Mets and Yankees Mid-Season Report Cards

For the Mets and Yankees, it has been a season of stark contrasts.

One had a great month of May and a not-so-great June, while the other had an absolutely miserable May before turning things around in June.

May was simply incredible, with a 21-7 record.

No Gerrit Cole? No problem. Luis Gil filled the role nicely with a 9-3 record and 3.15 ERA after two seasons with minimal participation at the major league level for New York.

Aaron Judge is DOMINATING pitchers, and the addition of Juan Soto in the lineup has given the Yankees the lefthanded bat they always seem to be looking for.

And then came June.

The Yankees played to a game above the .500 mark with injuries to some key players (Anthony Rizzo), shoddy infield, defense, and teams running on catcher Jose Trevino at will.

Still, they're in the thick of the race for first place in the American League East, and with the right addition to the lineup (tell me you're not salivating at the thought of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in pinstripes), they stand an excellent chance of going deep into the postseason.

May was a disaster, with a 9-19 record.

No one was happy - not the players, not the owner, and certainly not the fans.

And then came June.

In 24 games last month, the Mets went 16-8 and climbed over 6 teams to get within a whisper of the third Wild Card spot in the National League.

Francisco Lindor has been the Poster Boy for the resurgent Mets hitting .290 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI's in June.

Pete Alonso has hit 5 home runs and driven in 19 runs during that same span.

And don't leave out JD Martinez with 4 home runs of his own along with 20 RBI's.

But while the Mets have placed themselves right in the thick of things in terms of the Wild Card, there's one definite area where you literally have to hold your breath.

The bullpen has been a real albatross and no one represents that more for Mets fans than Adam Ottavino, who has decent numbers in the stat ledger, but whose appearances late in games leave New York fans gasping for air.

Look for the Mets to make some kind of a deal to shore up that bullpen between now and the trade deadline.

There is nothing better than celebrating the 4th of July In New Jersey — one of the proudest parts of America! Attached is a growing list of Independence Day celebrations across the Garden State, starting in late June, and going as far as July 6th.

Starting at 6:00, this kicks off at the front lawn of Montgomery High School on route 601. Those who get there early can enjoy food trucks, live music, as well as games and activities for the kids. 

The annual fireworks display will be held at Rider University. The festivities start at 6:00 p.m., and the family can enjoy live bands, food trucks, and children's entertainment. Expect a longer night because the fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m.

Located at Veterans Park, Hamilton Township is hosting its Independence Day event starting at 6:00 p.m. Live entertainment and food will be on site. Fireworks are expected to begin at 9:30 p.m. 

Aberdeen's annual Independence Day Celebration is going to be its "biggest year yet!", according to the township. This will be held at Veterans Memorial Park starting at 5:00 p.m. Fireworks are expected to go off at 9:00 p.m.
*RAIN DATE JULY 8th*

Celebrate the 4th Of July at Union Beach at the beachfront. Fireworks begin when it gets dark. 
*RAIN DATE JULY 5th*

From 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., everyone gathers at the Freehold Raceway to enjoy the fireworks show! Lawn chairs are RECOMMENDED! 

The annual Asbury Park Independence Day celebration! View the fireworks from the Second and Fourth Avenue beaches starting at 9:00 p.m.
*RAIN DATE JULY 5th*

Celebrate the birth of our nation at Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids' "BIGGEST show ever"! Spend the day at the park and cap it off with a beautiful fireworks display. *FREE ENTRY*

This fireworks display will be at Alvin P. Williams Park! Gates open at 4:00 p.m., and there will be live music, vendors, food trucks, and more. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets. 
*RAIN DATE JULY 5th*

East Brunswick's 4th Of July celebration is going to be held at the Community Arts Center on Cranbury Road. There will be children's games, food vendors, and an appearance from the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra! Parking for the event will be available at the arts center using the entrance/exit ramp roadside.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.. More parking information can be found here. 

*RAIN DATE JULY 5th*

OCEANFEST - "The Biggest Independence Day celebration anywhere in New Jersey"! 

The event starts at 1:00 p.m. and goes all the way to 10:00 p.m. Firworks are expected to go off at 9:00 p.m.

Another large-scale 4th of July celebration, this event kicks off at 6:00 IN THE MORNING. Fishing, fun runs, food, parades, beer gardens, and so much more are happening here. Fire works are expected to launch at 9:30 p.m. 

For more information on the day's festivities, click HERE

Atlantic Highlands will be having its fireworks display at the Marina, starting at 9:45 p.m. Perfect night for watching from the boat.
*RAIN DATE JULY 6th* 

Starting promptly at 8:30 p.m., this can't miss fireworks display is best observed from the grass in fron of Silver Lake on Ocean Avenue. IT CANNOT BE SEEN FROM THE BEACH