Herzog here in Atlanta getting acclimated to the team I will be covering in the playoffs, home and away. Close watchers of the Newsday Blogs know that I have covered both the Mets and the Yankees throughout this season.
I'm often asked, which team is better to cover? I'd have to say the Mets this year, because of their youth and exuberance. Winning, especially in such dominating fashion, is new to them and they are enjoying every moment.
Over in the Bronx, winning the division is nothing new and many of the Yankees approach the regular season the same way the fans do: They expect to win the AL East every year, something they have done since 1998, and are more business-like and less animated about the process. Of course, the Yankees duplicated the Mets in celebrating their inevitable division crown with an enthusiastic champagne shower.
Which brings me to my next point. Having seen both teams frequently throughout 2006, I'm convinced one of them will enjoy the ultimate champagne celebration in late October as World Series champion. Which one, and will it come at the end of a Subway Series? I'll refrain from further predictions. No need to inflame an already spirited group of Bloggers of both teams, who enjoy taking shots – some on target; some cheap -- at the other team in town.
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Nice touch by someone on the Braves' staff. Written in black magic marker on a white message board that is the first thing you see when you walk into the visitors' clubhouse at Turner Field were these words: "Welcome to the 2006 NL East Champion New York Mets."
As Tom Glavine observed, "There's some getting used to for people around here that when October comes around and the playoffs start, the Braves aren't playing. It had to end sooner or later. I'm happy I'm on the team that beat them."