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New York, New York Subway Series? Fans promise Mets will do their part
Updated: Monday October 16, 2000 12:49 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees' hopes for a World Series berth were deferred Sunday, but as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals handily at Shea, fans were confident the boys from Queens would hold up their end of the Subway Series bargain. "It's destiny this year," said Bob Vanderwende, 46, of Roseland, N.J., waiting in line for a hot dog at Shea during the game, which the Mets won, 10-6. "It"s the year 2000. Everything comes together." Vanderwende wasn't bothered by the Yanks' 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, which disappointed New Yorkers who had hoped the Bronx Bombers would win the American League Championship Series Sunday. He said the Yankees' loss, which left them up 3-2 in the best-of-seven-game series against the Mariners, was a minor setback. "We're going to have a Subway Series this year, and then most fans can die happy," Vanderwende predicted. The Mets' win put them ahead three games to one and just a win away from the World Series. But confident as they were against the Cards, Mets fans seemed a little nervous about the prospect of going up against the Yankees in a Subway Series, which would be the city's first since 1956, when the Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers. "They've got a good chance," said Ray Avila, waiting to buy last-minute tickets before the game. He said he'd give the Mets a slight advantage against the Yanks. John Noriega wasn't so sure. "Did you see Roger Clemens pitch last night?" he asked, referring to the Yankee thrower's one-hit shutout on Saturday. Noriega ticked the Yankees' pitching stars off on his fingers: "(Orlando) 'El Duque' Hernandez, Andy Pettitte. In a Subway Series, the Mets are going to get killed." Mets fan Seth Barcus, 28, of Queens, was equally resigned. "The baseball gods wouldn't let the Yankees lose," he explained. Inside Shea Stadium, orange and blue -- the Mets' colors -- were everywhere. Even the infield dirt had an orange tint, and the nearly full moon glowed orange over center field. When the scoreboard flashed the Yankees' loss, only a smattering of people applauded. Most didn't seem to notice. Knowing a Yankees playoff victory would bring a Subway Series -- that New York fan's nirvana -- a step closer to reality, Mets boosters appeared uncertain about whether to cheer for their much-hated Bronx rivals. "I would never root for the Yankees, but I won"t root against them now," said Mike Romaszka, who is such a serious Mets supporter that he clapped as Shea Stadium came into view through the windows of the No. 7 subway train before the game. Not everyone at Shea was a Mets devotee, though. Yankees fan Michael O'Reilly, 22, of Danbury, Conn., had a friendly argument with Vanderwende in the hot dog line over who might win a Yankees-Mets World Series. Why did he make the trek to Queens? "Because the Yanks are on the West Coast and I can't afford to fly there," he explained. "This is the next best thing."
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