ST. LOUIS — Derek Jeter thinks the Yankees are right where they should be to make a run at the AL East. Frankie Rodriguez thinks the worst is behind the Mets.
The All-Star break is a chance to get it together emotionally and physically and to dream big, no matter what the standings say. The Yankees have the second best record in the AL; the Mets are hoping for a second-half miracle of health and focused play.
“When we fail, we fail as a team,” said Rodriguez, who will be in the bullpen tonight at Busch Stadium for the NL squad at the 80th All-Star Game. “We’re not doing our job. You got to keep fighting. You have to go through a big challenge in any season. I think we already went through it and hopefully it is behind us and now we move forward.”
That’s one way to look at it.
Jeter, who will bat second and play shortstop tonight, said despite three straight losses to the Angels to end the first half there are good signs for the Yankees.
“I think we played pretty good,” he said. “We showed signs of being a really, really good team.”
The Yankees lead the wild-card race. The Mets are in fourth place, three games under .500.
“There’s always hope,” said Johan Santana, who is not expected to pitch in the All-Star Game.
The Mets are hopeful they can get Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran back, and the good times will roll.
“We need those guys to come back,” Santana said. “Injuries you can’t control, I think that’s what happened to us this year. We’re still trying to make adjustments. I’m looking forward to this second half that we will play better baseball and have fun.
“We haven’t pitched good; we have to be more consistent, including myself. We have to make more plays, we have to do everything.”
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