Yankees and Mets Subway Series has run itself off the tracks

The Yankees and Mets are not the attraction they once were. All the media hype is still there but two diverging franchises moving in polarizing directions is too much like the Yankees playing the White Sox. All things must pass……..

The Yankees and Mets get together for their annual meeting in the Subway Series. For the Mets, it’s four games on the schedule and a chance to fill Citi Field for two nights, though I doubt it will happen. For the Yankees, it’s four games on the schedule they desperately need to win to keep pace with those damn Red Sox.

It’s been two decades since the first Subway Series was played at Yankee Stadium in June 1997. Attendance for the night was 56,188 and the Yankees were shut out by a journeyman pitcher named Dave Milicki,  6-0 with Andy Pettitte taking the loss. Perhaps you remembered that.

But quick now, without Googling it, do you know who the winning or losing pitcher was in the final game of the Series played last year on August 4? I’ll give you a hint, the Mets won 4-1. Mmm…..didn’t think so. I didn’t know either but you can look it up here.

No Worries About The Hype, It’s Still There

This is not a trivia column, but it is one about something that’s become trivial. or, at least, the novelty has worn off. There’s still going to photographers and Channel 7 News on the Number 7 train from Queens as it’s making its way to the Stadium.

And there will still be fans dressed in creative costumes, masks, and holding signs to capture any attention they can manufacture. But that’s just it, it’s all manufactured. And there was a time when it was real. It’s kind of like going to a Rolling Stones concert these days.

But for this fan, all I care about is seeing the Yankees win games they need, on the playing field. And if the Yankees were playing the San Diego Padres, who believe it or not are still in the league, those feelings wouldn’t change.

They used to talk about the Subway Series as a “distraction” for the players. And there was a sense of truth to it as newspaper reporters from as far away from Olean and Plattsburgh used to pile on asking for, and getting press credentials for the series.

And as a fan of the Yankees, can you even recite their usual batting order or the names of the pitchers in their starting rotation? There was a time when most of us could do that without flinching. No more.

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It’s not a dark secret for the reasons why. The Yankees and Mets franchises are on two diverging paths. The Mets, for example, brought up their entire farm system in Ahmed Rosario and Dominic Smith to appease their fans following the giveaway to save money “trades” relieving Jay Bruce, Addison Reed, and Neil Walker of their duties.

That’s it. There’s nothing behind them. Meanwhile, the “Amazin Yankees” have barely touched middle strength of their farm system and are still the first Wild Card team in the American League.

The why part of it is a conversation for another day, but suffice to say, there is no rivalry, except for the manufactured one.

So, What Should Be Done

Major League Baseball needs to put the Yankees and Mets in the same pot as all other teams, using whatever algorithm they use to determine Interleague schedules and play. There is no reason for the two teams to play four games (it used to be more) against each other in a home and away series.

Put both teams in the pot and whenever their names are drawn, that’s when they play. If it takes years to come around, as it did before the Yankees finally played the Chicago Cubs, so be it.

Next: Five Questions The Yankees Need To Answer - Pronto!

The novelty will surely be back when those games arrive. And there will be no need for the excitement to be manufactured.

That’s my two cents for today. As always, I invite you to share your thoughts and comments about this story or anything Yankees on the Yanks Go Yard Facebook page.