Wait, What? Mets Start 3-0 While Winless Yankees Search For Answers
NEW YORK (WFAN) — This wasn't how the 2012 season was supposed to start -- right?
The cash-strapped Mets swept Atlanta out of the gate with a string of strong performances from their rotation -- not to mention the revamped bullpen. The Yankees, meanwhile, are still searching for their first 'W' after dropping three straight against Tampa.
"This means everything," said Mets manager Terry Collins. "I told these guys in our first meeting, 'You are professional baseball players. There are expectations in this town and in this clubhouse. So get yourselves ready to play.' And they've done that."
According to the New York Daily News, this is just the third season where the Yankees have started 0-3 with the Mets 3-0.
The others? 1973, when the 82-win "Ya Gotta Believe!" Mets went the distance only to lose to Oakland in the World Series. The Yankees fell short of the playoffs that year at 80-82.
Then there was 1985, when the Yankees, despite 97 wins, still missed out on the postseason. The Mets (98-64) suffered a similar fate during Gary Carter's first season in Flushing.
But there's a silver lining for this season's winless Yankees. It's the team's worst start since their magical 1998 season.
"You just want to win a game," Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez said. "Want to get this thing to 1-3 and get the train headed in the right direction. You definitely have a sense of urgency. Guys are playing hard. Offensively, we're hitting balls. Probably a dozen balls right on the nose that were caught."
In '98, of course, the Bombers captured their second World Series in three years following a then-AL-record 114-win regular season.
"At times it seems magnified when it's the beginning of the year," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "We've all been through three-game losing streaks. This is a resilient club. We'll be fine."
Do you think the Mets can keep it up? And what's gone wrong for the Yankees? Be heard in the comments below!
