| At this point in the season, both the New York | | | | that comes and goes in your life with little regard paid |
| Yankees and the New York Mets have nearly | | | | to them. They are more of a curiosity than a constant |
| identical records, but it is the past that makes these | | | | threat. |
| two franchises so different. | | | | But are things changing for the Metropolitans in 2006? |
| The eyes of the baseball world will be on the old and | | | | They come into this series with the Yankees standing |
| decrepit Shea Stadium this weekend. The two New | | | | alone in first place in the National League East with a |
| York baseball teams will meet for the first time in 2006 | | | | shiny record and a new team full of big money stars |
| as interleague play begins. | | | | and a renewed sense of pride. |
| Ever since interleague play was introduced back in | | | | Everything is in place for these two local rivals to heat |
| 1997, this cross-town match up has been the highlight | | | | things up again for the next several years. The Mets |
| for New Yorkers and a curiosity for the rest of the | | | | have Pedro Martinez, a gentleman Yankees fans will |
| baseball world. No city can boast as much passion and | | | | have no problem hating. Plus, the payroll and the |
| emotion for their respective baseball teams as the Big | | | | superstar quotient of the Mets almost equal that of the |
| Apple can. | | | | Yankees. |
| Speaking from the perspective of a Yankees fan, if | | | | The Yanks have a rising star in Robinson Cano, while |
| one was heading to the Sportsbook to make a wager | | | | the Mets can counter with 3B David Wright. Carlos |
| on these games and wanted to pick the team that | | | | Delgado is the Mets big bopper, while Alex Rodriquez |
| has proven itself over the years and one that is | | | | holds that title in the Bronx. Pedro has the scandalous |
| always in contention for the playoffs, your choice | | | | background as does Jason Giambi, and both bullpens |
| should be the Yankees. | | | | feature a large amount of money invested in closers. |
| Bronx Bomber fans have always hated the Boston | | | | This weekend's tilt between the two teams will feature |
| Red Sox, but the hatred of Mets fans is more | | | | large crowds and will be important for the Mets, much |
| tempered with a little bit of sadness, as the team has | | | | more important than that series with the Atlanta |
| not done anything significant since winning the World | | | | Braves. |
| Series back in 1969. | | | | The Mets now have a good GM, good personnel, and |
| Ok, Mets fans -you did make the World Series in 2000, | | | | a couple of players in the farm systems that have the |
| but you lost to the Yankees. Does losing in a World | | | | potential to be great, if they are not traded away. |
| Series really count for anything? Beyond that, the Mets | | | | They must now consider themselves frontrunners and |
| have wandered woefully through many losing seasons | | | | shed the image of being the second most important |
| and have suffered because of some inept | | | | team in a baseball-crazy town. |
| management and decisions at the general manager | | | | At one point in the winter, the Mets were a 12-1 pick to |
| level. | | | | win the World Series, and now, that has been lowered |
| A good majority of Mets fans will have to agree that | | | | to 7-1. The gap is closing between the Yankees and |
| New York is a Yankee town, and the back page of | | | | Mets, but in the end, it probably will not be enough. The |
| the NY rags will attest to that on most days of the | | | | Mets were the hot team last year, but faltered at |
| baseball season. I will say that I still enjoy that apple | | | | season's end. The Mets might still be a year or two |
| that pops up in the outfield at Shea on the occasion of | | | | away in the National League, having to overcome the |
| a Mets homerun. | | | | powerful Cardinals and the flying Phillies. |
| When these two teams hook up in the regular season, | | | | Either way, the Yankees and owner George |
| it does become a battle of NY. There is a pointed | | | | Steinbrenner know how important this series and the |
| difference in the hatred for our rivals from Boston as | | | | final set of games back in the Bronx are. It is all about |
| compared to the boys from Queens. | | | | image, and until the Mets can prove year after year |
| In Yankee fans' minds, the Mets do not represent | | | | that they are contenders and can win down the |
| much of a threat to take over the town. They have | | | | stretch, New York will always remain a Yankees |
| always been the step-cousin or the out-of-town uncle | | | | town. |