PORT ST. LUCIE — I remember when there was a Mayor’s Trophy Game. I remember when George Steinbrenner made beating the Mets in spring training mandatory or else — his own version of March Madness. I remember when the mere sight of each other would evoke a fair level of Subway distaste — if not more than that.
But on Tuesday, the Mets and Yankees turned hostile into hospitable. This was more reunion than resentment.
In the hours before their first of three New York-New York spring games, the ex-Yankees Harrison Bader, Luis Severino and especially Carlos Mendoza hugged and hung with old teammates near the batting cage. The ice-breaker all around was the follicle-free Yankees noting with good-natured derision the beards of Bader and Severino and the goatee of Mendoza.
Aaron Boone joked that his former bench coach and new Mets manager, Mendoza, had “to tighten up” his hirsute pursuit.
It was as if this rivalry had boiled down to hair today, gone tomorrow.
But look deeper. There are bonds beyond just how respected and liked Mendoza was in The Bronx. There are intersections that cross from Queens to The Bronx, similarities that should say a lot about how the season will go in New York:
Pete Alonso vs. Juan Soto
How do the Scott Boras clients handle their walk years? Alonso — baseball biographically — has more in common with Aaron Judge than Soto: the homegrown slugger who the fans are clamoring not to let out the door. How close can Alonso get to Judge’s 62-homer platform season — and, thus, forcing Steve Cohen’s financial hand as Judge did to Hal Steinbrenner?
Meanwhile, Soto gets to bat in front of Judge, which might mean fewer walks, but a lot more hittable pitches.
Francisco Alvarez vs. Anthony Volpe
At this time last year, Alvarez was ranked the third-best prospect in the majors by MLB.com and Volpe fifth. Both then outperformed tempered defensive expectations while batting an identical .209 in tepid offensive seasons that had power but too many strikeouts. Their organizations see them as middle-of-the-diamond fixtures. Can their offense take a step forward to validate the projections?
Luis Severino vs. Carlos Rodon
In Yankees history, only David Cone’s 6.91 ERA in 2000 was worse for a pitcher who made at least 14 starts then Severino’s 6.65 and Rodon’s 6.85 last season. Severino had to sign a make-good, one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets. Rodon lost weight as part of trying to regain trust. Both pitched last season as if their confidence waned — two guys who were used to having elite stuff and dominating hitters trying to cope and react to being smacked around.
Severino kept throwing during the offseason in search of his first fully healthy season since 2018. Rodon arrived in Tampa in January to better build toward the season. Can both/either rediscover the best of themselves?
Jeff McNeil vs. DJ LeMahieu
Former batting champs (in LeMahieu’s case a two-timer) who both produced a 96 OPS-plus last season; LeMahieu while hitting .243 and McNeil .270. Their versatility has been helpful over the years, but LeMahieu looks mostly locked in at third base and McNeil at second. LeMahieu had a good second half and has looked good this spring, encouraging the Yankees that he can bring a veteran savvy in front of Soto and Judge.
McNeil has been shut down from games with left biceps discomfort. Mendoza said the team is not planning imaging, a sign of limited concern. McNeil is doing defensive work and Mendoza said he anticipates a hitting progression will begin to escalate this week with an expectation that McNeil will be ready for Opening Day.
David Peterson vs. Clarke Schmidt
This is not just that Peterson was taken with the 20th overall pick in 2017 and Schmidt the 16th. This is more representative of both clubs (for now anyway) ignoring Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell on this free-agent market and knowing that they will have to break in inexpensive pitching to better position themselves to re-sign Alonso or Soto and generally continue to be aggressive in free agency.
Peterson had hip surgery and will miss at least two months. But the Mets still believe there is a starter in there. They also have not given up on Tylor Megill, who likely will step in during the first few weeks while Kodai Senga (shoulder) heals. Then the Mets have a group of starting prospects in which they really like Christian Scott, and also Dominic Hamel and Mike Vasil, who both should surface to the majors this year.
Schmidt was the Yankees’ second-most reliable starter last year and — to date — the Yankees have shown no inclination to jump in strongly on Snell and turn Schmidt into rotation depth. They believe Will Warren — in stuff and slow-heartbeat temperament — will help with the depth, and that Chase Hampton could become a factor as the season progresses; maybe Clayton Beeter, Luis Gill and Yoendrys Gomez, too.
Which New York team will get more from its inexperienced pitchers this season?
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