With the MLB season blasting off to an exciting start, it’s time to look at how New York’s teams are shaping up this season. The Mets and Yankees have made some splashy signings in the offseason, and both teams have high expectations. However, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s review each team’s strengths and weaknesses.
Yankees’ new “torpedo” bats.
There are many reasons to be excited about the Yankees this season. Even after it was announced that Gerrit Cole would be out for the season and would receive Tommy John surgery, there has not been much fear over a lack of pitching depth. The Yankees also managed to sign pitcher Max Fried, adding another quality starter to a rotation that features Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil (the last two of whom are currently injured). All of this is complemented by an excellent bullpen, featuring a new signing in Devin Williams.
As always, the Yankees have big bats at the plate, but this year that moniker has taken on a more literal meaning. One of the biggest stories of the season’s first few weeks has been the Yankees’ use of a revolutionary new bat technology. Dubbed the “torpedo” due to its odd shape, the bat portions more of its mass towards the barrel while maintaining a steady balance and not decreasing swing velocity. The result is increased exit velocity and more explosive hits. All of this is within MLB regulations, but it remains to be seen whether the bats will be allowed for the remainder of the season.
Besides this technological advancement, the Yankees have power at the plate that is unmatched by almost any other team in the league. Despite the loss of Juan Soto in free agency and Giancarlo Stanton being injured to start the season, the Yankees have managed to keep their lineup at the apex of the league. The acquisition of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt has been scoffed at by many as it is clear both stars are well past their prime, but these two should bring consistency to a batting order that has struggled to stay consistent (especially in the postseason).
Questions remain, however, with the two biggest concerns being the loss of Soto and injured players. Soto left a gaping hole in the Yankees’ offensive lineup that they struggled to fill in the offseason. If Stanton and fellow power hitter DJ Lemehiu fail to recover rapidly, we could see a Yankees team that struggles to score runs. Although the start of the season indicates otherwise, a midseason slump would hurt the Yankees badly, especially in such a competitive division.
Juan Soto hits his first run as a New York Met.
And now bring on the Mets. The obvious thing that is making this season the most hyped up in recent memory for the Amazings is the signing of Juan Soto with the largest contract in sports history. The Mets, however, are a team with many more variables than the Yankees; they don’t have tremendous depth at the plate or the mound. This, combined with an extremely competitive division and the looming threat of the Dodgers in the playoffs, makes a World Series appearance unlikely.
Classic Mets teams of years past have had incredible starting pitchers backed up by lacklustre bullpens. This year’s team does almost a complete reversal of roles. The bullpen is strong, with closer Edwin Díaz showing he can be the backbone of this team in the first few games of the season. Already throughout the first few games of the season, the Mets have called upon their bullpen to win close games, and they have delivered.
While this is great for the team, it’s unfortunate that the Mets’ starting rotation simply lacks both the depth and star power to shut down elite offenses. Ace pitcher Kodai Senga has made a strong start to the season, but Sean Manea is currently injured and will return at the earliest in late May. Currently, the Mets give up 3.17 runs per game on average, a very respectable number, but this is more of a testament to their excellent relief pitching.
With the addition of Juan Soto in the offseason, the Mets have elevated themselves into the top level of batting lineups. The combination of Soto, Lindor, and Alonso at the plate is enough alone to guarantee fireworks at every game. The second half of the lineup is where things get a little more dicey, especially with the early-season injury to starting catcher Francisco Alvarez. So far, the lineup has delivered, but an injury to any one of the big three has the potential to derail the season.
This is the year to follow baseball. With so many storylines developing across the league, there is no shortage of entertainment for fans. New York-based fans this season have the privilege of being just a train ride away from two of the most exciting teams in the sport, and with all the hype surrounding both clubs, it would be a major disappointment if either one of them fails to make a playoff run. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see the two teams face off until May, but until then, we should have plenty of entertainment.
