Palladino: Yankees, Mets Worked Miracles To Reach A Meaningful September
By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns
September, we are here!
The arrival Thursday of this most important of months chased away the dog days of August and summoned for the Mets and Yankees the time when postseason berths are there for the taking -- or not.
Now they legitimately play for something, as mystical as that might sound. Thanks to baseball's insatiable thirst for the buck, the two-wild card playoff format has placed Joe Girardi's and Terry Collins' squads in position to send their fan bases into postseason euphoria if they do the job.
All the rest -- the dramas, the slumps, the wait-til-next-year emotions -- provided mere prelude. The postseason was merely a concept, something to be worked toward but not won or lost.
It all gets real awfully fast for these teams now. And that's how it's supposed to be after a season of gritty resilience and not a small bit of smoke and mirrors placed them in this position.
Miracles, even.
Whatever sleight of hand or periods of divine intervention happened in August are over, though. This is the time for true, consistent contributions from veterans, youngsters and the minor league call-ups that will fill the benches this final month.
Regardless of whether either team stands inside or outside the playoff format come Oct. 3, one cannot discount the fact that their very positioning heading into September is somewhat of a miracle.
To go along with a yearlong reliance on the long ball, the Mets have exhibited an uncommon tenacity in the face of devastating injuries throughout the year. So apropos of their season, they head into this most important of months without second baseman Neil Walker, whose ailing back will now fall under the surgeon's season-ending blade work.
Think of it. Since the beginning of the season, the Mets saw an entire infield change over, with first, second and third falling to injury and shortstop placed in the hands of a solid but achy veteran in Asdrubal Cabrera.
They have seen Curtis Granderson fall flat on his face, Yoenis Cespedes battle past a bad quad, an entire lineup struggle to push runs across the plate when they couldn't reach the fences. They have seen Matt Harvey and Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom struggle with injuries, and a line of no-names starting, with Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman keeping hope alive in their place.
Now, Citi Field fans will once again see Michael Conforto take his turn to help the lineup, this time as a September call-up to whom Collins has all but promised significant playing time.
The 9-3 run over their last 12 games has put them in this position to challenge St. Louis. And if it ends there, the fans who seemed so hopeless a month ago will have to be satisfied that their team gave them a meaningful September.
So, too, with the Yanks. The Aug. 1 sell-off of Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran, and Alex Rodriguez's stroll along the pinstriped gangplank at first signaled a surrender to 2016.
But now, the Baby Bombers of catching phenom Gary Sanchez, outfielders Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks, third baseman Ronald Torreyes and a pot-luck bullpen that fronts Dellin Betances have turned the Bronx alive again.
What the Yanks have done in the last month is no less impressive than the Mets' achievements. But, like the Mets, it cannot stop there. The Orioles, co-holders with Detroit of that final wild-card spot, must be dealt with in a decisive manner at Camden Yards. Otherwise, all could be headed downhill by Sunday.
And yet, there will still be enough September to stage another rebirth.
The Yanks and Mets have given their fans that much. In the end, the rooters may have to settle for that.
But for now, the Mets and Yanks have a genuine opportunity to achieve something.
And when that exists, anything is possible.
Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino
