(St. Pete, July 10, 2000) What an excellent series, some games that really meant something before the All-Star break. The first and last were defined by pitching, which both NY clubs have quite a bit of, and the middle two, the historic 'Subway Series' starting at Shea and ending in the Bronx, became a grudge match. Orlando 'El Duque'Hernandez battled Al Leiter in the Yankee game 1 victory, Hampton (now 9-5 with a 3.36 ERA) and Benitez of the Mets combined for a 2-0 shutout of Pettitte (9-5, 4.38) and pals in the finale, and two interference plays involving Knoblauch and Zeile set the stage for the Yankee sweep in the sandwich games. Both by a score of 4-2. Tell me THAT'S a coincidence! Clemens beaning of Piazza sidelined him for the last two games (and the All-Star Game), and added some tension to the budding rivalry in New York. Time and time again the Yanks got the breaks, leaving many average folks shocked and chagrined. And wondering if the men in blue are still on Big Stein's payroll.

(St. Pete, July 8, 2000) Before I start the wholesale whining, a tip of the Wolaver's Pale Ale to Doc Gooden and the Yankees, who prevailed today in the first game of an historical New York doubleheader. As we speak, the two clubs are boarding the 7 train to Flushing (the site of my birth) with guest conductor John Rocker at the helm. No, really...

After El Duque bested Al Leiter 2-1 in the first meaningless game of this series, the Yankees took advantage (as they always do) of a couple of questionable umpiring calls to beat the Mets 4-2. Do the Yankees always get these calls? Yes, Virginia, the Yankees are the chosen. But the Mets are a scrapping batch, and made it a contest. The calls in question were the first pitch 'double' by Knoblauch, who was called out on a brilliant play by Met centerfielder Jay Payton before the 1st base ump, at the insistance of coach Lee Mazzilli, charged Todd Zeile with interference. Later, Zeile was heading for second on a grounder Knoblauch was in the process of booting, and was ruled out. The umps certainly guided the outcome of this game, and the Mets really couldn't overcome it this time.

The return of Doc Gooden can be interpreted in several ways. That the Yankees would throw the dice in such an important game says something about their pitching staff. And of course it was a good human interest story. Incidently, I really like Gooden, and thought he pitched pretty well today. He threw strikes, and that's half the battle. But it is a sign of the times when two of baseball's top teams march out Gooden and Bobby '7.18' Jones in the battle for the Apple.

(Valley Cottage, July 7, 2000) We realize that position-by-position comparisons aren’t always the most telling proof of one team being "better than" another. Team chemistry – the sum of all the parts – is what wins championships and the New York Yankees have certainly done their share of that recently. But we feel the need to make this Met-Yankee comparison anyway, as the two New York teams are about to hook up for an interesting four-game series this weekend.

Keep in mind that both teams enter this weekend on similar footing – with the Mets having a slight edge at 47-35 on the season over the Yankees at 42-37. These are not the dominating Yankees of the last few years – this Yankee team is comprised of mere mortals and they will find the year 2000 Mets up to the challenge.

Here’s our match-ups:

CATCHER
Jorge Posada has blossomed this season and fulfilled the potential that the Yankees had forecast. But even at .313 with 14 doubles, 14 homers, 40 RBI, 47 runs scored, and a .549 slugging percentage, he’s no match for Met superman Mike Piazza (.359, 19 doubles, 24 home runs, 72 RBI, 53 runs scored, and an incredible .715 slugging percentage). Posada is better defensively, especially in his ability to cut down baserunners, and Jorge’s OBP is .452 while Piazza’s at .423, but this one’s easy. EDGE: METS

FIRST BASE
Going into this season, the conversion of Todd Zeile (.304, 25 doubles, 13 homers, 51 RBI, .530 slugging, .381 OBP) into a first baseman was a gamble for GM Steve Phillips and the team’s biggest question mark. But any such concerns are long gone, as Zeile has stepped into his new role admirably, learned his craft and played solid defense, and started to put a career year together at the plate. On the other side of town, Tino Martinez (.262, 21 doubles, 7 homers, 46 RBI, .456 sluggging, .332 OBP) looks like a player on the decline. He is still contributing at the plate, and will still get you the big hit, but Martinez is not the hitter he once was. EDGE: METS

SECOND BASE
No contest. 1st time All-Star Edgardo Alfonzo is the everyday backbone and lifeblood of the Met team and gets better and better each season. Take his stellar defensive play and add it to a .328 average, 24 doubles, 13 homers, 57 RBI, .427 OBP, .559 slugging percentage, and team-leading 64 runs scored, and Knobby’s psychotic defense and .297 average just doesn’t match up. EDGE: METS

SHORTSTOP
Hands down, Derek Jeter (.324, 15 doubles, 9 homers, 57 runs, 36 RBI, .375 OBP) over Melvin Mora (.288), although it's been a sub-par year for Jeter so far. Both of Jeter's AL shortstop wunderkind brethren, A-Rod (.347, 19 doubles, 24 home runs, 77 RBI and 84 runs scored) and Garciaparra (.393, 27 doubles, 10 homers), are having better years. EDGE: YANKEES

THIRD BASE
Y2K has not been a great one for N.Y. third baseman. Scott Brosius (.257, 9 doubles, 8 homers, 35 RBI, 26 runs) has been steady in the field, but a disappointment at the plate and one of the reasons for the Yanks’ lack of run production. Robin Ventura (.242, 16 doubles, 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 41 runs) is not having the year he had in ’99, but he makes his hits count and plays a gold glove third base. EDGE: METS

LEFT FIELD
Until the arrival of David Justice, not a great position for either team. Shane Spencer (.286, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers, 40 RBI) and Benny Agbayani (.293, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 homers, 28 RBI) both burst onto the N.Y. scene with spectacular barrages of home runs and then settled down. Spencer’s stats look a little better because he has 100 more at-bats than Benny, but Shane’s a better fielder, so we would have given him the edge over Benny even if Justice didn’t come on the scene. Justice (.256, 15 doubles, 22 homers, 61 RBI, 49 runs, .563 slugging), throws this completely to the Yanks. EDGE: YANKEES

CENTER FIELD
Bernie Williams (.333, 23 doubles, 19 home runs, 79 RBI, 64 runs, .610 slugging) is having another great season and is the clear choice at this position over the Mets’ rookie-of-the-year candidate Jay Payton (.301, 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 27 RBI, 28 runs). Payton has over 100 less at-bats than Williams, having just won the regular centerfield job over the last month, and has finally overcome the injuries that have held back his enormous talent at bat and in the field, but Jay’s still got a long way to go before he can measure up to Bernie. EDGE: YANKEES

RIGHT FIELD
Yankee fans may scream bloody murder, but the nod has to go to Derek Bell over Paul O’Neill. In almost the exact same number of at-bats (312 for Bell, 309 for O’Neill), Bell leads O’Neill in virtually every offensive category: average (.311 vs. .298), hits (97 vs. 92), doubles (21 vs. 10), home runs (12 vs. 10), runs (63 vs. 45), total bases (154 vs. 141), walks (42 vs. 30), OBP (.397 vs. .356), and slugging (.494 vs. .456). The only stat in which O’Neill slightly beats Bell is RBI (53 vs. 50). We also think that Bell is a better fielder (for Yankee fans that never watch Met games, Bell came to the Mets from Houston with a reputation for being an excellent outfielder with a great arm and has lived up to that in every way this season). EDGE: METS

PITCHING
It’s interesting to note that coming into this series, the Mets and Yanks have the exact same team ERA of 4.61. Both teams have had trouble finding the right mix of pitching this season, a problem that plagues just about every team in baseball these days.

STARTERS
Al Leiter (10-1, 3.04 ERA) is the Big Apple’s best starting pitcher this season and the Mets always seem to win when he’s on the mound. Mike Hampton (8-5, 3.56 ERA) got off to a slow start, but has settled down and almost become the pitcher he was last year. Glendon Rusch (6-6, 4.42), the surprise Met pitcher of the year, has pitched much better than his numbers indicate. Rusch could very well be another 10-game winner, having lost 4 games in which he gave up 2 or less runs. His ERA is inflated by just a couple of bad outings. The other Met starters have struggled, most notably Rick Reed (4-2, 4.76), now on the DL, and righty Bobby Jones (3-3, 7.18), who has looked much better in his last two starts.

Ramiro Mendoza (7-3, 3.72) and Andy Pettitte (9-4, 4.48)have put together the most impressive stats on the Yankee starting staff thus far, but the team has also been given a reasonable, if not somewhat disappointing performance by EL Duque (7-6, 4.47). The big letdowns have been David Cone (1-7, 6.40) and the Rocket (5-6, 4.48). The Yankees surprised everyone by announcing that Dwight Gooden would be brought up from the minors to start one of the games at Shea this weekend, but a pitcher can’t win on nostalgic adrenaline alone. Bottom line - SLIGHT EDGE: METS

BULLPEN
Turk Wendell (4-4, 3.65, 39 hits and 25 walks in 49.1 innings), John Franco (3-3, 3.74, 28 hits and 13 walks in 33.2 innings), Pat Mahomes (2-1, 4.33, 56 hits and 38 walks in 54 innings), and Dennis Cook (5-2, 5.91, 41 hits and 12 walks in 32 innings), have all added up to a disappointing middle relief staff for the Mets this year, especially after their great performances in ’99 gave them the best bullpen in the NL. Armando Benitez (2-3, 18 saves, 3.54, 22 hits, 21 walks and 54 strikeouts in 40.2 innings), has allowed 7 home runs, the only thing keeping him from being on par with Yankee closer Mariano Rivera this season.

Jeff Nelson (6-2, 1.79 ERA, 25 hits and 31 walks in 45.1 innings), Mike Stanton (2-1, 2.93, 41 hits and 16 walks in 43 innings), and Jason Grimsley (3-2, 4.22, 65 hits and 24 walks in 59.2 innings) have been the main guys out of the bullpen for the Yankees in the middle innings. Mariano Rivera (2-3, 18 saves, 3.19, 32 hits and 12 walks in 36.2 innings) is still probably the top closer in the game, although not the "automatic" that he was last season. EDGE: YANKEES

PREDICTION
We’ll go out on the proverbial limb here and, with nothing really to lose, predict a 4-game sweep by the Mets over the Yankees this weekend. This is a dangerous prediction in that the Yankee bats have come alive over the last few games, but we think that the pitching matchups, the Mets home advantage (3 of the 4 games) with its no-DH factor, and the offensive heat of the Mets starting lineup will prevail.

Before we leave, let’s take a look at a relatively new baseball stat that has become popular recently. Many baseball writers are claiming that OPS (a simple addition of a player’s on-base and slugging percentages) is the most accurate and revealing statistic in determining the offensive worth of a player. We don’t know what to make of this yet, but here’s an OPS comparison of the Met and Yankee starting lineups:

OPS Comparisons

Piazza         1.138
Posada         1.001

Zeile           .911
Martinez        .764

Alfonzo         .986
Knoblauch       .763

Jeter           .861
Mora            .800

Ventura         .841
Brosius         .733

Agbayani        .866
Spencer         .801
Justice         .918

Payton          .826
Williams       1.009

Bell            .891
O’Neill         .812

(St. Pete, July 8, 2000) For the most part, your ratings are right on the mark, no pun intended. Well, maybe a little... I do like O'Neill defensively over Bell, (and this opinion comes before THE CATCH in the first encounter last night) but I haven't seen Bell enough to judge. I have seen quite a bit of O'Neill over the years, and to my eye he hasn't lost a hell of a lot. A great outfielder. And hitter. These comparisons, like you say, are not the end-all in determining the better team. But they do point towards some interesting trends. The Mets have closed the gap significantly against their cross-town rivals, in a short period of time. All that remains is a championship. And considering the nature of baseball in the last decade or so, and the impending Mets situation at the close of this year, they'd better prevail while the opportunity is there. The Yankees give me the feeling of the old Montreal Canadiens - they can cruise through the regular season and turn it up a notch for the playoffs. Hell of a lot harder to do this in baseball though...

OPS - I like this stat a lot... hell, I like 'em all! I've always agreed that the best judge of offense is slugging percentage and on-base. Why not just add 'em up? Of course there is no one statistic that answers all the questions, but this is the best of the reasonably simple ones. And Doc's tally backs this up. Griffey and Nomar come up a bit short on this yardstick, as they don't like to take the base on balls, but you could pick your MVP by looking at this. Guess an .850 average would certify you as All-Star quality. Especially if you can catch the damn ball!

It is true that the Yanks have showed mortality this year. While my esteemed colleague Mike Stew seems unconcerned, I have to say that Ihave been worried. Even after the 98 season, I was not in favor of the Yanks coming out with basically the same team. I think that the team has aged, and needs to make some moves. This is not to say that they are not still an awsome force. Clearly a large part of their recent woes have resided with an ailing and injured pitching staff - something that happens more frequently when 3 of the top starters are over 35. The Yanks have based a lot of their winning ways on pitching, and they cannot be the same team without Clemens, Hernandez, and Mendoza. In addition, Cone - sadly - looks like he may be through. HE has had a great career, but something is wrong. However, I might use him in relief until the post season where he probably would pitch incredibly again. Pettitte has been the only steady pitcher this season.

But Clemens and Hernandez are back and looking good. Mendoza should be back in the rotation soon also. Who knows - Doc Gooden may have a few games left in his arm as well. At least he fits in with the ancient arms. Rivera may have shown some vulnerability, but I would still rather have him than anyone else in the ninth.

I think the Yanks would do well to try to make one more deal to bolster the team. However, even if they don't, I think that they will be in the post season, and that is their territory. There is NOBODY that holds a candle to them when the real money's on the line - huge edge: Yanks.

I want to point out that, Mark's prediction of a sweep was crazy from the start. Even if the Mets win the next 3, El Duque still beat the "best in the big apple". Perhaps Hernandez is the best in NY?? Leiter has a better record by far, but compare their returns when the money has been on the line, (Mets pennant run last year vs. Yanks run). Well - we will see how the season turns out. I cannot say that I have not been discouraged with the Bronx Bums, but don't count them out. They may be coming to life again, and --- look out!

(St. Pete, July 8, 2000) I gots a question: Is it always the guy with the most wins that's pitching best? I think Clemens has been the Yankees best starter, and El Duque #2. Those two and Pettitte have almost identical ERAs, but k's and hits-per-inning favor the old timers. Cone, of course, is having a horrible year, but could rebound. Andy Pettitte has impressed me on occasion this year - he bamboozles the Red Sox time in and time out. But I consider him only as an above average starter, not a #1 by a long shot.

While it was El Duque that outpitched Al Leiter tonight and sent the Mets down to defeat, what about that Paul O'Neill! This guy is some kind of gamer. For long my favorite Yankee because of his tenacity and ability to deliver in the clutch, O'Neill's catch of Derek Bell's bid for a game-tying home run will be what I remember most about this game. -- Doc

I am glad that you can be a good sport about the loss. It sounded like a great catch for sure. O'Neill, although aging, is certainly a gamer. -- WSL

I get the feeling that Paul O'Neill may have taken offense to being compared to Derek Bell. Giving Bell the edge there was a joke anyway. O'Neill is Mr. Clutch. When he took that poke away last night it was almost like he was saying "Sorry pal, I am still the boss out here". Nice catch Pauly. Isn't it amazing how our torn and tattered staff comes up big in big games all the time. The Yanks are still a team of consummate professionals who win when they need to. The Mets are still a team of hopefuls who have a hard time playing in September. We may never know how they might play in October. Edge-Yanks And by the way, I agree with the Yankees. As psyched as we fans may be, this is 4 regular season games. For the Yankees it may as well be the Phillies. Of course when I read the papers I see the Met players saying this is their World Series. Too bad. Hopefully they will get to be the team the Yanks beat this October. Then they will know what a real World Series is like. Four games and you're out but it was fun anyway.

The Yanks are indeed getting older Weasel. But where is the loyalty. These guys have won for you and deserve to keep playing till they don't. As I said earlier in the year, "you can't win every year". We fans crack me up. First we decry major leaguers for not showing loyalty to the home team by running for the money. In the next breath we want to trade away parts of a team that has won the World Series for us. Where is David Wells when you need him. Oh that's right. In Toronto where we foolishly sent him for Clemens after he helped us big time in winning a Series. If they don't make the Series or lose in it then you need to make changes. I do believe that Cone can turn it around. If he doesn't then he will need to be let go after the season. I think he would retire on his own anyway. Yanks will win 3 of 4.-- Stew

Derek Bell is also a flashier dresser than O'Neill. -- Doc

Johnny, you usually make sense but not this time buddy. Where the hell do you get Clemens delivered them another ring. That statement is a joke. They won despite him last year. If you are speaking of game 4 all he did in my opinion was manage to beat a team that had already lost its heart after losing the first 3 and its last 7 in a row in the Classic. -- Stew

I think he delivered the first round as well... -- JB

He also delivered one to Piazza's coconut tonight! -- Doc

What we are seeing here is that the Mets are a very good team. The Yanks are the World Champs. My prediction of last week is beginning to be borne out. The Yankee pen has not allowed a hit in this series though the first 3 games (6 1/3) innings. I say again, the have the best pen in baseball. And we are also seeing the starting staff beginning to gel after numerous injuries killed any chance of that happening earlier. Gooden was great today. I've got doubts going down the road though. You never know. Maybe what he needed was the screwball or some other pitch to keep himself in the game. That would be a good story if he succeeds this year. Like I say, got my doubts. -- Mikey Stew

My prediction of a sweep is still possible -- although not exactly the way I planned it. The Mets have again failed to win the big series against one of their two archrivals -- the Yankees and Braves. It doesn't help that Mike Piazza got clocked in the coconut by Clemens, or that Major League Baseball assigned inexperienced umpires to a high-profile series like this one, but the Mets offense, except for Derek Bell, has been flat for these games and the team is playing as if it's just waiting for the Yankees to beat them.

The Yankees may well be coming together over the last week, playing more like they did last year, and on their way to winning their division (after all, the AL East is no longer the tough division it once was). It's a series like this that shows you how the Yanks can, seemingly at will, go into playoff mode and start stringing victories together in a short series -- remember, to the Yanks, even the World Series is now just a 4-game series like this one.

Not to make excuses -- the Yankees have clearly outclassed the Mets in these games -- but this series just goes to show how baseball is a game of inches. The catch by O'Neill to rob Derek Bell, Knoblauch's home run ball popping out of the mitt of Harris, the at-'em-ball line drives that the Mets have hit in key situations, the interference calls, the gamble by the Yankees in starting Dwight Gooden -- yikes! Down to the beaning of Piazza, I can't think of one break that has gone the way of the Mets in this series. If it wasn't for bad luck...

I truly hope the Mets can salvage the 4th game of this series and avoid complete embarrassment at the hands of the Bronx Bombers. And somehow I believe that Mike Hampton is the guy to do it. But with the season half gone, it's time to escape all the hype and circumstance, anticipation and disappointment, of this "subway series" and focus on the real task at hand -- catching the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

FYI -- Derek Bell is 6 for 11 over the first 3 games of this series, with 3 RBI, 2 doubles and a sac fly. Paul O'Neill is 2 for 13. --Doc