Subway Series Part II Preview

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The “in-season” Subway Series has lost its luster over the years and a lot of its original excitement. Some of this is due to the fortunes of the Mets and Yankees as contending ballclubs, some of it due to its eventual lack of novelty.

Sure, it’s always a draw for fans who want to cheer on their team and sometimes get in the face of the opposing fanbase, but for the most part, it just isn’t what it once was.

Well, due to circumstance, this year’s Citi Field version of the series, held for the first time in late September, has some intrigue, some juice if you will.

The Yankees come into this series 3.5 games out of first place behind the surging Blue Jays. Although they still command a 4 game lead in the wild card race, I’d imagine the Bronx Bombers will not be satisfied with that with first place in their division still within their grasp and a series with Toronto following the Mets.

The Mets have had a hiccup on their steamroller ride to the pennant the last two games, showing pitching vulnerability and an almost full stop to their juggernaut offense. They still hold a healthy 8 game lead in the division, but anyone feeling this will be a cakewalk is deluding themselves. They want to put the pedal to the metal and get this division wrapped up, as well as establish themselves as “New York’s team.”

Yes, the Yankees are somewhat diminished. They are missing Mark Teixeira and will also not be able to start Alex Rodriguez due to the lack of a DH in the Mets’ home park. However, you can never count the Yankees out. Ever.

Missing in action these days on the Mets side is one Lucas Duda. Since his back issue put him on the shelf, he has returned as a non-entity. With other guys like Yoenis Cespedes possibly cooling off for a few days, this is when he needs to step out of the void and show up. It’s crunch time, dude. Abide already.

The series begins with Steven Matz on the mound for the Metsies countered by the undisputed ace of the Yankees staff Masahiro Tanaka. He is tough and if the Mets come out with the same bats as they had in the last two games of the Marlins series, they will have a long night. Matz has had a very nice return coming off a long stint on the DL for a minor lat tear, giving up just 3 ER in 10.1 innings.

The Saturday, middle-game match of Noah Syndergaard vs. Michael Pineda should be an interesting one. Thor has pitched fairly well lately and is coming off a nice outing last time out, giving up a skinny earned run over 7 innings. while striking out 8. Michael Pineda, on the other hand, has allowed 4 or more ER in 5 of his last 6 starts.

The Sunday night ESPN annoying game time of the week has CC Sabathia against 5 innings or so of Matt Harvey (or so we are led to believe). You’d think the last game would be in the Mets favor, but Sabathia has been very solid in this last 6 starts, giving up a total of only 10 ER in that span. And, with all the hoopla over innings limits, who knows what to expect when the lights are shining brightest on the young Mr. Harvey, who looked gassed in his last start and has allowed 11 ER and 17 hits in his last two starts. Ouch, babe.

Both teams have something on the line here, and I am pretty confident this will not be like more recent Subway Series events here in New York. This one counts, and I have a feeling it is going to be a great series to watch, no matter what the outcome.

Let’s Go Mets!

 

 

No, I WON’T Calm Down

Ok, I have digested the last couple of performances from the Mets, the Nationals’ recent surge, and the Marlins’ role in this stretch drive.

First, the Nats winning tonight while the Mets are idle is not a given. The Marlins are NOT pushovers, and I am not saying that just because they played us tough. They played the Nats tough, too, and are 10-4 in September.

mets-fanxWhat I see as worrisome from the Mets side is the pitching is really starting to show some cracks. The young arms like deGrom and Harvey look tired and you can’t expect Bartolo Colon to throw shutouts every 5th or 6th day. He’s 42, c’mon.

Also, the last two games have hown diminished production from the bats. They were bound to cool down sooner or later, and it is probably temporary, but you start to wonder if these guys are starting to press, or, worse yet, are believing they can throw their gloves on the field and win.

The Yankees series may be a good thing for them — a little juice to restart their engines, so to speak. I honestly wish they didn’t have to play them right now because the Yanks are always a tough team and right now have a lot to play for. They will definitely come in all guns blazing (albeit without A-Rod, due to no DH in an NL ballpark).

Though, with all of this in mind, and the seemingly insurmountable lead the Mets have, statistics be damned. I cannot ignore this disgusting sensation of nausea in my stomach as it relates to the debacle that was 2007. Hell, a win by the Nats tonight and there will be only a ONE game differential between 2007 and now: 7 up with 16 to play. The only thing that is truly different is the Mets actually PLAY their pursuer three times at home to end the season.

Now, while some may find that comforting, I find it terrifying. If, through some horrible miracle, Washington makes it to NY on the final weekend of the season with a deficit of 3 games or less, Mets fans (like me) will be popping Xanax and chugging Jack Daniels simultaneously. It wouldn’t be the first time Mets fans were treated to a home-field, front-row seat to misery and dispatch from the playoffs.

Mets fans have long memories:

  • In 1998, needing one mere victory to secure a wildcard spot, the Mets lost their final 5 games, three against the hated Braves, to miss the playoffs.
  • In 1999, they ALMOST blew it, but for the grace of God and an el foldo from the Reds, they hung on and won the wild card in a 163rd game.
  • No need to rehash 2007. Its infamy is well-chronicled.
  • In 2008, this Mets team, up 3.5 with 17 to play, was knocked out of first by game 150 and eliminated from wild card contention on the last day of the season.

ON EDIT: Thanks to the Marlins, who are playing great baseball, the lead in the NL East going into the weekend series with their cross-town rivals is back up to “8 games up with 16 games to play.”

I shudder to think that last part will become the “new” Mets fan phrase to denote a flopping finale.

Agita, folks. Still plenty of agita.