New York has a total of eight sports teams, two of which are part of Major League Baseball. The Yankees and the Mets have a rivalry dating back to 1962, when the Mets came into the sport, and has become one of the more entertaining rivalries in baseball. Every year, the Subway Series is held between the two teams, and fans show up to root for their favorite ball club. Recently, the rivalry has demolished, because the Yankees were making the playoffs year after year for about a decade, and the Mets got in once in a blue moon. This offseason, both clubs are trying to improve after both missing the postseason last year, and they have each had a different way of going about things.
Mets’ Projected Lineup
1. Juan Lagares (CF)
2. Daniel Murphy (2B)
3. David Wright (3B)
4. Lucas Duda (1B)
5. Michael Cuddyer (LF)
6. Curtis Granderson (RF)
7. Travis d’Arnaud (C)
8. Wilmer Flores (SS)
9. Pitcher
Yankees’ Projected Lineup
1. Brett Gardner (LF)
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (CF)
3. Chase Headley (3B)
4. Brian McCann (1B)
5. Garrett Jones (DH)
6. Mark Teixeira (1B)
7. Chris Young (RF)
8. Stephen Drew (2B)
9. Didi Gregorius (SS)
Both of these lineups are weaker than they could be, but when it comes down to it…the Yankees have the upper hand due to the ballpark they play in for 81 games. Gardner, Ellsbury, McCann, Jones, Texiera, Gregorius, and Drew are all left handed hitters playing in a ballpark that is historically generous to lefties, while the Mets still play in a ballpark that is harder to hit in. Neither team has a group of players who will hit for average, but the Yankees have speedsters in Gardner and Gregorius, unlike the Mets whose closest player to a base running threat is Lagares.
Winner: New York Yankees
Mets’ Projected Rotation
1. Matt Harvey
2. Jacob deGrom
3. Zack Wheeler
4. Bartolo Colon
5. Jon Niese
Yankees’ Projected Rotation
1. Masahiro Tanaka
2. C.C. Sabathia
3. Michael Pineda
4. Nathan Eovaldi
5. Chris Capuano
Without question, the Mets have the better pitching rotation than the Yankees. With Harvey coming back, deGrom coming off a Rookie of the Year performance, and Wheeler still trying to prove his dominance, the Mets have one of the best young rotations in all of baseball. Also, the Mets play in more of a pitcher’s park than the Yankees, and play in the National League where every one out of nine batters should be an easy out. On the Yankees side of things, the only dominant pitcher they have is Tanaka, and even he may be a question mark due to his injury in 2014.
Winner: New York Mets
Mets’ Projected Bench
1. Eric Campbell
2. Anthony Recker
3. Ruben Tejada
4. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
5. John Mayberry Jr.
6. Matt den Dekker
7. Dilson Herrera
Yankees Projected Bench
1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Carlos Beltran
3. Eury Perez
4. Brendan Ryan
5. Zelous Wheeler
When it comes to benches, comparisons become more difficult. However, the Mets seem to have the upper hand in the comparison because all the players have experience with bench roles. Last season, Campbell proved that he could be a threat off the bench, and with players such as Nieuwenhuis and Herrera, the Mets have players that could pinch run when needed. The Yankees have Rodriguez and Beltran on their projected bench, but both of them will need to get their acts together in order to mean something in the long run for the team.
Winner: New York Mets
Mets Projected Bullpen
1. Vic Black (RHP)
2. Dana Eveland (LHP)
3. Jenrry Mejia (RHP)
4. Jeurys Familia (SU)
5. Bobby Parnell (CP)
Yankees’ Projected Bullpen
1. Gonzalez Germen (RHP)
2. David Huff (LHP)
3. Andrew Bailey (RHP)
4. David Carpenter (RHP)
5. Andrew Miller (SU)
6. Dellin Betances (CP)
Bullpens are an always-changing part of a ball club’s 25 man roster, but have recently become one of the most important parts of the game. Due to the way rosters work in the American League vs the National League, the Yankees should have room for a larger bullpen than the Mets…which definitely gives them the upper hand. Betances proved last season that he is a force to be reckoned with, and Miller did the same. The Yankees also have Bailey and Germen who, when healthy, are solid relievers and get batters out.
Winner: New York Yankees
Comparing teams is always an interesting exercise, because it gives a fan an idea of what is to come this upcoming season. When comparing the Mets and the Yankees, it becomes difficult to say which team is better, because both of them have solid parts to their rosters. All in all, these two teams are practically even, but the Mets have youth on their side, which will give them the upper hand this season. As for the Subway Series, it would not be surprising if the teams tied in their records against each other.
Have any more teams you would like to see the Mets compared to? If so, leave that teams name in the comment or tweet it to @dankol10 using #mets360comparison.
Okay, I’ll play!
Imagine for a moment that you are a businessman, and that you own the NY Mets. At different periods in the past, NYC was a Mets town. All that got frittered away, stupidly, and your business is in ruins — a running joke.
Now here we are in 2015. The Yankees are down and their fans are bored, restless. The Mets are on the rise. Here is the moment when opportunity knocks: The Mets are poised to capture the billion-dollar NY market. They could rule this town.
So how do the Wilpons respond? Not at all. By putting together a team that maybe, sort of, hopes it can squeak into Game 163 if everything breaks right.
Bad business. The time to invest is now; the window won’t stay open forever.
So, why are they not investing?
1. Is it because they’re cheap?
2. Is it because they’re stupid?
3. Is it because they don’t have the money (or approval from their banks) to do so?
It seems our response as fans should be different depending on the answer.
I thought I read that a requirement for the re-financing was that the Wilpons could not miss an interest payment. Other than that? They’re cash strapped. Otherwise they would have invested a portion of the 50 million they received from the new television contracts into expanding the payroll. Why else would you have an 80 million dollar payroll (down 13 million from 2013 after trading Ike) for 2014? So long as the Mets can draw 2 million fans the Wilpons are safe. Do the math. At 50 dollars a seat that equals to 100 million dollars. Enough to sustain the Wilpon regime. What will happen if the 10 limited partners decide to cash in? Who is going to lend fred and jeff 200 million dollars? Hopefully no one.
In my better moments, I use the phrase, “The Wilpons can’t or won’t invest.”
I don’t pretend to understand the complexities of their financial situation, especially where it concerns the real estate side of Sterling Equities.
I think they are stupid, clearly, for getting into this situation. If “stupid” is too harsh and unfair — it probably is — then let’s say they are bad businessmen. They took a great business that was dominating the NY market and ran it into the ground. At one time, it was rated the #2 most valuable sports franchise in American sports. Granted, the NFL has eclipsed MLB, but that’s a separate issue.
I don’t believe the Mets are a high-priority for the Wilpons; and clearly winning is not. Are they broke? I don’t know. The real estate side seems to be doing okay. Where they are completely missing the boat is on the revenue side; they could bring in a lot more money if they invested more in the team.
Some might argue that the new tight-budget approach will work, and it might, for a time. But when we watch fan favorites walk out the door — guys like Matt Harvey and Daniel Murphy leading the parade — it will not endear fan loyalty. The A’s may win, but they do not sell tickets.
It’s so important for the folks here — the blog readers, the blog writers — to realize that we are not the typical Mets fan. We don’t represent. The Wilpons have utterly failed those people, who do not care about the SS in the low minors who might end up being somebody in 6 years.
If they truly did not realize that Madoff was running a Ponzi scheme – then I think “stupid” is an accurate description.
Personally, just me, I absolutely think they knew and that they are crooks to the core.
Gross men, frankly.
There’s just no way to not know.
What world are you in? The Yankees aren’t going to start ARod or Beltran
Read again, they are on the bench
im sorry but i have to disagree with you on the bullpen the mets have 4 young closers in there pen i would take our pen anyday of the week then the yanks dont get me wrong i think they have a good pen but not like the mets honestly the mets are going to have a top 3 pen in all of baseball nobodys is going to be better then the royals pen that pen is crazy
Mets lineup is better.
Pretty sure both ARod and Beltran belong in the starting lineup over Garrett Jones and CY.
Then, the Yankees bench may be better but the Mets beat them in pitching, starting and the bullpen.
The only reason these two teams should have similar records is the manager.
The Yankees and Mets have both had their ups and downs over the years and each has its own unique history. In their present state, the Mets seem to have more upside. However, the Yankees have a baseball machine that one way or another gets them to the winner’s circle more often than not…again, compare their histories objectively. However, there is a larger issue here. The Mets are at a positive crossroads, yet, I doubt they will turn it to their advantage in a major way. Likewise, the Yankee ownership is old, tired, and out of ideas…and are a drag on the team. Imagine both teams with new, aggressive ownership groups in charge. They would invest system wide, use the power of the best sports market on the planet and these two teams would be consistent top tier playoff teams. I believe these two rosters don’t belong in the NY market; and the best route to long term success is to hope both of these owners sell and move on.
I’m sorry Dan but the Yankees are not going to have Beltran at 15 million and A-Rod at 22 million to come off the bench. Beltran is a switch hitter and a better hitter than CY. Let’s be realistic here okay? Garrett Jones over A-Rod as DH? We all know the Yanks would love it if A-Rod is unable to play and has to retire. But in order for that to happen they have to play him and show the insurance company he’s incapable to perform and collect on his “disability”. What if either Scherzer or Shields is signed by the Yanks? That would alter my perspective on which staff is better. Finally if your going to compare teams then compare managers. Are they not an integral part of the team? Girardi or Collins? It’s not a difficult choice is it Dan?
I may be nitpicking but Eveland is unlikely to be in the Mets pen and German just got cut by the Yankees. Also, I agree with Pete – Beltran and ARod will be starting over Jones and CY. Girardi wins hands-down against TC. But I believe The Mets will finish 5 games better than the Yanks this season.
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