NOTE: This text was first printed on-line at The Sports activities Column on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
The groups are searching for a attainable Subway Sequence reunion.
Not way back, the Mets have been 12.5 video games again with a 36–38 win-loss report, and their postseason probabilities appeared slim to none. However then the workforce went on a seven-game profitable streak (thank Grimace for that, who threw out the ceremonial pitch on June 12), and the Mets by no means appeared again. For the Yankees, the turning level got here after they acquired Juan Soto final winter, making a one-two punch between Soto and Aaron Decide. The Yankees began sturdy with a 42–19 win-loss and first-place report initially of June, however by the center of July, they have been 55–37, sitting three video games behind the first-place Orioles.
Ultimately, the Mets completed 89–73, six video games behind the Phillies within the NL East, ok for a Wild Card berth. In the meantime, the Yankees rebounded to win the AL East, ending the common season at 94–68 for the AL’s finest report and third-best total behind the Dodgers and Phillies.
The groups had completely different expectations for 2024, with the Mets seeking to rebuild for the long run and keep aggressive all through the season. On Opening Day, Mets proprietor Steve Cohen mentioned, “I feel the objective is to make the playoffs. Fairly easy. Let’s not overthink this. If we didn’t make the playoffs, I’d be disenchanted.” Mentioned NYY supervisor Aaron Boone, “We perceive profitable the East is step one, nevertheless it’s vital.”
Final season, the Mets had a $355 million payroll, the best within the MLB, however their season was a bust, ending in fourth place with a 75–87 report. After the season, Cohen determined to go in a unique course–rebuilding and hiring the brand new President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, which paid off. Within the Bronx, the Yankee’s message this season was clear: win all of it. “Developing quick final yr, it stings,” Yankees’ Captain Aaron Decide advised the AP. “So we needed to make an announcement and put ourselves in a very good place going into the postseason.”
Each groups have the identical mission: return to the World Sequence. The Mets haven’t been there since 2015, and it has been even longer for the heralded Yankees (2009). 2000 was the final Subway Sequence, and wouldn’t it’s nice for the Metropolis if it occurred once more this yr?
If all goes as deliberate, each groups have luck on their facet.