The Yankees have looked like the best team in baseball for a long time and still have the most wins (tied with the Phillies), while the Mets still hold a losing record after failing to beat a team like the Marlins six weeks ago.
But, at least for now, it’s fair to wonder where the better team is: It might be in Queens.
The Mets are still at 38-39 despite blowing most of an eight-run lead in a 9-7 win over the Yankees in Game 1 of the Subway Series. But they’re enjoying the best record in the major leagues in June and are starting to overwhelm very good pitchers, including the league’s best, on Tuesday night.
The Mets got four homers off of last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole before a Citi Field gathering of celebrities including Kenny Smith, Bill O’Reilly, Donovan Mitchell, Guy Fieri and Grimas, most of whom would say the Mets are now a big threat and the Yankees are pretty dubious — at least for now (except for the obviously biased Grimas).
The Mets should be a playoff contender (especially if they add relief pitchers). Yes, you heard them in October back on May 18 when I wrote that the Mets would be in the playoffs after watching them lose 8-0 to the Marlins, who are last in the NL. But this time I’m serious.
The Mets know they need better relief pitching. They’ll be without suspended closer Edwin Diaz for another nine games. He put himself (and the team) in a tough spot. But you can’t walk Juan Soto and load the bases for Aaron Judge when you’re up by six. And you can’t throw an 0-2 pitch up the middle to Judge for a grand slam. You can’t criticize Reid Garrett for that. He’s been pitching phenomenally. But no.
The real story of the day was that the Mets’ lineup had once again been remodeled into a fearsome one, with threats beginning to dry up.
“They’re doing well from 1 through 9, that’s special,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
The lineup continues to be great. It feels like ages ago when Francisco Lindor was struggling to get over the Mendoza (the other Mendoza) line, but he’s settled into a leadoff spot (nice move, Carlos Mendoza!) and is playing like a $341 million player while everyone behind him is doing great.
Mark Vientos is the best guy right now. He always thought he could play against major league pitchers, and now he’s getting a chance to prove it.
Sorry, Mark, we all underestimated you.
His 451-foot home run the other night at Wrigley Field was a thing of beauty, but it’s hard to top what happened Tuesday night, when he hit two homers off Cole, arguably the best pitcher he’s ever faced.
Vientos continues to be the Mets’ showpiece, but they all contribute. J.D. Martinez was a bargain when he signed for $12 million (pro-rata) in late spring, and he’s not only hitting two liners a game but also giving advice to the younger players (i.e. everyone else) for free.
The Mets seem to be on a roll right now, and compared to the Yankees of late, well, they’re no match for them.
The Mets have a deep lineup, but the Yankees seem to hit a wall after the third or fourth batter. They still have two of the best hitters in baseball, but things are shaky. If Soto or Judge get injured, they’re in serious trouble.
Gleyber Torres, in what was perhaps a bit of wishful thinking or a throwback to 2019, batted cleanup. He was 0-for-4 and made an error to boot.
Two-time batting title winner DJ LeMahieu is currently batting .174 with a slugging percentage of .174, and as any math whiz can tell, he still has zero extra base hits. Manager Aaron Boone said before the game that he plans to be patient with LeMahieu, and maybe he doesn’t have any other choice.
Third base seems likely to be in the rotation. Former Mets guard J.D. Davis was a smart addition as the team is currently in need of reinforcements in all three roles – first base, third base and designated hitter, and he was a perfect fit for the team, contributing two strikeouts and a ground-out double play in his debut.
But enough of the negativity. Back to the Mets. They seem poised to deliver on what NBA president David Stearns told The Post in the spring: a “playoff-caliber team.” You couldn’t blame them if they were planning to sell in May, but now would be a good time not to.
If anything, they need to add more. Their bullpen numbers don’t look bad, but they give up too many leads late (they lead the major leagues in losses before the ninth inning six times).
Even assuming Diaz returns from his 10-game suspension and is able to hit his stride, the Yankees’ relief corps seems lacking, which is certainly an issue for the Yankees, but it’s small compared to all the problems the Yankees are currently experiencing.
