I will admit I have never been a big fan of interleague play, and the Subway Series between the New York Yankees and New York Mets just doesn’t do it for me. Yankees-Mets in interesting, but I just can’t get all that worked up about it.
Maybe the Mets — and Mets fans — look at these games as something special. As their chance to knock down Big Brother and earn some sort of temporary city bragging rights. Good for the Mets, but that’s part of why Mets-Yankees is no big deal from the Yankee side.
New York Yankee bragging rights have nothing to do with a a few regular-season games in May and June. Yankee bragging rights have to do with the 27 World Series titles they have won, and the hunt for their 28th. That’s why they are the Big Brother, not because they lead the inter-league series with the Mets, 45-33.
The Mets have played much better than many anticipated this season, and a Friday night victory over the Yankees could push them to .500 for the season. Winning two of three would be a big thing for the Metropolitans.
It is nice that the Mets are playing well. But, be real. The Mets are not making the playoffs in the National League. More likely, at some point before the trade deadline the financially crippled organization will begin selling off pieces like Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez and others, looking for monetary relief and future prospects.
So, enjoy it while it lasts, Mets fans. If you win the weekend, good for you.
If the Yankees win the weekend, it won’t be that big of a deal to anyone in the Yankee dugout — or Yankee fans. For the Yankees, there are bigger fish to fry. First and foremost, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.
Yankee seasons are judged by getting to October — and succeeding once you get there. Not by how you do against anyone — even the cross-town Mets — in May.