While the Mets, Marlins, and Phillies battle for first in the National League East, the American League East is just as interesting. Not just because of the race between the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees, but because of a type of self destruction rarely seen.

The Red Sox with their recent domination in the past few years have made a case for the end of an era for the Yankees. The “evil empire” was being supplanted by the “Red Sox Nation”. Red Sox tickets for the next 80 years were going to usher in the utter dominance once attributed to the other New York club.

Well, the cracks are starting to show. The fact that Manny Ramirez is barking again for a trade, saying his time with the team is up, puts that fun development to rest. Ramirez is not the heart and soul of the ball club, but he is a major force on the club and his departure would get back great prospects that would leave the team reeling for a couple years as the Yankees reassert themselves.

The first season in the new Yankee Stadium could be the beginning of another long line of frustrating years chasing the pinstripes again for the Bo Sox. The Mets are in their own bid to take over after the Braves, but that is not nearly as monumental.

New York Yankees fans and their tickets may once again reign supreme, angering the baseball collective again. Maybe these past eight years will prove to be a slump (a slump for the Yankees being defined as more than five years without a World Series victory) and the rest of the competition will crumble away, making their trip to the top that much easier.

Mets fans almost got to revel in a season where the Yanks were watching them it he post season, but this season is up it the air and the future is to. Mets tickets are still for a first place team right now, and people at Shea Stadium should appreciate that, even if the Yankees might not be too far behind.