Will Anyone Care This Weekend?

We're just about 2 days away from another round of Yankees-Mets, this one at Citi Bailout Field beginning on Friday night. ESPN has moved Sunday's finale from 1 pm to 8 pm for the sake of a larger audience. My question: Will ANYBODY actually be watching?

Now I know there are many of you that will say: "Bobby, this is THE SUBWAY SERIES-YA GOTTA WATCH!" Never mind that I've pointed out more than once that "Subway Series" is a foolish moniker for regular season matchups, or that inter-league play ruins in many cases a "dream" matchup in the World Series (Though if you're hoping for a Cubs-Indians Fall Classic rematch of a few weekends ago, good luck with that) Never mind that an unbalanced schedule means the Yankees and Mets play 6 times-that happens with no other team in either of the Eastern Divisions. The biggest reason I am NOT looking forward to these games: THE TEAMS STINK!!

I mean, can you LOOK at this Mets lineup right now and feel confident? Last night, even with a RAIN DELAY, the Mets-Cardinals game was over at 10:16. You'd like to see Governor Mark Sanford fly in from Argentina to pinch hit for Fernando Tatis. Omar Minaya has to do something. The Phillies will right the ship eventually. They are a gritty team. Ryan Howard leaving a hospital to pinch it a home run the other day tells you all you need to know about them. Before you start thinking "Mild Card", there are already 4 teams ahead of the Flushing contingent. The team directly below them is Florida-and Mets fans know how tough that bunch can be.

At least the Mets have somewhat of an excuse with their M*A*S*H* unit. The Yankees? Not so much. They are a Luis Castillo dropped popup from being 3-10 the last two weeks. They are showing some age with Jeter, Damon, Matsui especially. Outside of Sabathia, you're NOT 100 percent sure what you'll get from any starter. Last night they left 8 men on-IN THE FIRST THREE INNINGS of their loss in Atlanta. The bullpen is iffy. Perhaps 200 plus million dollars can't buy the best team. The Red Sox? They just roll right along. How is it that the Mets and Yankees CAN'T develop players like the BoSox?

Is it any wonder that there are still tickets available-advertised on TV and at the games-for this weekend's games? You might say, "Who can afford the prices?" True, but the rich and famous have always filled ballparks for "status" games that the average Joe cannot afford. When even the rich aren't interested, there is a problem.

With Santana throwing Thursday against the Cardinals, my pick is the Yankees take two out of three, maybe even sweep. You don't know if Wang going Sunday night helps the Yankees or the Mets. His last two starts have been better but not great.

But one team has to get well-at least temporarily. After all, it is a three game series. The Phillies and Red Sox are slowly leaving the locals behind. The NY baseball season is in danger of being DONE before the halfway point. That should stir up all the media types who do 12 live shots before, during or after a game for the local newscasts.

I always say it's a long season. But now is about the time you start thinking:What will be the end results of this year? Disappointment is all I can see on the horizon.