over their last two games, and have scored 15 runs in their last six games.

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have apparently overcome their injuries and woes. But the real issue has been the offense.

The team is hitting .241 - third lowest in the league. Brandon Nimmo (.292) and Jeff McNeil (.287) are the only regulars hitting over .250. Pete Alonso has a league-high 21 homers and 47 RBIs. Francisco Lindor has a paltry .213 mark, and his 10 homers are the only double-digit total besides Alonso.

Catching prospect Francisco Alvarez has been slowly coming around, while other top prospect Mark Vientos has struggled. Now it’s a matter if the Mets will move current top prospect Ronny Mauricio up to Triple-A for an eventual recall.

With a 101-win season last year and high expectations with a veteran club, Showalter could be under some pressure if his club is still scuffling at the All-Star break.

Like Thomson and the Phillies, this situation will be worth watching.

Flying Fish and Rattling Diamondbacks ... Two of the most recent surprises have been Miami and Arizona.

The Marlins found themselves nestled in second place with a 32-28 record and 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta with first-year manager Skip Schumaker. Second baseman Luis Arraez leads the majors with a .392 batting average, and outfielder Jorge Soler has 17 homers.

The Diamondbacks (35-25) worked themselves into a tie with the Dodgers atop the NL West. For them, it has been pitching with Merrill Kelly and Zac Gillen, who are both 7-3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leads the team with a .310 average.

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