Mets and Yankees With Lots of Questions For the 2nd Half
The Mets and Yankees open the second half of their respective seasons tonight with a lot of questions that need answers shortly.
As in 11 short days.
That’s how many days remain between now and the Major League Trade Deadline, the last day that teams can make trades involving players on their 40-man rosters.
Yankees
Thanks to an incredible April, May, and first half of June, the Yankees were the first team to hit 50 wins, which they reached after an 8-1 win over the Red Sox in Fenway Park on June 14. At 50-22, they were winning games nearly 70% of the time.
Since that game, they’ve won just 8 of 18 games and only one of their last 8 series. Sure, they’re still very likely to make the playoffs, but it’s more than likely going to be as a wild-card team.
The holes are obvious. As we told you a few weeks ago, there are problems in the infield, and now you can add starting pitching, and maybe even the catcher’s position as well.
On the bright side, for all their issues over the past month, the Yankees still have the most wins in the American League (tied with the Orioles and Guardians), and only the Phillies have more wins in all of baseball.
Mets
As recently as June 2nd, at 24-35, the Mets were 11 games under the .500 mark and 16.5 games out of first place in the National League East.
Mets fans were practically apoplectic on social media, looking for someone – anyone – to blame for what was happening.
Since then, the Mets have gone 25-11, a .694 winning percentage.
They won’t win the division (the Phillies are running away with it) but they are VERY much in the Wild Card race.
Their biggest need is in the bullpen. They simply CANNOT bring Adam Ottavino and Jake Diekman on in relief and hope for the best. Hope is not a strategy.
But again, as we told you a few weeks ago, the Mets are in a very Met situation. They can most certainly be buyers between now and July 30, but there will be a lot of other teams looking for bullpen help.
And if they’re sellers (and yes, we think fan favorite Pete Alonso is a logical trade candidate), they have to get the right pieces back in return.
And perhaps to make things even more interesting, the Mets and Yankees face each other in the Bronx next Tuesday and Wednesday.
5 Unique Things To Do In Jersey This Weekend
MIXTAPE MELTDOWN AT GREAT NOTCH INN - WOODLAND PARK - SATURDAY
This band does a great job of mixing it up. They play hits from classic rock, to the ’80s, and ’90s eras. They even try and take requests. Great Notch Inn is an awesome spot and there’s free admission. Could be fun!!
