To the Yankees, September means time is running out to make the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season. For the Mets, September represents a painful reminder of last season’s historic collapse.
As the season’s final month approaches, the Amazin’s and Bombers will have a chance to face their demons this week.
The Mets travel south on I-95 Tuesday to take on the Phillies in a two-game set in a battle for the NL East lead.
The Yankees play host to the Red Sox for three games, also beginning Tuesday, and anything less than a sweep could make the final month an afterthought in The Bronx.
“Every game really means two in the loss column,” said Lee Mazzilli, a studio analyst for SNY.
“If you win two out of three in that series, you only pick up one game in the standings, while sweeping means three. That’s the time where the Yankees have to put their stamp on it, if they can.”
The Yankees and Boston are in the unfamiliar position of fighting for something less than the AL East crown. The Rays have a healthy lead on top of the division, and if either the Yanks or Sox is going to make the postseason, it’s likely to be as the wild card – particularly the Yankees.
“The injuries have not helped,” said Mazzilli, who played with the Mets and Yankees.
“They have dug themselves a hole and you have to take baby steps to get back into the groove. Right now it doesn’t look favorable for them, unless they go on a run where they win eight or nine in a row to get back into it.”
David Wright and the Mets cannot depend on the wild- card spot, with the Brewers leading that race. The NL East title is their most likely avenue to October. Last year, the Mets choked away the crown, allowing the Phillies to rally from 7 1/2 games back in the final 17.
“I think more is going to be written about it [the collapse] come September, and it’s up to the players to decipher what they really need to know,” Mazzilli said. “They are the ones that are going to have to put it out of their heads. Obviously, the media is going to write about it.”
The Mets already are doing something they did not do down the stretch last season – beating the teams they are supposed to. The Mets took six of eight from the Nationals and Pirates last week.
“That means it is going to come down to head to head,” Mazzilli said. “When you get to September, it is tough to make up three or four games on a team unless you sweep them head to head. And the good thing is, the Mets have played very well against the Phillies so far this season.”