With most sports enjoying the offseason, I normally don’t compose Marvzone monday reports in the Summertime. But the top-tier records of the Yankees and Mets have me convinced, so let’s dive into their recent play from the weekend.
YANKEES: 70-39
Don’t let their record fool you. This team is in trouble. After an historic 52-18 start which had them on pace for a record-setting 120 wins, the team has gone 18-21 in their past 39 games since June 24th, have lost the title of best team in baseball, let alone top team in NY, and are starting to see their once dignified grip atop the best division in baseball that is the AL East, slip away. The slide has included dropping series to the lowly Cincinnati Reds and upstart Mariners, as well as being swept by the Astros, Mets, and now most recently ST Louis Cardinals this past weekend 4-3, 1-0, 12-9. Their recent play is reminiscent of the last two seasons, when it always felt as if not all aspects(Fielding , starting pitching, bullpen, hitting) were in sync despite doing just enough to keep their postseason appearances streak alive. On Friday, the Yankees led 3-1 before a suddenly reeling Clay Holmes, who was the best reliever in baseball for a stretch, allowed a two run double to Paul Dejong in the 8th giving the hosts an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the series.
The chatter prior to game two was the deadline deal that sent homegrown Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals in exchange for gold-glove center fielder Harrison Bader(Currently on the IL). Personally, the trade makes sense from a Yankees standpoint because Montgomery
just wasn’t going to pitch important playoff innings unless something goes wrong. Bader should be healthy by then. Yankees have the luxury of trading for October, not August/September. Additionally, with the acquisition of starter Frankie Montas and veteran reliever Lou Trivino(6.47ERA) from Oakland, someone had to go and Monty was it. While you could argue there’s no guarantee Luis Severino returns from injury and Nestor Cortes Jr and Jamison Tallion are beginning to show signs of debility, the need for Bader looms large despite the acquisition of OF Andrew Benentendi, for Giancarlo Stanton is currently on the IL and Aaron Hicks is mired in a 3 for 36 slump, receiving the “Joey Gallo treatment” from fans now that he’s on the Dodgers.
Ironically enough, Montgomery stifled the Bombers bats in game two through five scoreless innings, and outpitched Domingo German, with the ST Louis trio of Jordan Hicks, Genesis Cabrera, as well as former Yankee Giovanny Gallegos(Dealt in Luke Voit trade back in 2018) locked down the shutout for the series win.
Sundays tilt despite irrelevant in the grand scheme forayed with anticipation as Frankie Montas made his Yankees debut, but was shelled for six runs in three innings, including a three run HR by Nolan Arenado putting the team in an early 6-4 hole. The offense(Which ranks first in baseball over the last few weeks despite the teams disappointing play) rallied on the back of presumably the AL MVP Aaron Judge(Leads baseball this year with 43 homers, 97 RBI, 91 runs, .669 slugging, and a 1.058 OPS) who’s two run double in he fifth, after being intentionally walked in his previous at bat, tied the ballgame. In the bottom
half of that frame, Paul Dejong lined an RBI double to right field off of Albert Abreu that surged the Cardinals ahead for good, as Dejong punctuated a scalding weekend when took recently acquired Yankee Scott Effross deep in the eighth for the nail in the coffin, securing their first sweep of their prestigious opponents in franchise history.
The worrisome Bombers rotation is suddenly in disarray, as they’ve lost five straight and when you factor in the bullpens struggles, rank 24th in ERA dating back when times were good earlier in the season. So yes while it’s a strenuous season consisting of 162 games and their are sure to be ups and downs, New York has put themselves in a position where they need to stop the skid beginning this week, as the Astros are just a game behind for the top spot in the AL, and the Blue Jays have cut the Yankees division lead down to 9.5 games for the first time since before the summer started.
METS 70-39:
They’re back in the NY groove. The Mets “Bravley” took four of five from the Atlanta this past weekend 6-4, 6-9, 8-5, 5-2 for a season-high 6.5 game lead in the NL East.
The rotation is in peak form with the scintillating return of Jacob Degrom, the workhorses that are Max Scherzer and Chris Bassit, and the serviceable vets in Carlos Carrasco and Tajuan Walker. Not listed in spot starter/Long reliver David Pederson who took the rock and did twirled a formidable five scoreless innings in the game three victory. Tajuan Walker meanwhile was the lone blemish serving up eight runs in two innings, taxing the bullpen which Scherzer and Degrom took care of leaving it to Chris Bassit on Monday night against Cincinnati to give them a “Full refill” if he can eat up innings effectively.
NYCFC: 12-6-5
As we hit the all-star break, the guys seem set on their MLS cup defending their title with their record good enough for second in the Easter conference, three points behind the Union with a game in hand. However, the loss of superstar Valentein Castellanos who has left to play overseas for Girona following an illustrious career with New York is a tough pill to swallow and it remains to be seen how they prepare to fill that void.
NEW YORK REDBULLS: 10-7-7
It was a solid first half for the boys in red, as their record is good for fourth in the Eastern conference which would be enough(Top 6) to get into the postseason. Lewis Morgan is having a career season with 22 points thus far, leading the team.
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