YANKEES VS METS : BENCH

We have finally arrived to opening day. The grueling off season has mercifully come to an end. Now we can Enjoy a game that we all love, at that is the game of Baseball.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my viewers, without you guys and gals , this blog wouldn't be possible. Thank you all for making my off season a tolerable one.

This will be my first season covering the Yankees on the blog. I'm looking forward to everything that's in store for me and I am honored to make your Yankee coverage as enjoyable as it possibly can.

We still have some unfinished business to attend to. So before the clock strikes One and Four and the Yankees and Mets seasons begin. Let me get to it.

A little over a month ago, I started a Yankee Vs Mets position by position debate. With the help of My friend Abie (A.K.A. Pecker) we more or less got this done.

The Only category in which I did not have a writeup for was the Bench (sorry for not getting this done sooner. I really was strapped for time, but no excuses)


The Yankee Bench is very deep.

Mollina is a top notch backup catcher. He definitely can start on at least ten teams in Baseball.

Shelley Duncan is a great guy to have on your bench. He's got pop and can play both corner outfield spots decently.

I love Morgan Ensberg. I was a huge fan of his on Houston and Picking him up this offseason was so uncashman like . He makes this bench that much better.

Wilson Betemit is extremely versatile. He plays every single position in the infield to an average to above average.

The Yankees are missing that speedster off the bench. They almost brought Gardner on board , but they decided against it due in large part of stunting his growth by rotting on the bench.

Remember I said this, The Yankee bench today will look allot different in October.
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At backup catcher the Mets have a guy who's avg. a homer per 10.5 at bats last season. I was so happy that he stayed and wasn't offered a big contract somewhere else .This guy can start for at least 2/3 of baseball and is a good defensive catcher I am a little skeptical of schneider and would not be surprised if castro was the starter by mid season. He probably will just face all lefty pitchers now so calling him a backup may be an insult.
As for the rest of the bench, the Mets fill every need except the big power bat hopefully they will allow castro to PH a little so he can bring that pop of the bench.The Mets have the speedy backup outfielders in Angel Pagan and Endy Chavez ,with pagan starting in place of Alou. I believe this can strengthen him when he comes off the bench later in the year. Endy needs no description..also Brady Clark is OK but he will prob be gone when alou is healthy .
Backing up the infield. Is Marlon Anderson probably the Lenny Harris of this generation last year in 69 Ab's he had 25 RBI and a BA of 319.Also in the infield is Damion Easley who when he was healthy last year hit a couple of big homers late in games.One guy on the roster now, is Raul Casanova as backup catcher he has a lill pop but I don't think anyone knows what to expect from him. This bench is a huge upgrade from where it was least season , especially now that we don't Have Julio Franco.

(Bottom line, Its not fair to compare an Al Bench to an Nl Bench. Is part of what the difference in the leagues are. But the Mets do fill more of their needs in their bench. They are missing the power bat but if you want that hit they have the guys it takes to get it.
On the other side of town, The Yanks have the power but lack the ability of getting that hit and don't have that speedster off the bench.)

FINAL OUTCOME
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First Base -Mets
Second Base- Yankees
Short Stop- Reluctantly Yankees but very skeptical ( Jeter will probably have the better year but Reyes has the potential to be GREAT. )
Third Base- Yankees without question
Catcher- Yankees (Yanks win this in a laugher)
Center Field- Mets (In a landslide)
Right Field-Yankees (Church is unproven and Abreu is on his walk year)
Left Field-Yankees (Alou cant stay on the field)
Starting Pitching-Mets (Half the Yankee rotation is unproven and the other half is an injury waiting to happen.)
Bullpen-Yankees
Bench- Mets