By Mark La Monica
Yankee fans generally don't enjoy when the Mets win a baseball game or take a positive step toward the postseason.
Mets fans generally don't enjoy when the Yankees win a baseball game or take a positive step toward the postseason.
None of this is earth-shattering news that will revamp the way you eat breakfast each morning.
But for these three games between the Mets and Red Sox, Yankee fans should be thoroughly joyed upon hearing of a Mets victory. In fact, they should actively seek such an outcome. For, these Mets, already with a 12-game lead in the National League East, play a three-game series at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, owners of a 2.5-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.
Ultimately, the AL East will be won by the team that gains controlling interest in the remaining nine games between the Yankees and Red Sox. But there's no reason to root for Boston to keep its nine-game winning streak going if you’re a Yankee fan. Or a Met fan, for that matter.
It may seem blasphemous for a Yankee fan to openly favor the Mets to score more runs than their opponent, but they must think of the bigger picture. The Mets have already locked up the NL East, barring a Bostonian-like collapse, so they're playing in October regardless.
The American League playoff picture is a bit muddier. With the Tigers and White Sox playing as well as they are, there's a good chance the AL East runner-up will be watching the postseason from the comforts of their million-dollar couches inside their multimillion-dollar homes.
It may only be the end of June and there may be three months left to play, but a loss is a loss and the more of them the Red Sox have, the better it is for the Yankees. Every starting position player for the Yankees has gotten hurt at some point this season and the pitching is still suspect.
After the Mets series, the Red Sox have 87 games left, 40 of which are against teams with winning records as of Monday night. Nine of those games are against the Yankees. The Yankees play 44 of their 88 remaining games against winning teams, including those same nine against the Red Sox.
The Yankees helped out the Mets last week by taking two of three against the Marlins and two of three against the Phillies. Of course, the Mets are running away with their division, but losses for their divisional rivals can't hurt.
So, Mets, take the series in Boston before coming down to Yankee Stadium for the weekend. You’ll receive a much warmer welcome in the Bronx if you do.
Comments (7)
You gotta love interleague play ! Who's your daddy...Pedro or Big Papi ? Perhaps the Red Sox will provide Met fans with another Bill Buckner moment.
If the Mets run away with the division, and the Yankees find a way to dominate their division again, I can go back to rooting for the Mets getting PAYBACK for 2000.
What better way to end the season then another Subway series! New York wins no matter what, and the Mets will run all the way to the bank and the streets as World Series champs!
So I may not say this often, but GO YANKEES!
As long as The Mets wear out Boston's bullpen the Yankees will be happy. That also means their starters didn't go too long. Papelbon doesn't work out of a phonebooth. His time to be had has arrived.
I must be the lone Met fan who does not hate the Yankees. I'm always glad when NY area teams do well. Of course I'm a Met fan first but I've never bought into all the Evil Empire nonsense.
One other thing, when you say "barring a Bostonian-like collapse," I assume you mean the 3-0 lead the Yankees blew in the 2004 ALCS?
As a Met fan and a Yankee hater, I am not sure who to root for in the Met/Sox series. If the Mets lose, its no big deal, and the SOX will continue to lead the AL East. If the Mets win, thats fine too. Lets go Mets!
//Torre added he's "curious" to see Pedro Martinez's welcome tonight. "They beat up on Johnny Damon, so it wouldn't surprise me what they do," he said of the Fenway fans. "Johnny was sort of a cult hero over there, more than anyone else, and they didn't treat him too favorably."//
Joe Torre needs to STFU about the Sox and worry about his own team - I am so sick of him spewing garbage out of his big nose/mouth about Sox fans. He doesn't know crap.
I know what is wrong with Alex ROdriguez.I can not believe all these coaches and doctors can not see what is wrong.This goes back to little league.If you watch him when he bats he does not watch the bat hit the ball.He takes his eyes off to get that extra power leading to a tip or even miss.I believe if he just watchs the ball right his bat This slump will be over.Donnie must see this.I mean time after time even when he does make contact it seems to be a quess.
I once gave Tino Martinez a tip that was the same only his head was turning as he was trying to make contact.I don't know if he took my advice,but the next time he batted in the playoffs his head was right on the ball. Try it A-Rod thats all you need.