June 26, 2009 Subway Series stories for Metro (NY) Newspaper
Subway Series, part II
Yankees, Mets roll into Citi Field on high notes
Yankees look for a repeat performance
The Yankees delivered an offensive outburst in their first series win over the Mets earlier this month. They’re looking for the same formula this time around at Citi Field.
The Bombers scored 24 runs in taking two of three over the Mets but have been shut down for the most part since, generating next to nothing off unfamiliar pitchers. Until scoring eight runs Wednesday, the Yankees had been blanked for 14 straight innings and scored just 18 runs since pounding Met ace Johan Santana on June 14.
As a result of the prolonged lineup slump, the Yankees have fallen four games behind the Red Sox in the American League East and now find themselves jostling for position in a tight wild card race. Even though the Yankees won their first series in two weeks with a win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, there are still concerns about offensive consistency.
Unlike the manic 1980’s, rash decisions such as trades or managerial firings will not happen. The impulsiveness of that period is a thing of the past and the Yankees will have to find it from within.
General manager Brian Cashman believes that and made a visit Wednesday to reiterate that point.
“We're struggling right now, mostly with the bats," Cashman told reporters Wednesday. "It's not going to last, I promise you that. We're too good for it to last. The last three weeks of poor play is mostly to do with our offense. We've got to get our offense going. We're pitching real well, but unfortunately, we're letting that good pitching go to waste."
From a pitching stand-point, the Yankees’ biggest offseason acquisitions – C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett will start the first two games and Chien-Ming Wang will close out the series.
Sabathia will become the final offseason acquisition to make his “Subway Series” debut. He started the final game in Boston and watched the first series from the dugout.
Until a successful bullpen session Wednesday, Sabathia’s status was a question mark due to a slight biceps injury that forced him out in the second inning Sunday. During the session, Sabathia threw 27 pitches and declared himself ready to go.
I'm fine," Sabathia said to reporters. "I'm ready to go, and I expect to get my full dosage of whatever it is on Friday. ... I just try to lead by example. I'm going to go out on Friday and give it everything I've got."
Larry Fleisher
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Keeping afloat
The Mets have been waiting for round 2.
The opening round was highlighted by an-almost-unfathomable dropped pop up, a verbal spat that nearly turned into a physical confrontation and one of the most humiliating losses in franchise history.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
Perhaps the psychological scars have not healed and the Mets certainly have not forgotten what took place in the Bronx two weeks ago.
“I think the incident had time to calm down,” Mike Pelfrey said about the altercation between Frankie Rodriguez and Brian Bruney. “It’s always a fun series. The fans are into it. We’re into it. It’s exciting for the city of New York. I’m sure there will be a lot of emotion. It’ll be fun.”
However, the Mets aren’t interested in getting even with the Yankees. Instead, the Flushing M*A*S*H unit, which is in the midst of a 20 games-in-20 days stretch, is focused on one thing: winning baseball games.
It is fair to say that the Mets have struggled in June, but have come alive in their last series. They took three of four from the St. Louis Cardinals, the second-best team in the National League. The Mets are just a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NL East and must carry that momentum into the All-Star break. It begins Friday against the Yankees.
“It’s a series for us. We’re not looking at it as a bigger one than anything because every series is big for us right now,” catcher Brian Schneider said.
Schneider is acutely aware of the schizophrenic nature of his team. He is also cognizant of the fact that the Yankees have been confounding following the first Subway Series, having lost five of eight. So, no, he’s not ignorant that both teams need this weekend’s games. And he’s certainly aware that, unlike the Bronx Detonation Grounds, there won’t be too many balls flying out of Citi Field.
“They have to come to our place; we’ve got the home field this time. We’re both kind of playing up and down baseball right now,” Schneider said. “It’s two totally different fields. There’s not going to be any cheap home runs here.”
Denis Gorman
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:07 AM
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