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The Possibilities of a New York-new York World Series

A series where home field advantage is nothing, and the sky is the limit on the talent among the two is a world series of dream in New York, especially considering that both of these teams have just aquired new, incredibly expensive staduims. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny that both the Yankees and Mets are two teams loaded with talent. Though these two teams have talent galore, neither have been past the Divisional round in the playoffs in the last 2 years. You can account this for the collapse of the Mets in September the last 2 seasons, the Bug Bowl in Cleveland in 2007 that turned the series around for those Indians (who later lost to the Sox in the ALCS), and the rise of the Rays in ’08. This year, GMs Brian Cashman (a fitting name for the Yankees) and Omar Minaya tried to ensure that their teams would come out on top, but as the Yankees have proved time and time again, money doen’t always buy championships. Can these two teams revive themselves and put theselves back on top?

This offseason started with alot of talent in the pool, and the Yankees and Mets were both determined to aquire as much of it as they could afford, which turned out to be more than anyone could’ve imagined. The Yankees started the splash off by signing top SP C.C. Sabbathia to a 7yr./$160 MIL contract, which was soon followed up by signing #2 SP A.J. Burnett to a 5yr./$82.5 MIL deal. After spending $242.5 MIL on 2 pitchers, guarenteeing a dominant rotation, the Yankees figured they’d only spend about 180 MIL more when they sighned #1 overall FA Mark Teixeira to an 8yr./$180 MIL deal, just beating out the rival Sox for the 1B slugger (don’t worry Sox fans, you later resigned Youk). Since then though, the Yankees have not done anything major in the pool, just some small signings here and there, but no GM has ever spent $422.5 MIL on 3 players. Though I don’t agree with the shopping spree, and I agree that the spree is irresponsible, but you can’t deny that Cashman is determined to put his team back on the top. Only time will tell if his expenditures will pay off.

Last year, Johan Santana was this years C.C. Sabbathia. The Mets aquired him in a trade however, not in the Free Agency, and he later re-signed with the Mets for $150.75 MIL, which at the time was the largest contract ever signed by a pitcher. He was very successful in ’08, but he had bullpen issues, when he had 7 wins blown by the bullpen, who can pretty much be credited with 90% of their collapse in the last two years. This year, Omar Minaya was determined to solve that problem, first by resigning interim manager Jerry Manual, who took over for Willie Randolph who was fired in Los Angeles after a loss to the Angels. Then, Minaya focused on fixing that bullpen by signing saves record holder CL Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) to a 3yr./$37 MIL contract, replacing CL Billy Wagner, who injured his elbow at the end of last season, sidelining him for the ’09 season. Then, the Mets traded for talented Mariners CL J.J. Putz in a 3-way deal with the Mariners and Indians. Hopefully, these game enders will help the Mets prevent another collapse. The Mets are not done either. They have an offer in on SP Oliver Perez, and have planned to offer either SP Randy Wolfe or SP Ben Sheets an offer if Perez rejects. This will help the Mets finish the rotation that just lost SPs including Orlando Hernandez; Scott Showenweis; and Spot SP, Aaron Hielman.The Mets will have to prove themselves by beating the World Series defending Phillies.

Roster Comparison:

Mets:

• C- Brian Schnider = Schnider is a veteran C who may be a little past his prime, but proves as a leader in the clubhouse. A decent player at the spot, but probably needs an upgrade if possible. Don’t expect either C Jason Varitek or C Ivan “Pudge” Rodruguez to come here as a late signing. If the Mets get a C, it will be a younger C with some years left in him.
• 1B- Carlos Delgado = Delgado is another veteran presence who many thought was done until last season where he put up career type numbers, making a late career comeback. Delgado proved last year that he still has some years left in him, and that he can stay healthy. However, expect the Mets to start looking for replacement 1B for the next 3-5 years, at least to serve as a backup for now in case of injury to the vet.
• 2B- Luis Castillo = The Mets are more stuck with Castillo than wanting him. They planned on shopping him and signing a new 2B. However, the 2B has drawn no interest, and the Mets have not really found a replacement. The Mets have signed UTIL Alex Cora, but he will most likely NOT start.
• 3B- David Wright = As much as I dislike the Mets, I cannot find enough words to describe this young, talented 3B. He is an overally great 3B, and is a young leader for this Mets team. If he can continue the great stats that he’s been putting up, the Mets will continue to put up runs.
• SS- Jose Reyes = Another young talented player for the Mets. The base stealing threat, as well as great defensive SS will help the Mets on the offensive side of the game as well as the defensive.
• LF- Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis = This LF tandem, though mostly unknown, has some raw talent involved. Tatis, coming off of a great comeback season, will play against LHP, and Murphy who hit .313 in 131 At Bats. Murphy is young, and mostly unproven. However, he will get the majority of the play time. If he comes out strong, it will be an extra bonus in the already strong Mets line-up.
• CF- Carlos Beltran = Beltran, another triple threat, with the bat, glove, and the speed. He is a poised veteran in every aspect of the game and will have another great season.
• RF- Ryan Church = Church was a pretty good aquisition at the start of last season. Church, a widely underrated player in general is a good bat, with a pretty good glove. The only problem that the Mets will have with Church is that he is slightly concussion prone. He recieved 2 concussions last season, and also suffered from post-concussion syndrome for almost a month. Hopefully, the 30 yr. old RF will stay healthy enough to be an impact player.

Weaknesses:

C – Though this one player shouldn’t affect the Mets too much, they need to find a better C by the start of next season.

2B – Castillo and the Mets are not on good terms right now, but he is the only player that they have to start at this position currently. Tension between the organization and this player could cause clubhouse problems, though unlikely if he is starting.

LF – Sometimes handing the reins over to an unexpirienced player can cause them to tense up and over do things. However, Murphy should be fine, as long as he plays his game.

RF – RF won’t be a problem as long as Church stays healthy.

Yankees:

• C- Jorge Posada = Posada missed the last 1/3 of the season after having season-ending shoulder surgery. It will be interesting to see what the vet. will be able to do after the surgery. Posada is aging, and the Yanks may need to start looking for a replacement, mabey a Jerrod Saltalamacchia. Having Posada as a leader is a good thing, but I doubt that he will be as effective as he’s been in the past.
• 1B- Mark Teixeira = Coming off another incredible year, his first playoff appearance, and an incredible contract, Teixeira will have to learn to adjust to the New York lifestyle. I will warn New York fans now, Teixeira is a slow starter, but he ends great. Don’t start hard on him, give him a month. He should continue to produce incredible numbers and was a great addition.
• 2B- Robinson Cano = Cano is a good 2B coming off of a bad year. He will most likely put up better numbers than last year, but he will not be in the same form he was in during the 2007 season. If Cano doesn’t improve his numbers, the Yanks may decide to go into another direction at this position.
• 3B- Alex Rodriguez = Good tool sitting at the 3B position. A-Rod may never play well enough to impress Yanks fans, but he’s great in my book. A-Rod, enough said.
• SS- Derek Jeter = I hate the Yankees, but I love Derek Jeter. He is a great defensive SS who is a good #2 man in the line-up. Jeter, along with his tools is a great leader and will always impress. Though he is aging, expect him to retire as a starting Yankees SS.
• LF- Johnny Damon = Damon, after being moved from his starting CF position and being shuned by the Yanks is a must have in the LF position this season. He won’t be incredible or anything. However, Damon is a reliable OF with a pretty good bat who will put up good-decent numbers throughout most of his career. This year will be no execption.
• CF – Brett Garnder = Garnder will get the nod in CF after Melky’s not so stellar numbers last season. Garnder, with only 42 games under his belt will be an interesting expiriment in CF in the least. A rookie facing Yankee pressure could cause complications, but Gardner is alot like Daniel Murphy of the Mets.
• RF – Xavier Nady = Nady has just nosed out OF/1B Nick Swisher for the RF position. Nady is a player that is a pure hitter. Not exactly a power hitter, though he does have some pop in his bat. Nady however could not be a Yankee at opening day, this will be somthing to watch. The Yanks have been openly shopping Swisher and Nady due to a surplus of OFs.

Weaknesses:

C – Jorge is a veteran leader, but he is aging and is not as good as he once was. The Yanks may also be looking for a new, young C to play the backup role such as Jerrod Saltalamacchia.

2B – Cano struggled last season, and he will not be back at his top form this season. Yankee fans need to be patient with Cano, and he will get back to the top tier 2B that he once was.

OF – The Yankees have a surplus of decent OFs. They really don’t have that go-to guy in the OF. In fact, they have a rookie starting in the OF. This Yanks OF could be a little unreliable. This is really the only weak point in the Yanks team.

Rotation Comparison:

Mets:

• 1. Johan Santana = Santana was a great aquirement last season. He had 7 wins blown by the bullpen, and now that the bullpen has improved as much as it has, expect alot better #s from the dominant lefty.
• 2. John Maine = Though the Mets are strong in the line-up and bullpen, they are not strong in the rotation, which could be the achilies heel of this team. John Maine is a decent pitcher, but he is a pitcher in a league of aces. He will win some games and eat up some innings, but he will not be a Johan Santana.
• 3. Mike Pelfry = Pelfry is another pitcher in a league of aces. Much like Pelfry, he’ll eat up innings and get some wins, but I highly doubt that he will emerge as an ace, even though he is young.
• 4. Oliver Perez/Randy Wolfe/Ben Sheets = The Mets have already said that they are going to sign one more starter. None of these pitchers other than Sheets are ace type material, but they can eat innings when healthy. Oliver Perez is the main target, and they have already offered a 3yr. deal. If Perez moves on, the Mets will most likely focus on Wolfe.
• 5. Tim Redding = Redding was an aquisiton to fill this #5 spot in the rotation. He has not necessarily proven that he is a good SP, but you can’t blame him for the untalent around him. The Mets are better than the Nats, so he should improve on his stats.

Yankees:

• 1. C.C. Sabbathia = The newly aquired ace will surely thrive in the viscious city of New York, New York. One of the many aces in the Yanks rotation will help them climb to the top as long as everyone stays healthy.
• 2. A.J. Burnett = This also newly aquired ace should also thrive in New York as long as he stays healthy, which is his only downfall.
• 3. Chien-Ming Wang = Wang is an ace. As long as he stays healthy, he will thrive in a #3 hole that is usually reserved for the decent pitchers, not aces.
• 4. Joba Chamberlain = Joba is still not expirienced but showed last year when he did play that he is an ace calibur pitcher when he’s healthy. As long as he stays healthy, he will thrive against the latter half of other teams roations.
• 5. Phil Hughes = Hughes is the only non-ace among these Yankee pitchers, however, he can be an ace. He is still young and not really proven. Hughes is really expirimental in that #5 slot, which the Yanks can afford to do b/c of their first 4 pitchers.

Notable Relievers:

Mets:

• Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) = He was aquired to help the Mets with their collapsing problem. This record holder will do well with a team that likes close games for some reason. Expect this closer to thrive with a talented.
• J.J. Putz = Putz was aquired as insurance to help get K-Rod into the save situation. Putz will get alot of innings serving as the setup role.

Yankees:

• Mariano Rivera = Rivera is always going to be a good closer. He is THE impact player in the bullpen. He should have alot of opprotunities due to the incredible pitching staff of the Yankees.

Chances:

Yankees:

• Divisional round: 70%
• ALCS: 35%
• World Series: 17.5%
• Win World Series: 8.75%

Mets:

• Divisional round: 28.33%
• NLCS: 14.17%
• World Series: 7.09%
• Win World Series: 3.55%

Combined:

• Chances they play each other: 0.3%

Note: Numbers are based on a formula and are not necessarily accurate. Do not get angry about the numbers.

Overall:

Though it is unlikely, it would be an interesting series to say the least. I know that most Yankee fans and Mets fans would like to see this. It is possible, but it is baseball, anything can happen.

About the Author

This article was originally published by RollinDB02 at RootZoo.com, an online sports social network. He’s a huge baseball fan and loves sports trivia, specifically mlb trivia.

2008 Piedmont High School Hitting Challenge 4-26-08

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