In addition to calling “Our Team, Our Time”, “a funky new tune” (?), Newsday’s Jon Heyman uses a month’s worth of evidence to annoint the Mets as Kings Of New York.
You can say that we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, and point out that the Mets have played exactly three games against teams that currently have a winning record (the three against the surprising Brewers here last month). But I would counter by telling you that in the case of the well-paid pinstripers from across town, they’ve also been engaging in some unfair fights: the Royals and Devil Rays should be virtual gimmes for a team pulling a $200-million price tag.
The Mets have the more versatile offense. Entering last night, they led the league in stolen bases and were third in home runs. While they haven’t yet established any offensive consistency, they have the ability to beat you a number of ways, rare for a Mets team.
The Mets have the best new high-powered acquisition. To steal a phrase from one of the many high-priced, high-profile failures of the Mets’ often star-crossed past, we’re never going to wipe that smile off of Carlos Delgado’s face. It’s obvious now that Delgado is as cut out for the big time as anyone who’s ever come to Queens.
The Mets have the better clubhouse atmosphere. No place that includes the Big Unhappy is all fun and games, after all.
The Mets have, by far, the better bullpen. Duaner Sanchez is a better setup man than all the Yankees’ current setup men combined.
The Mets have the better over-40 pitcher. It’s 1995 all over again for Glavine, who’s been about the best pitcher in the league since the middle of last year. It says something that he had the guts to reinvent himself in his middle age by polishing the dust off his curve and using the inner half of the plate as well as the outer half.
Heyman fails to mention the most relevent points of all — that Jorge Julio is apparently capable of outdrinking (and out-mopping up) the entire Yankee bullpen, and Mets’ broadcasters are absolutely killing the YES Network in the all-important category of Regrettable Public Statements (And Subsequent Apologies).