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Malusis: Yankees control New York again – Metro US

Malusis: Yankees control New York again

Malusis: Yankees control New York again

The Evil Empire is Back.

Don’t hate the player, just hate the game. I understand where this city was a year ago as the Mets had taken control of the airwaves and the coverage as they had the more marketable and sexier franchise with stars like Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Yoenis Cespedes and Jacob deGrom. They were an organization that looked like they were ready to take off in 2017 and finish what they started in 2015 when they lost to the Royals in the World Series.

As we all know, it did not work out that way due to a multitude of different reasons which included injuries.

Conversely speaking, the Yankees were a team a year ago that was looking to try and put a representable product on the field. Looking to remain relevant as they rebuilt their franchise, but still wanted to put a winning product on the field as they learned about youngsters like Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez.  We know how successful the Yankees season was a year ago as they finished one victory short of the World Series and watched as Severino, Judge and Sanchez developed into young stars to build around.

The Yankees and Mets both will have different managers leading their respective franchises in 2018 in Aaron Boone and Mickey Callaway for completely different reasons.  The Mets and Yankees are by no stretch of the imagination done putting together. Even with the Winter Meetings in Orlando in the rearview mirror, there are still moves to be made in trying to construct a winner.  The Mets have been widely criticized in this city for the lack of movement so far after coming off of a disastrous 2017. I know it is tough to hear, but I would preach some patience and let’s see where GM Sandy Alderson has this roster when camp opens up in Port St. Lucie.

For the Yankees, they already grabbed headlines earlier in the offseason when they decided to part ways and not renew the contract of manager Joe Girardi after being so close to a World Series appearance.  Last weekend, they grabbed even bigger headlines when they acquired slugger and reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins. It was not a deal they had to or even needed to make. It was a deal that fell into their laps and they could not turn down. Yes, it changes the dynamic of their team and we have to see how he fits and how Boone makes it work.  You have heard some stories down in South Florida that Stanton likes to disappear at times after games and not address the media. That will not work here in New York.  But if you judge Stanton just by his press conference and that is the only thing we can do now, he answered everything great. 

The Yankees have become THE team in the city once again. The dynamic team. They have won the offseason so far. They have become a must watch and will certainly draw more fans in 2018 as compared to 2017. 

But it always comes down to winning. The Mets know this all too well.  You can win the battle of public opinion, but It does not mean you will win baseball games. That will be determined in the spring. The Yankees have more of a margin for error than the Mets for sure. But there is a path for the Mets, they just need some health and luck from the baseball Gods. They need to win. If you win, they will come.