They shared the same record and Yankee Stadium last night when the third and final Subway Series game of the season was played. But the difference between the Mets and Yankees in the first two games was as wide as a cable connection and dial-up.
While the Mets were everywhere, catching balls all over the outfield, taking the extra base and pounding Mike Mussina and Sean Henn on their way to two victories, the Yankees looked old, played slow and slipped one step closer to oblivion.
That’s why last night’s game – started by Randy Johnson – was the biggest of the season for the Yankees, who had dropped four straight to fall to 37-37. The Mets, who had won three in a row and four of five, were also 37-37 and looking to escape the NL East cellar shortly.
“It’s certainly important for us to win,” Joe Torre said before trying to avoid being swept and losing the Subway Series for the second straight year. “We are tumbling and we need to stop the fall and rebound. I have no problem with the effort, but we aren’t getting the job done.”
The Mets, who outscored the Yankees 16-7 in the first two games, hoped to use the Subway Series to improve their place in the NL East.
“We want to be better but right now we will take what we got and move on,”Willie Randolph said.
The Yankees were due to play better because they couldn’t be any worse. George Steinbrenner is so concerned, he has summoned GM Brian Cashman and The Bronx family to a summit meeting in Tampa today, where the Tampa brain trust and New York will attempt to find a way to get the Yankees out of the worst funk under Torre.
“It’s in Joe’s lap,” Steinbrenner said yesterday through PR guru Howard Rubenstein. “It’s up to him.”
Three weeks ago, Torre told The Boss the parts were in place for the Yankees to ascend to the top of the AL East. Now, Steinbrenner isn’t sure. Cashman has been talking to teams about a center fielder, a starting pitcher and a reliever with little luck.
Yesterday the Yankees started Kevin Reese, a 27-year-old outfielder in left field and shifted Tony Womack from left to center. It was Reese’s first big league game and the first time since 1999 that Womack, a second baseman, played center.
The move was made to give Bernie Williams, who played 14 straight games in center, a break. But it highlighted how desperate the Yankees are for help.
The Mets also made a move, putting Doug Mientkiewicz (right hamstring) on the DL and promoting antique infielder Jose Offerman from Triple-A Norfolk.
Even though the Mets were in the other dugout, the buzz at the Stadium was about the Yankees, who were seven games behind the first-place Red Sox in the AL East before Johnson threw a pitch.
“We have to earn what we get and so far we haven’t earned it,” Torre said.