This weekend is a huge series for the boys in blue and orange. As Mets fans, we've been programmed to hate the Yankees. Really, we're one of the only franchises in existence who are made to feel like second class citizens in our own town! And, it's all their fault. It's true, we hate them. Why? They win. We've watched them win so many times with their players, lose when they tried to buy championships, and win again. What was the same through all that? The esteemed "Core 4." They are the guys we love to hate but secretly want for our own. So, here are some comparisons to the Mets' home grown core 4 that will keep us winning for years to come.
Mike Pelfrey is the new Andy Pettite:
When a team finds home grown consistent pitching, you have to hold onto it and appreciate it. The Yankees have done that with Andy Pettite since the mid-90s. With Big Pelf's breakout season in 2010, the Mets should do the same. Pettite was dominant at times, but moreover consistently good. He is a guy the Yanks always trust to pitch a big game. He's such a professional that he even made admitting to using HGH look like it was no big deal. He wasn't always #1 in the rotation, but Yankee fans know, if Pettite is on the mound, we've got a good shot to win. You hear the same things from the mouths of Mets players and fans this year. Pelf has turned into a confident professional and there's no reason to think he won't be for years to come. And as a plus, at least Pelf isn't best friends with Roger Clemens. With Pettite on the downward arc of his career, it's good for him that he is having a good season before he's finally put out to pasture and lets the new consistent professional take over in New York, Mike Pelfrey.
Ike Davis is the new Jorge Posada:
It's very early in the career of Ike Davis to be predicting anything, and I hope he turns into the new Albert Pujols instead of Jorge, but they have a lot in common. When I think of Posada, I think good power, okay defensively, and depending on the year, potential dominance at the plate. Of course it's a lot easier to do things like that when you're in a stacked lineup every year and can bat in the lower half of the order. That said, I think we can expect the same from Ike Davis looking at the small sample size we've seen from him so far. Davis has made some great plays falling into dugouts, has hit some really clutch homers, and looks like he's going to consistently kick some ass at the plate for many years to come. Granted, Davis won't necessarily have the luxury of batting 6th or 7th as he becomes the phenom the Mets hope. He's done an excellent job jumping in at cleanup for this year's Mets team. So, for the sake of this comparison, we appreciate the offense from Posada, especially out of a position like catcher, but I think we can expect even bigger things from Ike in years to come (and rightly so with him playing first base). As injuries creep in and Posada is relegated to DH'ing, his sun is setting as Ike and the Mets are ready to begin a winning generation for years to come.
David Wright is the new Derek Jeter:
Well here is the most controversial comparison because of every Yankee fans' obsession with their Captain down to the consistently atrocious job of John Sterling calling his "Jeterian" plays for "El Capitan." Jeter is probably one of the most argued about players in the majors from how overrated he is to how he's the main reason the Yankees have won so many championships. While he can't go to his left in the field and has never had to be the best player on his team, you can't deny Jeter has come through in some big spots and is the face of the Yankees. The best comparison here is David Wright. Well, Yankee fans are going to say, Wright can't hold a candle to Jeter - he's not nearly as clutch, not as good, Wright strikes out too much, blah, blah, blah - go sit in your corporate $20,000 box seats and front run some more. David Wright is the face of the Mets. He can't be expected to carry a whole team when everyone is injured (hence the down year last year), and every year other than that he's had great stats and is turning into a great leader. It's about time that the Mets give him the captain's C because this is really his team. Jeter is the face of the Yankees, but he is also on the other side of the hill at this point also, so now it's time for another pretty boy to be the leader and face of baseball in New York and his name is David Wright.
Jose Reyes is the new Mariano Rivera:
Now, when you look at this one, you're saying, "What are you talking about?!" If you think about it though, it makes total sense. Are there two players on the New York baseball teams that make you consistently say, "WOW!" Mariano Rivera has had success as probably the best closer being the MLB equivalent of a video game glitch bitch. He found one pitch that hitters basically just can't touch and has used it to make himself awesome. Sure, he's passive and calm compared to the jumpy and aggressive Reyes, but Jose and Mariano are always going to wow you and will consistently be the x-factor for their teams. If you ask Yankee fans how they've won all these years, Mariano always enters the conversation. If you're winning going into the 9th, it's over (unless you're Luis Gonzalez of course). What is the big thing the media and Mets fans always talk about with Reyes? If he scores, the Mets win - it's just how it is. When these guys get an opportunity and are on top of their game, the team has that much more chance of winning. They do things on the field that amaze you and make you happy you're a baseball fan. Mariano is almost done and is probably ready to blow at least one save this weekend, but Reyes will be running the bases in New York for many years (and wins) to come.
So Yankee fans, enjoy your Core 4 now because they are quickly becoming the Dinosaur 4, and there is a new core in New York that will turn the tides and make us feel like the mid-80s again, when the Mets were kings of New York. Enjoy the weekend, because if you can't beat the 3rd place team in the NL East, you're not going to beat the 2nd place (and soon to be 1st place team). Drink it up!
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