Red-hot Mets visit Yankees for Subway Series II
New York Mets pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, right, hugs catcher Henry Blanco after the Mets beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4, Thursday, in Cleveland. (June 17, 2010) Credit: AP
Jorge Posada fixed his lips in a thin line, then exhaled softly.
The Yankees' veteran catcher could have provided the usual clichéd sound bite last night, but instead, he spoke the truth.
"We're tired of playing those guys and they're probably tired of playing us," Posada said matter-of-factly about the Mets. "It's just another series . . . It's really boring."
The Subway Series may have lost its luster for some, but the hype - whether fan- or media-driven - continues to build heading into tonight's series opener at Yankee Stadium. And now that the Mets are playing as well as any team in baseball, this time the buzz seems to be warranted.
The three-game series will feature four of the best pitchers in the game: Mike Pelfrey vs. Phil Hughes Saturday and Johan Santana vs. CC Sabathia in Sunday's finale.
The Mets (38-28), who are a half-game behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East, won two of three games in last month's Subway Series at Citi Field. At the time, they were struggling to find consistency, both on the mound and at the plate. But they won the final two games of that series to begin a streak in which they have won 18 of 23 games, including seven straight and 11 of their last 12 overall, and six straight on the road after sweeping the Indians and Orioles.
"Any time we're playing good baseball, that's a good thing," said Mets third baseman David Wright, who has 53 RBIs, tied with the Braves' Troy Glaus for the most in the National League. "It doesn't necessarily mean more that we're playing the Yankees. Obviously, to be able to go in there and beat those guys, especially as well as they've been playing at home, you're going to have to play good baseball, no question."
The Yankees are 41-25 despite losing their last two games and are tied with Tampa Bay for the best record in baseball.
"I think it's great," Yankees rightfielder Nick Swisher said of both teams' success. "From what I've seen, they're playing good ball, so it should be a good series. The place is going to be packed, the atmosphere is going to be electric. And that's what you want."
The Subway Series has spawned unforgettable storylines over the years - i.e., the Roger Clemens-Mike Piazza feud, Luis Castillo's dropped pop-up and the Francisco Rodriguez-Brian Bruney confrontation. But the excitement that once permeated the clubhouses at Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium now is significantly muted.
"It's going to be really hard to get someone that's really, really fired up about it," Swisher said. "It's the middle of June. If this was coming down to the wire and we're playing the last week of September, it would be a completely different thing because there's a lot more at stake. Right now, we're both sitting in good spots; they're playing well, we're playing well. Let's line it up and see what happens."
And bragging rights are the least of any player's - or manager's - concerns.
"You want to brag about a world championship, you don't want to brag about beating the Yankees," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "You brag about trying to get to the World Series. That [bragging rights] only lasts until Monday. Tuesday, you've got to deal with something else."
With Arthur Staple
The five keys to the series:
WHO’S HOTTER?
The Yankees (41-25) may be tied for the best record in baseball, but the Mets (38-28) are 18-5 in their last 23 contests, dating to May 22 — the best record in the majors during that span. The Yankees, who are off to the best start since 2004 when they started 42-22, have won 15 of their last 22.
YOUNG GUNS
Mike Pelfrey and Phil Hughes, two of the best young pitchers in the game, are each going after their 10th win Saturday afternoon. Pelfrey (9-1, 2.39 ERA) has beaten the Yankees twice in three career starts, but has yet to do so at the new Yankee Stadium. Hughes (9-1, 3.11 ERA), who lost his last outing against Pelfrey and the Mets, 5-3, on May 22, is 0-1, 4.50 ERA in three starts against his crosstown rival.
LEFTY DOMINANCE
CC Sabathia and Johan Santana will again be the marquee matchup this time around. Sabathia got a hit off Santana for the first time last month, but it was the Mets’ ace who earned the win in the rubber match, as Sabathia allowed 10 hits in the Yankees’ 6-4 loss at Citi Field.
Robinson Cano has reclaimed the top spot in the AL batting title race with a .372 average. He’s hitting .425 (51-for-120) over his last 29 games. But David Wright has rediscovered his hitting stroke. He is batting .413 (26-for-63) over his last 16 games and is tied for the National League lead with 53 RBIs.
DH LUXURY
For the third straight series, the Mets will have the luxury of using a designated hitter. And so far, Chris Carter appears well-suited for the role. The recent call-up hit his first major-league home run (a three-run shot) last Friday against Baltimore and hit another three-run homer two days later against the Orioles.
