For those who feel like the Subway Series just doesn’t have the same juice as it used to…well, Mariano Rivera kind of agrees with you, as he told Tiki & Tierney when he joined the show Tuesday.
“From the player perspective, it was something special when it became part of the regular schedule. It was electric, and I think the fans looked forward to it,” Mo said. “And then the 2000 World Series was special, because of the atmosphere of the two New York teams – but now, with it happening every year, it almost becomes more like just another series against a team you play twice.”
As he joked, Mo’s favorite part of the series was that even with the away games, he stayed in his own bed and didn’t have to fly. But, he understands that even if it may be just another series for players now, it still means a lot to the fans.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s always special because New York will tell you how good or bad you are, but it’s more electrifying for the fans,” he said. “I have Mets fans friends and Yankees fans friends, and they are going at it! We’re passionate for our teams and for those games.”
The Yankees are 76-58 against the Mets all-time in the regular season (and 4-1 in the World Series), but it’s just a 27-23 Yankees edge over the last decade, and the Mets won the 2021 season series 4-2 after three straight years of ties.
It’s become more of a competition after it seemed like the Yankees owned the Mets over the first 15 years – and that may be because the Mets post-2000 seemed to place a chip on the Yankees’ shoulders?
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“You know the answer to that!” Mo laughed when asked if he felt like the Bombers owned the Amazins. “I’ll tell you what, there are a few beatings there, and we won the World Series, so that means a lot. But they thought we were past our prime and it was their time – but you don’t challenge an old goat that has been around the world and try to intimidate them like that, or a general who has been in battle for many years.”
This Subway Series could be the last one that doesn’t feature Juan Soto, as the Yankees and Mets are both reported suitors for the 23-year-old superstar – but if you ask Mo, his pinstripers, at least, shouldn’t be, at least not at the expense of a bigger need.
“If we can get both (Soto and pitching), now you’re talking – but I don’t think the Yankees are hurting putting runs on the board, so if I’m going to invest in something, I need pitching,” Mo said. “I need a good starter to be a No. 1 or No. 2-type stopper, because again, Juan Soto is an amazing talent, but when it comes to playoffs, it’s about pitching. Good pitching will always control good hitting. I saw it with my own eyes for years.”
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