Entering the 2000 season, the Yankees had been the greatest dynasty any sport has ever known since they traded for Babe Ruth over eighty years ago. The Mets on the other hand have taken turns being the lovable losers or come-from behind underdogs. Since they opened at Shea Stadium in 1962, the Mets captured the World Series title in 1969 and 1986 and journeyed to the Fall Classic only once more, in 1973. But in their short time of success, the Yankees faced their brief periods of mediocrity and fans were never able to experience what they had decades ago.
After a come-from behind 10-8 victory over the Atlanta Braves, who had beaten the Mets in a spectacular classic playoff series the year before, the Amazins looked as if they were headed for the National League East title. But while Edgardo Alfonzo, a five-tooled second-baseman, and Mike Piazza, perhaps the greatest offensive catcher in the history of the game, did their best to carry the team on their shoulders, the offense was often anemic, and the Mets finished 94-68, one-game behind the Braves for the Wild Card.
The Yankees on the other hand stumbled into the playoffs, losing 12 of 15, the most horrid finish for any postseason-bound team ever. While they acquired the power-hitting outfielder David Justice and lefty Denny Neagle down the stretch, injuries and poor pitching helped them attain an 87-74 record, the worst under Joe Torre as skipper.
The playoffs were another story for both teams, as each used their underdog labels to their advantage. The Mets stormed through the San Francisco Giants 3-1, highlighted by Bobby Jones classic one-hit shutout, arguably the best post-season pitching performance any Met has ever displayed. The Mets then downed the St. Louis Cardinals with relative ease, 4-1, highlighted by yet another pitching landmark, a 7-0 shutout by Hampton, to deliver the Mets their first pennant in 14 years.
It was only one day later that the Yankees completed a coup of their own. With only the ninth best record heading into the playoffs, the Bombers turned it on when they needed to and showed just what experience means in October. Battling off season MVP Jason Giambi and the Oakland Athletics in a tense 3-2 nail biter and then Alex Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees insured that they would be out to defend their titles and go for the rare three-peat.
The first game of the 2000 World Series will be remembered for what it was, a classic in any age. A pitching duel dominated the first 5 1/2 innings, as Al Leiter and Andy Pettite were remarkable in their Subway Series debut.
John Franco, who came out of St. Johns University in Queens, pitched well despite all of his forty years and Mariano Rivera was his usual dominating self in the latter half of the game. Armando Benitez however, while setting a regular season Met record for saves, was unable to get the job done in the ninth, as a pop-fly by Chuck Knoblauch tied the game and sent the classic into extra innings. There both teams continued to give New York what they had yearned for all these years.When all was said and done, a total of 25 hitters and 10 pitchers were used,but it was the most unlikeliest of players, Jose Vizcaino who enabled the Bronx foes to take home the first game of the series in the 12th inning.
What Game 2 lacked in excitement, it made up for a soap-opera like story line. In the first at bat since Roger Clemens smoked a blazing fastball into Piazzas skull, the Rocket threw a piece of broken bat in what seemed to be in the catchers direction, emptying the benches of both teams. Whether Clemens was trying to be his usual aggressive self, attempting to gain a psychological edge over his opponents, or if perhaps the five-time Cy Young Award winner really did think the long wooden stick truly was a ball, the Mets were undoubtedly shaken. Hidden in the drama of the event was one of the true October masterpieces, as Clemens threw a nine-strikeout, two-hit shutout, sending the Amazins into an 0-2 hole.
The remainder of the Series seemed to steadily decline in excitement. The Mets took home a 4-2 victory in the third game of the series, as Torre made a judgment error in keeping El Duque Orlando Hernandez in the game too long. The Amazins balanced offensive attack helped secure the win. From there on however, the Yankees continued to dominate. While the final two games continued to be close and Leiter and Pettite battled through another pitchers duel, Queens fell to the Bronx four games to one, in a veracious war that even many Yankee fans wish went to seven games.
With the Mets opening their season at Atlanta this Wednesday, fans are looking forward to what they believe should be another spectacular October. The Amazins pitching staff changed drastically this season when Hampton chose to leave Queens to join the thin air of the Colorado Rockies for $121 million, not to mention their remarkable school systems. Right-hander Bobby Jones was also set free to join the San Diego Padres. Instead, the Mets signed Kevin Appier, who equaled Hamptons 15 regular season victories and Steve Traschel, who many in Mets management believe will excel in his new environment. While the Mets were unable to sign or trade for All-Star players such as Gary Scheffield, David Wells or A-Rod, they head into the season with virtually the same talent as they did a year ago. Robin Ventura can only expect to improve after his worst year in the majors and the infield defense that set records in 1999 should steadily return with the resurgence of Gold Glove winner Rey Ordonez, injured for the second half of last season.
There are however some major challenges facing the Mets this year. First and foremost, they face the Atlanta Braves 19 times in the regular season, a team that has shown to have the Mets number on numerous occasions. On paper, the Queens team also has one of the weakest outfields in the major leagues and few formidable bats to provide protection for their star studded catcher in Piazza. Their cross-town rivals also took the headlines in the winter, attaining perhaps the best free-agent in the market in Mike Mussina. While the Yankees have problems of their own in depth, relief pitching and two players learning new positions in a matter of two weeks, they also have the most talented starting rotation in baseball.
The Mets however are spending little time worrying about the Yankees. The Queens Amazins have their goals set on their first World Series title in 15 years and the Bronx Bombers are looking to become the first team to capture four consecutive championships since they achieved the feat in 1953. It is the fans however that long for the tradition of yesteryear and would love to see these powerhouses meet for a sequel.
They need heroes, they crave destinies, they hunger for revenge. Welcome to the 2001 baseball season and let the battle of the boroughs begin.
