I know a baseball season is all about perspective.
When you play 162 games, it’s important not to get too low or too high regarding the state of affairs for your team.
However, it’s almost the end of June. That’s three plus months of baseball this season.
The Yankees have the best record in the sport. The Mets have the second best record in the sport.
It’s been well documented here, on my podcast and on my television appearances how enjoyable this has been for me!
To put the NY Baseball perspective in some context. So far, the Yankees are on pace to eclipse the win mark set by the record setting 1998 team.
For the Mets, they’re off to their best start since the 1986 season.
Fair to say 1986 and 1998 worked out pretty well for the Mets and Yankees respectively.
Look, I’m not telling you a Subway Series is a foregone conclusion yet.
There is a long way to go, but we can safely say, both NY baseball teams are really good.
Yes, they’re talented, but I’ve noticed a specific difference in both the 2022 Yankees and Mets compared to some other versions over the years.
The Yankees and Mets both have this in common, they’re doing the little things very well.
The Yankees a year ago were the ultimate boom or bust team. They relied on the homerun entirely, they couldn’t run the bases, couldn’t field their position and couldn’t hold a lead.
If you’ve watched the Yankees at any point this year, you’re seeing a totally different brand of baseball.
The base running and defense is drastically better and it’s made a difference in their record.
For the Mets, the last two seasons hitting with runners in scoring position was an absolute nightmare.
The Mets couldn’t buy a big hit and in reality, it probably cost them trips to the postseason each of the last two years.
The offensive approach implemented by Buck Showalter and hitting coach Eric Chavez has required the Mets at times to get back to basics.
That approach has delivered top notch results.
Look, the Mets added some terrific hitters. Mark Cahna and Starling Marte for starters, but up and down the lineup, the approach at the plate is flat out better.
The Mets have done a masterful job all year of putting the ball in play and as a result of that, it has highlighted some of their opponent’s deficiencies.
No need to apologize for them, just take advantage.
Winning baseball can seem obvious at times, but it’s more than meets the eye.
The little nuances of the game that evaded the Yankees and Mets over the last two years have been mastered so far this season.
Little things lead to big things and a whole lot of wins around town these days…
You can listen to my podcast New York, New York every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Geico Sportsnight after Mets postgame on SNY.
