You had manager Willie Randolph reminiscing about Yankee Stadium, Moises Alou wondering what it would be like to finally play a game there and Billy Wagner quoting Hank Steinbrenner. Those were just some of the indicators yesterday that a Subway Series is about to commence.
The Mets say they would love city bragging rights, but foremost on their minds is just getting victories – against anybody – after losing three of four games to the lowly Nationals.
“The effort is there, we’re just not earning our money – as Hank [Steinbrenner] likes to say,” Wagner said after the Mets’ 1-0 loss at Shea Stadium.
Several Mets said beating the Yankees is important, just not as big in the season’s grand scheme as, say, winning next week’s series against NL East foe Atlanta.
That doesn’t mean the Mets aren’t looking forward to visiting Yankee Stadium for the last time.
Randolph, who spent 13 seasons playing for the Yankees and another 11 there as a coach, still has memories of sitting in the bleachers as a kid, before Yankee Stadium was renovated in the mid-1970s.
“It is old, and there probably needs to be a new Yankee Stadium, but I’ll always hold on to the stadium that I grew up in and know and love,” Randolph said. “It’s still my favorite park to play in.”
Randolph noted the Subway Series will not necessarily be his last trip to the Stadium. The chance of the Yankees and Mets meeting in the World Series aside, Randolph hopes to be selected as a coach for the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. Randolph said he probably will lobby for a spot on NL manager Clint Hurdle’s staff.
Alou has played 1,936 career games, but none of them at Yankee Stadium. The career National Leaguer was on the disabled list when the Mets made their visit to The Bronx last season.
“I’m looking forward to Yankee Stadium, but just not to be a tourist,” Alou said. “I’m looking forward to Yankee Stadium to win some ballgames.”
David Wright called the Subway Series one of the highlights of the season, even if the event gets overblown.
“I enjoy the city coming together this whole weekend,” Wright said. “You see everybody walking around the city in orange and blue or the pinstripes. It’s fun for me. The fans get into it and it rubs off on the players.”