NY Mets and Yankees look like they've traded places on the self-destruction meter

For the past 30 seasons, the New York Mets have been viewed as the Yankees' little brother. The Yankees have enjoyed five World Series and eight AL pennants, as well as not having a below .500 season since 1992. The Mets, on the other hand, have been in the headlines more for disappointments and embarrassing moments. A perception that Steve Cohen has been trying to change since buying the club back in 2020.

However, this narrative was challenged this past offseason. After the Mets were able to lure superstar Juan Soto away from the Bronx, the narrative of the Mets being little brothers has been challenged. For the first time since the 1980s, it feels like New York City is shifting from a Yankees town to a Mets town. The start of spring training has only amplified these feelings.

The difference between the Mets and Yankees start to spring training

Last week both the Mets and Yankees had their pitchers and catchers report to their training complexes in Florida, along with the majority of the teams' position players. Yet despite both teams coming off successful seasons, the vibes around the two teams couldn't be more different.

Things in Port St. Lucie seem to be very positive. Outside of the Frankie Montas news, there have been nothing but positive reports surrounding the Mets. The things that have been garnering the most attention on social media are videos of players showing up to camp. Specifically the arrival of Juan Soto. A simple picture of Soto in a Mets uniform practicing with the team seems to go viral among Mets fans. There is just a general excitement from everyone involved. From the fans to the players to management, everyone connected to the Mets is excited to get back to baseball.

However, things aren't as positive at the Yankees training complex. It feels like every story that comes out from Yankees spring training has been nothing but negative. It started on Friday when Marcus Stroman made waves when he said he was only interested in being a starter and refuses to pitch out of the bullpen, putting his wants ahead of what's best for the team. Then today, the Yankees lineup was dealt a major blow when it was announced Giancarlo Stanton was dealing with tendinitis in both elbows and his status for Opening Day is unknown. Not even their coaching staff isn't safe as bench coach Brad Ausmus pulled his hamstring playing basketball.

This has created a feeling that the sky is falling for Yankees fans. That the season hasn't even started yet, and what can go wrong is going wrong. With Soto gone, Stanton was supposed to be a major piece of the Yankees offense, now that he's gone, there are legitimate questions about who is gonna protect Judge. Nobody can seem to catch a break. There is a feeling around the Yankees that what can go wrong will go wrong.

These polar opposite starts to spring training show how different the trajectory of these two teams are. For the Mets, it feels like this team has all the promise in the world, and they're poised to make a deep run. Whereas the Yankees need everything for them to go right and if it doesn't they'll struggle. A complete flip from where these two teams were just five years ago.