The Mets walloped the Yankees, 8-2, on Saturday, but Squawker Lisa has somehow only gotten around to writing about Game 1, which reminds me of the Yankeeography retelling of the 2001 World Series, which conveniently ended after Game 5. While we’re waiting for Lisa’s game 2 wrapup this afternoon, here are some thoughts from the game:
Matt Harvey is great. You want your ace to the a stopper. Granted, it was only a one-game losing streak, but a loss yesterday would have given the Yankees the Subway Series and could have started the Mets on a downward trend. And Lisa would have had to write about the game.
CC Sabathia is no longer great. Sabathia is now 0-4 with a 5.96 ERA. He gave up three home runs to the Mets, who had hit ten homers all season before Saturday. Two of the homers were hit by Kevin Plawecki and Eric Campbell, who were both in the minors until recent callups as injury replacements.
I do concede that the seven-year contract the Yankees gave Sabathia before the 2009 season has turned out to be one of the better long-term deals for ace pitchers, even if this final season turns out as poorly as it appears it’s going to be.
Oh, wait, the Yankees gave CC an extension – $25 million for 2016, with a $25M option for 2017 that will vest as long as Sabathia:
1) does not end 2016 on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury, 2) does not spend more than 45 days in 2016 on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury or 3) does not make more than six relief appearances in 2016 because of a left shoulder injury
Sabathia’s 2014 season ended in July when he underwent knee surgery. Adam Wainwright stumbled coming out of the batter’s box yesterday and may have torn his Achilles. Every pitcher these days seems to be at risk for Tommy John surgery. But fear not, Yankee fans – none of those injuries would prevent Sabathia’s $25M option from vesting for 2017.
So Harvey is 4-0 (as is Bartolo Colon), while Sabathia is 0-4. The Mets are 14-4 (still the best record in baseball) while the Yankees are 10-8. Take away Harvey’s record and Sabathia’s record and both teams are 10-4. The way Sabathia currently looks, he’s the reverse stopper – every fifth day, he gives his team a great chance to lose.
Kevin Plawecki hit his first major-league home run. The Mets announcers mentioned this fact on the telecast. On our side of town, we are allowed to acknowledge home run milestones.
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