Yankees-Mets crossings that will determine their seasons

Port Saint Lucie — I recall when there was a Mayor’s Trophy Game. I recall George Steinbrenner making beating the Mets a spring training requirement or else – his own kind of March Madness.

I recall how the mere sight of each other would elicit a decent amount of Subway aversion — if not more.

But on Tuesday, the Mets and Yankees went from hostile to hospitable. This was more about reunion than resentment.

Ex-Yankees Harrison Bader, Luis Severino, and, especially, Carlos Mendoza hugged and hung out with old teammates at the batting cage in the hours leading up to their first of three spring games against New York. The follicle-free Yankees jokingly mocked Bader and Severino’s beards and Mendoza’s goatee.

Aaron Boone joked that his old bench coach and new Mets manager, Mendoza, needed “to tighten up” his hirsutex pursuit.

It was as if this contest had come down to hair today and gone tomorrow.

But look deeper. There are relationships that go beyond Mendoza’s esteem and popularity in The Bronx. There are crossroads that cross from Queens to The Bronx, which should reveal a lot about how the season will unfold in New York:

Pete Alonso versus Juan Soto

How do Scott Boras clients manage their walk years? Baseball biographically, Alonso is more similar to Aaron Judge than Soto: the native slugger that supporters are pleading not to let go.

How close can Alonso get to Judge’s 62-homer platform season, pressing Steve Cohen’s financial hand, as Judge did with Hal Steinbrenner?

Meanwhile, Soto gets to bat in front of Judge, which may result in fewer walks but many more hittable pitches.

Francisco Alvarez versus Anthony Volpe

Last year at this time, MLB.com ranked Alvarez as the third-best prospect in the majors and Volpe as the fifth. Both then outperformed tempered defensive expectations, hitting identically.209 in mediocre offensive seasons with power but too many strikeouts.

Their organizations regard them as average performers. Can their offensive go forward to validate the projections?

Luis Severino versus Carlos Rodon.

In Yankees history, only David Cone’s 6.91 ERA in 2000 was worse for a pitcher with at least 14 starts than Severino’s 6.65 and Rodon’s 6.85 last season.

Severino had to sign a one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets to make good on it. Rodon lost weight as part of his efforts to recover trust. Last season, both pitchers appeared to lose confidence – two men used to having exceptional stuff and overwhelming hitters attempting to deal and respond to being slapped around.

Severino continued to throw during the offseason, hoping to have his first totally healthy season since 2018. Rodon landed in Tampa in January to better prepare for the season. Can both/either regain their best selves?

Jeff McNeil versus DJ LeMahieu
Former batting champions (in LeMahieu’s case, a two-time winner) who both had a 96 OPS+ last season; LeMahieu while hitting.243, McNeil.270.

Their mobility has served them well over the years, but LeMahieu appears to be firmly established at third base and McNeil at second base. LeMahieu had a terrific second half and has looked excellent this spring, giving the Yankees hope that he can provide senior leadership in front of Soto and Judge.