www.nysportswiz.com http://www.nysportswiz.com Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 A Tale of Two Teams: Yankees and Mets http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/14/a-tale-of-two-teams-yankees-and-mets/ http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/14/a-tale-of-two-teams-yankees-and-mets/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.nysportswiz.com/?p=8 The Babe. Mickey Mantle. Derek Jeter.

Tom Seaver. Doc Gooden. Jose Reyes.

Two teams, two very different histories, both vying for the affections of the same town. At one end, the New York Yankees are the very symbol of success in baseball, with 27 World Series titles and seemingly always on the verge of the 28th. Their storied history includes some of the game’s best players and many of its defining moments, and their pinstripe uniforms have become a symbol for baseball professionalism.

If the Yankees are the epitome of professionalism, the Mets are their slacking little brother. Formed from the ashes of the departing New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, the Mets made their professional debut by losing 120 games, a record for futility that still stands to this day. But the colorful band of losers found a place in the hearts of many New Yorkers, a place that grew deeper when the unlikely 1969 team defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series.

As they continue to compete for the city’s affection, the teams meet annually in interleague play and sometimes find themselves competing for the same prized free agents in the offseason as well.The hits keep comin’: New York Yankees: Official 2011 ALDS Roster

]]> http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/14/a-tale-of-two-teams-yankees-and-mets/feed/ 0 Remembering the Subway Series: Yankees and Mets Collide http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/12/remembering-the-subway-series-yankees-and-mets-collide/ http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/12/remembering-the-subway-series-yankees-and-mets-collide/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.nysportswiz.com/?p=7 It was the year 2000 and the Subway Series was upon us. New Yorkers were going mad at the time. While Mets and Yankees fans traded barbs, you could tell that the Yankees fans were a lot more confident. This confidence would soon be justified.

Two things stood out about that series more than anything else. The first thing that stood out was with the first batter in the entire series, which was Timo Perez. He hit a long fly ball that he and everyone else thought was a home run. Instead of legging it out just in case it didn’t go out, he was trotting. Once he saw the ball hit the wall, he began to sprint, but it was too late. The relay throw was already on its way in and Timo was thrown out at home. This set the tone for the remainder of the series.

Another event that stood out was when Roger Clemens threw Mike Piazza’s shattered bat back at him. Piazza stared at Clemens, but didn’t do anything. Clemens was a hot head – we now know that was because of steroids – and Piazza is a laidback guy. This also had a lot to do with Piazza having great success against Clemens, which was rare for a hitter.

The Yankees won the series in five games.

]]> http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/12/remembering-the-subway-series-yankees-and-mets-collide/feed/ 0 The Great Yankees of the Past and of Tomorrow http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/10/the-great-yankees-of-the-past-and-of-tomorrow/ http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/10/the-great-yankees-of-the-past-and-of-tomorrow/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.nysportswiz.com/?p=6 The first great Yankee was Babe Ruth, who revolutionized baseball in the ’20s with his power-hitting and bigger-than-life personality. Ruth and his teammate, Lou Gehrig, helped form “Murderer’s Row,” which dominated the American League for more than a decade.

In 1936, Joe DiMaggio joined the Yankees, and his brilliance continued to keep the team atop the baseball world. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is considered to be one of the greatest individual feats in baseball history.

Just as DiMaggio’s career was ending, a new player began making a name for himself with his colossal home runs. Mickey Mantle’s arrival in 1950, along with his friend, P Whitey Ford, helped to keep the dynasty going through the early 1960s.

Two current Yankees, SS Derek Jeter and P Mariano Rivera joined the team in 1995 and have been major contributors to five world championships. Jeter became the Yankees’ all-time leader in base hits in 2011, while Rivera also set major league records in 2011 by becoming baseball’s all-time leader in both saves and in games finished.

As for the future, 2B Robinson Cano has been one of baseball’s best, while C Francisco Cervelli is expected to be behind the plate for many years. P Phil Hughes, only 25, has had his ups-and-downs, but the Yankees remain confident he’ll soon develop into a star.

]]> http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/10/the-great-yankees-of-the-past-and-of-tomorrow/feed/ 0 The Yankee Birthright: World Series Wins and More http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/07/the-yankee-birthright-world-series-wins-and-more/ http://www.nysportswiz.com/2011/10/07/the-yankee-birthright-world-series-wins-and-more/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.nysportswiz.com/?p=5 There is a certain feeling and mystique about being a part of the New York Yankees. Whether it be as a part of the team, as a fan, or as a casual viewer, witnessing the most celebrated team in baseball is a unique experience. The Yankees have 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League Pennants. This success brings high expectations, and everyone that is a part of the team feels these expectations year in and year out.

The Yankees often have Major League Baseball’s highest payroll, which is another reason success is expected. This payroll currently resides around 200 million, and is signinficantly ahead of the MLB’s second highest payroll. Also, the tenure of the team provides a reason for expectation. The Yankees have been in operation since 1901 and are a member of the first set of American League teams.

With all of this considered, some may call it a birthright for the Yankees to be a winning team. However, as someone who has had the chance to see the Yankees play in person, I must say that it is a special experience, and baseball is a better game when the Yankees are at or near the top.

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