In the all time series, the Yankees are 60-44 against the Mets during the regular season. Each team has swept a season series once, the Yankees swept all six games in 2003, while the Mets swept the four game series in 2013. The Mets have won three of the season series, 2004, 2008 and 2013 and there have been seven series that have been split between the two teams. Nine times the season series has been won by the Yankees. Its been well documented some of the great games that have been played between the two teams. There's the first ever game between the two teams in June of 1997 when Dave Mlicki pitched a complete game shutout in a Mets 6-0 win. There's the whole bean incident with Clemens and Piazza in 2000, with piazza later returning the favor hitting a Grand Slam off the Rocket a year later. Then we have David Wright with the walk off hit against Mariano Rivera in a wild, high scoring game in May of 2006 at Shea Stadium. Carlos Delgado went off in 2008 at Yankees Stadium, driving in nine runs against the Yanks. June of 2009, Luis Castillo dropped what would have been a game ending pop up off the bat off Alex Rodriguez to give the Yankees a miracle win.
A lot has gone on in the history books in the battle for New York baseball bragging rights. There is a little more to it than that right about now. As it sits at the moment, both teams haven't really been playing very well lately. The Mets are in 3rd in the NL East (at the start of the series) six and a half games back in the division and two and a half back in the wild card. Don't laugh Yankees fans, they aren't much better. The Yankees (at the start of the series) are sitting in 4th in the AL East, seven games out of first place and five and a half out of the wild card. The Yankees have lost four straight and are 4-6 in their last ten games. Meanwhile the Mets have lost four of the last five games and are also 4-6 in their last ten games. So with that being said here's a breakdown of the series.
Pitching Matchups:
Monday August 1st (Citi Field 7:10PM)
Logan Verrett (3-6, 41.2 ERA) vs. C.C. Sabathia (6-8 3.95 ERA)
Tuesday August 2nd (Citi Field 7:10PM)
Jacob deGrom (6-5 2.56 ERA) vs. Masahiro Tanaka (7-3 3.16 ERA)
Wednesday August 3rd (Yankee Stadium 7:00PM)
Steven Matz (8-73.35 ERA) vs. TBD
Thursday August 4th (Yankee Stadium 7:05PM)
Bartolo Colon (9-63.58 ERA) vs. Nathan Evaldi (9-7 4.78 ERA)
Now lets get really into it and break it down by position.
1st Base
James Loney vs Mark Texiera
Over the last couple weeks, Loney has proven himself to be a nice surprise, as he's hitting .282 with six homers 21 RBI, all of which are almost outperforming Texiera. Sure Tex has more home runs, nine to Loney's six, but Loney has more RBI and is hitting for a better average. Neither guy at that position has played very well this year, Loney was a pickup after Lucas Duda went on the DL with a back injury and Tex has missed time with a knee injury. Still that being said and all tings put into consideration, I gotta give the edge to the Mets.
2nd Base
Neil Walker vs. Starlin Castro
Overall, this has been pretty even. Walker had some big shoes to fill when he came over after the Mets let Daniel Murphy go. As for Castro, he's been able to hold down the position both at the plate and in the field. Castro has been fantastic for the Yankees this year. So too has Walker for the Mets. He's been hitting well, with 17 home runs and 45 RBI, while hitting .259. He's defense has been solid and the way he's swinging the bat has been great. Slight edge to Walker at the dish but overall this has been pretty Even at 2nd base.
3rd Base
Wilmer Flores vs.Chase Headley
Since David Wright went down with his injury, its been a mixed bag with what the Mets have tried to do at 3rd base. Jose Reyes has been the latest experiement. Wilmer Flores has spent time at 3rd this year, so has Kelly Johnson. Wilmer has gotten most of the time at the hot corner and has done a fair job at it. Chase Headley has held down the job since he got it from the start of the year and has done a fine job at that position, hitting .260 with ten home runs and 36 RBI. He's had a good overall defensive game and has played well this year. In the past, when healthy, the edge might have gone to the Mets, but the way things sit right here and now, the Yankees get the nod at the Hot Corner.
Shortstop
Asdrubal Cabrera (hurt replaced by Matt Reynolds) vs Didi Gregorius
Cabrera has been a stud for the Mets so far at shortstop, when he's been able to stay on the field. He's missed time due to a knee injury this year, and it hit him again over the weekend, which is going to take him out of this series. Jose Reyes too is out with a injury as well. That means its going to be Matt Reynolds, who was called up to replace Cabrera while he's hurt, and/or Wilmer Flores playing short. Didi has played every game so far and looked good doing it. Under normal circumstances I'd say Cabrera has played a little better at short but right now the Yankees get the edge at Shortstop.
Catcher
Travis d'Arnaud vs. Bryan McCann
This one isn't even really close. d'Arnaud has been hurt part of this year and hasn't really found much of a hitting groove. Rene Rivera and Kevin Plwecki has done admerable, but there's nothing really set behind thie plate for the Mets. McCann has been doing just fine behind the plate for the Yankees, both on offense and defense. The choice here is easy. Yankees get the nod behind the plate.
Outfield
Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto Curtis Granderson (Soon to Be Jay Bruce) vs. Jacoby Eisbury, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner
Seeing as Carlos Beltran was traded to the Texas Rangers right before the start of the series, it takes a little steam out of the battle in the outfield. Beltran had been the Yankees best hitter in all three offensive catagories hitting .306 with 22 homers and 64 RBI, but now that's taken out of the lineup. Still the outfield in the Bronx isn't that bad. Elisbury and Gardner both have speed, case in point each has double digits in steals, both way more then the entire Mets team. They can also get to plenty of fly balls in the outfield. The Mets outfield doesn't have that much speed, but they do get a big boost by adding Jay Bruce, who is supposed to be in the lineup for the game on Tuesday. Cespedes is still one of the best hitters in the National League. Bruce is the leading RBI man in the NL with 80, so adding that into the mix will be a big help. Strikeout numbers are a little high but that's expected. I'd say, with the way things look right now, this could be an Even meeting in the outfield.
Starting Pitching
Nova was traded at the deadline, so that leaves the Yankees right now without a starter for the 3rd game of the series. I know CC has pitched better as of late, but there are still some concerns about him. Tanaka has been the most consistent Yankees Starter this year. The Mets have had the better staff all year. Sure that deGrom and Bartolo have looked a little off lately but they have seemed to come around again. Verette and Matz have been pitching a little better as of late. Both pitching staff's haven't met expectations this year, but with everything that has gone on this year with these teams, the Mets still have the edge among starters
Bullpen
For a good chunk of time, the Yankees have had a three headed monster at the back end of its pen. Two thirds of that have been traded away, Chapman to the Cubs and Miller to the Indians, leaving only Betances left in that back end. The Mets have had trouble with Familia near the end of last week, but he seems to have come out of it. Overall I'd say its Even out of the Pen.
Final Verdict
Both teams made moves leading up to the trade deadline and by the time the series is well in, the teams will have their new players, so it will make things look a little different. Out of the entire series, Tuesday has the best pitching matchup with deGrom against Tanaka at Citi Field. A-Rod is not hitting, Neil Walker is. Both teams have been trending in the same direction the last week, so its going to make for an interesting and fun series. Based on what's gone on the last week I see it being a SPLIT in this year's Subway Series!
No comments:
Post a Comment