Chicago, U.S.A. — The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and The Gatorade Company have teamed up to declare July 11, 2012, a day when U.S. sports takes a break from competition, the first annual National Recovery Day.

With high school athletes suffering two million injuries each year(1), National Recovery Day has been established to focus the attention of athletes on the importance of proper athletic recovery in order to continuously perform at their best.

The Gatorade Sports Science Institute recommends the following fueling guidelines for proper athletic recovery:

1. Studies show that consuming about 20g of protein as soon as possible following training or competition, can help enhance the muscle recovery process.
2. To speed up your body’s muscle recovery between games or practices, consume approximately 1/2 g of carbohydrate/pound of body weight* when the next workout is less than eight hours away.
3. Drink 16-24 ounces of fluid with sodium for each pound of body weight lost during exercise following a workout or game.

Athletes are constantly on the move from one workout to the next, and proper recovery is essential not only for rebuilding muscle but for sustaining strength. The focus on post-competition routines has been brought to the national stage leading up to and on National Recovery Day with professional athletes including the NY Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Washington Redskins’ Quarterback Robert Griffin III and Carolina Panthers’ Quarterback Cam Newton discussing how proper athletic recovery has allowed them to evolve as an athlete and achieve success in their respective professional sports careers.

As part of National Recovery Day, NATA and Gatorade are asking athletes and athletic trainers nationwide to share their recovery tips on Gatorade’s Facebook and Twitter pages and NATA’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

“How athletes treat their bodies is critical to their performance,” said incoming NATA President Jim Thornton, MA, ATC, PES, CES. “How they prepare and recover physically and how they fuel their bodies before, during and after training or competition all make a difference. We hope that National Recovery Day will serve as a reminder to athletes worldwide to do everything possible to set themselves up for athletic success.”

“We are pleased to team with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association on this effort to emphasize the importance of athletic recovery,” said Asker Jeukendrup, global senior director, Gatorade Sports Science Institute. “By combining our areas of expertise, we are working to ensure athletes are aware that recovering well is the key to coming back a stronger and better athlete.”

For more information on National Recovery Day, please visit www.nata.org or www.gatorade.com.

Image Courtesy of  Herbert Kratky / Shutterstock.com

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Let us all try not to be prisoners of the hall of fame moment in which Derek Jeter went 5 for 5, hitting a monster shot at home to get his 3000th hit; then later hitting the game winning single in the late innings to end his day… what a way to make us all remember, it couldn’t have been scripted any better for the Yankees and the Yankee captain.

Before that day I was leading the charge to find a solution for the problem of a declining shortstop, with limited range stunting the growth of the young players and the organization itself.  The iconic day aside, not much is likely to change on the field- he will probably never hit 310 again, he won’t hit 20 home-runs nor will he steal 20 to 30 bases ever again.  But can you really have a figurehead at shortstop?

All these questions aside, I can’t help but be in awe at what I saw and I’ll gladly admit I have become a prisoner of that moment.

Does Jeter have 2 or 3 more years? You can’t really blame the Yankees because what choices did they really have, what else could they have done with his contract?  Jeter hit around 330 in 2009, that’s just 2 years ago and maybe he has enough left to be out there and be productive…It is possible that he may finish the season batting 275.

Not great for a 312 career hitter but it is very good.  The only question now is whether he will accept his role, the only role I see fit for an aged player on a great team like the Yankees.  Jeter must accept not being the same guy he once was and his role must be reduced.

He will inevitably have to go to the bottom of the lineup because you can’t release trade or bench the Yankee captain; the great number 2.  It’s a tough spot to be in and I hope this doesn’t end badly for both parties- But it is up to Jeter at the end of the day.

Now you have this All Star game debacle (too strong a word maybe) in which Jeter doesn’t want to participate due to being emotionally and physically tired from the race to 3000 hits.  Who are we to say he is not…this is a pressure filled sport and it gets to the best of athletes and at the end of the day, the big picture is his obligation to the pinstripes and winning another World Series; maybe his last before the curtain closes.

Finally, I’ll admit it again; I have become a prisoner of a historic moment involving the future hall of famer; that moment was iconic and it shows the greatness in the quiet Yankee captain; enough greatness to be given a pass for what he did and has continued to do; at least for another season.

Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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For all the naysayers out there, Derek Jeter still’s got an edge. He’s soooo got an edge. On Saturday (July 9th), Jeter became the first Yankee ever to reach one of baseball’s most extraordinary milestones, surpassing 3,000 hits for his career.  With his 3,003 hits, Jeter joins a remarkably small list of players to accomplish the feat of recording 3,000 hits or more. Only 27 players in baseball’s over one hundred-year existence have ever reached this plateau.

The milestone ranks as Jeter’s greatest personal accomplishment throughout his 15 year playing career.  More importantly, Jeter accomplished the milestone in spectacular fashion as he always does in big moments. Jeter hit a home run for his 3,000th hit that sent Yankees stadium into pandemonium.  This day will surely be remembered as one of the most magnificent days in the allure of Yankees history.

Recently, Jeter has undeservingly been a punching bag for criticism by many people in the media. There is no doubt that Jeter is getting older. However, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the captain will continue producing in big situations like he has been known to due time and time again.

Following his historic performance in which he got 3,000 hits and went a perfect 5-for-5, Jeter said at a press conference, “You’re gonna have good years, you’re gonna have bad years. You’re gonna have good weeks, good games, good months. You’re gonna have bad weeks, bad games, and bad months, but, the approach never changes.”  These words by Jeter are an accurate reflection on game of baseball and should be a telling reason why Jeter might not be as washed up as people seem to believe.

The game of baseball is such a long season. Jeter’s words emphasize the fact that as player you’re going to struggle at times. Jeter’s words also emphasize that these struggles might come in prolonged droughts but it is always possible to bounce back. Jeter’s approach certainly will not falter or change drastically, even when he is criticized for not always performing at a high level.

Jeter’s aura has always been built on his ability to make big play in the most critical and direst situations.  Plays that standout include, the flip (versus the Oakland Athletics during 2001 ALDS), the dive (versus the Red Sox, on July 1, 2004), and a home run off Byung-Hyun Kim (of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2001 World Series). The home run off Hyun Kim was a 10th inning walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning.

Critics have said that Jeter is not worth the contract he signed this past off-season. They have also said that Jeter’s skills are pointedly diminishing because of his age, but, if there is any sign that he is still capable of playing at a high level, especially in important situations, Saturday was that sign.

Not only did Jeter record his 3,000th hit, but he also finished the day at a perfect 5-for-5 mark at the plate.  Jeter’s fifth and final hit, which came in the eighth inning, would be the decisive winning hit for a Yankees team that was reeling coming off of four losses in their five previous games.

Jeter admitted after the game, that his first two at bats (in which he reached the 3,000 hit mark) were more stressful than the situation in the eighth inning, when he drove in the winning run. Jeter said that the eighth inning hit was less stressful because he had been in similar situations before. For someone who prides himself on winning, it is consoling to here that Jeter was cool as a cucumber in the eighth inning, when the game mattered the most.

This was Jeter’s day. The Yankees rode Jeter’s back on a day when many other players were not producing. Jeter stepped up to the plate and delivered a Jeter-esque performance, as he usually does in big moments on the Broadway stage that is New York.  He reached the milestone, kept his cool, and produced when it mattered most, during the eighth inning. If there is anyone I want up at the plate in an important situation, its not the Barry Bonds and A-Rods of world, its Derek Jeter.

Mary A Lupo / Shutterstock.com

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Have you ever heard non-baseballs fan talk about baseball? Well the general consensus among the cow-hide hating public is that the sport is just well, boring. I love baseball, but unfortunately after watching the 82^nd MLB All-Star game, the baseball hate club might be right after all.

The All-Star game has been a staple of every summer I’ve had growing up. I couldn’t wait for mid July to watch the Homerun Derby and All Star game in consecutive nights and discuss how “sweet” it was with all the kids at camp. Now, I pity those little campers.  What will they be talking about at camp tomorrow? I personally couldn’t help but watch a little Family Guy on my computer while the game was going through its mid inning dullness. It was just boring to watch; my eyes were in pain. I wanted to see homeruns, web gems, some late inning drama; not Washington Nationals Pitcher Tyler Clippard. Wait, who? …Exactly.

The game was played at beautiful Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I mention this because the highlight for my viewing party was the awesome pool behind the right field fence with its scantily clad party goers. The starters for the game were Philadelphia Phillie, Roy Halladay for the National League vs. Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League.

I’ll chalk that one up for one of the few right things the MLB did right with this game as both are top pitchers in their respected leagues. Sad though that the AL did not have much of a choice since a large amount of its aces were unable to play in the game, but that’s a different story.

Now, to the lack luster game itself. The first inning breezed by with both pitchers making minced meat of their competition. Hey, it’s a pitchers league now right? Of course, both Halladay and Weaver were out of the game by the second inning proving once again the poor coaching tactics in the All Star game.

In the second inning, Sox nation all held its breath at once when Josh Beckett was scratched from the game with a sore knee. At this point I was still very much into the game as the pre-game hype really got to me. It was when old time announcer Tim McCarver compared Yankees reliever David Robertson to Mariano Rivera when I lost all hope for the mid-summer classic. Yes, it got worse from there.

Nothing great happens until the fourth inning when the Boston Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez continues his amazing season and bombs a solo shot to right center field giving the American league a 1-0 lead. This was only the first hit for the American League, and the first time I looked up at the TV since McCarver’s off based comments.

Then in the fifth inning, AL manager, Ron Washington brings in his prized Ranger pitcher in C.J. Wilson to show why he was originally picked over Sabathia for a spot on the All-Star squad. Wilson goes on to give up a three-run homerun to Prince Fielder and Washington bows his head in disgust. Wilson would go on to lose the game and folks that pretty much wrapped up the 82^nd MLB All-Star game.

The American League would later go on to give up two more runs in the most non-dramatic sporting event of all time. At least the game doesn’t mean anything like in every other sport right? Oh wait, this is awkward. Well the American League really blew this one and the National League pitching staff looked like a bunch of Cy Young’s.

It was great to see young aces like Jair Jurrjens and Clayton Kershaw show their electrifying stuff because I know I’ll probably never see them pitch again unless it’s on a “SportsCenter” Highlight.

The All-Star game finished 5-1 in favor of the National League.  It will probably be remembered for being the most unmemorable All-Star game of all time; if that makes any sense. Usually, I like my All-Star games filled with stars. I wanted to see Jeter, Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, Albert Pujols, not Tyler Clippard (Two Tyler Clippard mentions in one article? Must’ve been a poor game). Personally, I would have rather this game meant nothing and witnessed another tie again like in 2002 to add a little controversy.

Any press is good press right? Baseball is just too slow for our high speed world and I don’t know if it can catch up. I’m still not sure I will be able to recuperate in time for the 83^rd game next summer.  Chalk the All-Star game up with the irrelevancy of the Pro Bowl and NBA All-Stars; sure looks like its heading that way.

Richard Paul Kane / Shutterstock.com

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When I told my mom I was writing a story comparing the sports Mecca’s of Boston and New York, she laughed in my face. She said, “Son, you’ve lived your whole life in New Jersey and I swear to god if you say one thing good about the Red Sox I’m taking the car from you”…No mom, anything but the car! These words stung because I decided to write this when the Red Sox were on a roll and leading the American East. Now, I can breathe easy as the first place Yankees have won seven straight and damn are they good; but wow have Boston sports been on a tear in recent memory. (Sorry momma)

Let’s compare the cities by the three big sports (basketball, baseball and football). I can promise all of you that you won’t find any use of “wicked” or “fugghet about it” in this article. This shall be fun.

New England Patriots vs. New York (New Jersey) Jets/ Giants

This matchup shouldn’t even exist because both New York football teams don’t actually play in New York but we’ll let that slide.  Now a few years ago this would be a no brainer. The Patriots were in the midst of the dynasty, the Giants were a slightly above average football team, and the Jets were a joke under “The Walking Cast”; Chad Pennington.  Then in 2009, the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots in an amazing Superbowl comeback, and all of a sudden the Rex Ryan Jets have become a constant visitor to the AFC championship game. Oh how the tables have turned. Today, the Jets are young, led by third year quarterback Mark Sanchez and a dynamite offensive line.

There defense is top in the league but aging quickly. The Patriots are led by the one of the all time greats in Tom Brady. They lack an effective running game and a star wide receiver but Coach Belichick has a knack of developing great role players with the likes of Wes Welker and Danny Woodhead. There defense is young, and becoming really good, really fast. The Giants have an average quarterback in Eli Manning, an inconsistent running game but a very good receiving corps led by Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith. There defense looks to be losing a key member in Osi Umenyiora and their secondary looks to improve with rookie addition Prince Awakamura.

The Edge:

Boston: The only reason I almost picked New York was because of Tom Brady’s draft day crying episode a few months back; oh and that hideous ponytail. The Patriots though, are still one of the best teams in the league. They have a hall of fame coach with a hall of fame quarterback; and any team that can make a star out of Danny Woodhead is doing something right. The Jets will still be solid but they’ll be losing key free agents whenever the lockout ends and it’s hard to tell if there defense can stay out of the trainer’s room. As for the Giants, well I just see no hope for them.  The team is going downhill instead of up and Eli’s play has become too inconsistent.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Ah, finally; the almighty rivalry of Yankees vs. Red Sox. There is so much history between these two teams that it’s hard not to get excited over the rivalry. From back in the days of Babe Ruth to Ted Williams to the present of Jeter and Pedroia, the rivalry never gets old. The Yankees are 27 time World Champions with their last championship coming in just 2009.  The Red Sox has been on fire recently and won two World Series since 2004 after an 86 year losing streak. Both teams seem to be 1 and 2 in the American League East every single year and seem to both make the playoffs. Every. Single. Year. (Do you think they get tired of playing each other?) Today, the Yankees are atop the AL East with the Red Sox less than two games behind and both teams are World Series contenders. All it comes down to really is who will beat who?

The Edge

New York: Got to give this one to the Yankees (You’re welcome Mom). The Yankees are the best franchise in all of sports. I know, I know, they had one collapse to the Red Sox back in 2004 but I’m sure the Yankees just felt bad and let them win. The Red Sox are known for losing; Babe, Bucky, Buchner, Boone anyone? If you’re going to pull the Yankees buy their team argument; well guess what? So, do the Red Sox. (Crawford, Gonzalez). The Yankees are currently first in the AL East ahead of the Red Sox and have the stronger lineup and bullpen. The Yankees take the cake on this one.

New York Knicks Vs Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have been one of the most consistently winning teams in all of the NBA for the past few seasons. After a forgetful start to the new millennium, the Celtics returned to prominence in 2007-2008 with the formation of The Big Three. The Big Three consisted of Boston superstar, Paul Pierce and new additions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.  The Celtics have gone on to win an NBA championship and win at least 60 games every season since the formation of the Big Three.

The Big three though is getting up there in years and coach Doc Rivers seems ready for retirement. The Knicks on the other hand have been well, awful. They were a league embarrassment under former President and Coach, Isaiah Thomas (Drafting Renaldo Balkman?!) and have only recently reinstated the winning to the Knicks faithful. With the additions of Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks could have a bright future ahead of them.

The Edge:

Boston: It was almost a no brainer on this one. Even though Boston is a team full of old men, they are a well oiled machine. The Celtics put on a clinic this past spring and swept the new look Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks are on the rise but without a big man and a stable front office; I don’t see it happening quickly. The Celtics are destined to win for at least a few more seasons.

It looks like that Boston has edged out New York for the better sports city. (Sorry Mom). The battle is extremely close and could go either way but right now Boston just can’t seem to lose. Wicked awesome right?

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Throughout the NBA playoffs, most recently the finals, the spotlight has been put on the referees and the way that they have treated star players on the court.

Though fans are currently focused on basketball, namely players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (who can seemingly get to the free throw line any time they choose to flail their arms or legs), the truth is that this phenomenon seems to be consistent across all sports.

The fact is that many officials will give the benefit of the doubt to the best veteran players. Whether this is a conscious action is another story.

When it comes to the NBA, some people are beginning to think that the league is altogether “fixed” in order to give an edge to some of the superstars. So many times when Dwyane Wade makes a strong move toward the basket, it seems that the referees have made the decision to call the foul before the actual outcome of the play. It seems that the powers at be are doing whatever they can to make these players get their rings.

Another key example of this can be seen week after week in the NFL. Premier quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning or Tom Brady can barely be touched at all without a roughing the passer flag coming out. However, do we see those same flags come out when young players like Colt McCoy take a big hit? I don’t think so.

In baseball, a popular hitter like Derek Jeter might get an edge on a close pitch if he is facing a rookie pitcher. Why? Maybe it just so happens to work out that way, but all probability points to the fact that players like Jeter not only know many of the umpires personally, but have a solid reputation across the league.

Of course fans want to see their stars do well and obtain gargantuan statistics, it’s just good for the leagues. That being said, are they being babied so much so that they are beginning to pick-up on it themselves?

For example, in crunch time of a basketball game, what is to stop LeBron from driving right into the chest of the opposing team’s big man, knowing that all game he has gotten his way with the referees? If he can wave his arms around after he throws the ball up and get to the free throw line regardless of contact, why wouldn’t he do that if it will help his team win? This is the mentality that has been so unfortunately spread among some of the league’s elite.

In other generations, there was too much pride for any of this to go on. Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon did everything they could to make the ball go through the hoop every time they attacked the rim. Simply knowing that they could probably get to the free throw line wasn’t good enough when they believed they could score every time they shot the ball. If they missed and got the call, so be it, but that surely wasn’t the goal. Some players have lost that edge these days.

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who was fired from the league and faced criminal charges for fixing professional basketball games, has become somewhat of a whistle-blower as of late, claiming that the NBA is indeed fixed for superstar players to get their way. After some of the recent NBA Finals games he has posted YouTube videos with commentary regarding the unjust calls that are given to LeBron James, but not other players. Although he may not the the most honest person, he is an inside source, and that should send a meaningful message.

The “flopping” problem has gotten so bad that some fans and analysts have called for fines of players for intentionally trying to deceive referees to gain an edge (an idea that I most definitely can get on board with).

Is it the referees fault for being biased towards certain players? Is it the players fault for knowing they can work the referees to gain advantage? Is it the leagues fault for letting this all go too far?

I honestly believe it is a balance of all of these things. Some athletes need to get the mentality back that they can do anything, and not settle for being able to work the refs for a win. Nobody wants to see a pair of unwarranted free throws decide the NBA Finals. Nobody wants a bad roughing the passer penalty to give a free first down and change the course of an NFL playoff game.

I can only hope as a fan of the games, that the leagues and their respective officials will get together and right the wrongs that are plaguing our favorite sports. This is a problem that can and should be fixed very soon.

Domenic Gareri / Shutterstock.com

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A blessing in disguise has crept upon the New York Yankees this 2011 season. The once thought of minor acquisitions, Bartolo Colon, 38, and Freddy Garcia, 34, have been lightning in a bottle for a team marred by weaknesses. The weaknesses are both short and long term, but the short term weaknesses have been erased by the performances of Colon and Garcia thus far.

The long-term weaknesses are of great concern for those Yankees fans that are apprehensive over how the next three to four years will pan out. The question is how smoothly the Yankees will be able to transition from players like Jeter, Rivera, A-rod and Posada to a younger talent pool. The question then becomes, does the acquisition of this talent pool happen through trades or through drafting unprepared college players who most likely need years of development in the minors.  These are tough questions for Yankees fans and even tougher for Yankees management.

The Yankees do not have the luxury of trading Jeter, Rivera, A-rod and Posada because they are all at ages where athletic ability starts to decline. This decline results in them not being worth much in a trade. Hypothetically, the Yankees will keep Cano, Granderson and Teixeira for many years to come because they are in the prime of their careers. For Yankees management, to trade one of these three players for an unproven younger talent would be an excruciatingly tough call. To do this would undoubtedly be a gamble. In order to give up talents like Cano, Granderson or Teixeira, Yankees management will have to get talent in return.. If the Yankees were to trade one of these three players for a younger player, they would be running the risk that the younger talent might not develop in the way that they had anticipated. There is no question Yankees management will have to eventually form a younger nucleus of talent in order to compete with the Red Sox, but today is not that day.

Luckily for Yankee fans, the unfamiliar territory of a young pitching staff is not in the midst for 2011 due to the brilliance of Colon and Garcia on mound.  Despite Garcia’s bleak record of 4-4, he has pitched as well as a non-roster spring training invitee could be pitching. The same goes for Colon, also a non-roster spring training invitee, who owns a winning record of 5-1. The past two days both have pitched and picked up wins, propelling the Yankees into the top spot in the American League East, one game ahead of the archrival Red Sox.  Call it serendipity, but the upside to signing aging players is they know the game and therefore are experienced enough to know how to pitch.  Pitching does not just involve throwing gas or a high heater by a batter; it’s about hitting the corners and changing speeds. Yankees management made a high-risk, high-reward decision giving roster spots to Colon and Garcia. If both got injured or didn’t pitch well, a youthful pitching staff would be the only direction to go in this season but lady luck has chosen the latter.

The question for the Yankees is whether these two veteran and aging pitchers have enough left in the tank to beat the Red Sox who have a fountain of youth compared to the Yankees. Next week the question of age vs. youth will be more clearly answered as Colon and Garcia will face the Red Sox when they come to town for a three game series against the Yankees. The series starts Tuesday night in the Bronx.

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The New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets 9-3 Sunday after a huge seventh inning to take the first leg of the Subway Series and tie the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East.

The six games between the Mets and Yankees are always some of the most looked-forward to games of the entire season by fans in New York. No matter how the teams seemed to have been playing before, the stakes rise with pride and bragging rights on the line.

Since 2000 when the two teams met in the World Series, the games have only gotten more intense. Countless unforgettable moments make this series so much more than just a few games in the standings.

Fans will always remember the feud between former Mets’ catcher Mike Piazza and Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens which resulted in a hard fastball to Piazza’s head.

The Mets’ faithful will of course never be able to live down Luis Castillo’s error on a routine fly ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth inning to lose the series in June of 2009.

It seems as though when these two teams get together, there are bound to be fireworks. Unfortunately, all we had heard about these teams early-on in the 2011 season had to do with abundant struggles and big problems that needed to be addressed to turn their seasons around.

This series showed signs that such rash judgments may have been a bit premature.

The Yankee captain Derek Jeter came up big amidst his struggles, driving a two-rbi single up the middle to tie the game in the bottom of the 7^th, sparking a monstrous eight run inning for the Bronx Bombers en route to victory.

The Yanks welcomed their hot inning, since they are so often criticized for only being able to score via Home Runs (most of which from the bat of the red-hot Curtis Granderson), and their lack of ability to play “small-ball” and manufacture runs. These criticisms are quite unfair.

As any baseball fan knows, teams always seem to hit better in the summer months when the whether gets better and the new players on the team (which the Yankees have plenty of) get a chance to become accustomed to their new surroundings.

Yankee fans need not worry, their team will be fine. Judgments of a team by their mediocre record in May must come with a grain of salt. Not to mention they are perched atop one of the toughest divisions in Major League Baseball, and have a better record than the Boston Red Sox who were deemed the favorites in the entire American League after all of their off-season acquisitions.

Injuries have really bitten both teams early on in the 2011 season. Yankee manager Joe Girardi is patiently awaiting returns from pitchers Phil Hughes and huge free agent pick-up, Rafael Soriano, who should bolster a pitching staff that when healthy, can be scary for opposing lineups.

In Queens, first year manager Terry Collins has had to deal with star players David Wright, Jason Bay, and Angel Pagan see stints on the DL, not to mention waiting for left-handed ace Johan Santana to return from off-season shoulder surgery.

All things considered, Collins has done a fine job so far in his first go-around in New York. Jose Reyes is having a career year, Carlos Beltran seems to be healthy again for the first time in nearly two-seasons, and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey seems to have become a fan favorite, holding down a seriously depleted pitching staff.

Coming into the 2011 season the Mets did not seem to have very high expectations, and yet they find themselves hovering right around .500, with a renewed attitude that could carry them into a fight for a wild-card spot in the National League should things go their way.

If nothing else, this series proved that the Mets could at least hang with one of the better teams in the league, even on the road.

As for the Yankees, winning this series may be a small victory in terms of the standings, but it was a bigger sign for fans, proving that this teams struggles are not permanent. The team must adjust to now being one of the older teams in the league, and with that, must come the knowledge that losing streaks happen. They have proven winners, veterans, and a solid mix of young talent that should allow them to make yet another run at a World Series title this season.

All in all, good things seem to be on the horizon for both New York ball-clubs. As summer begins, look for the bats to heat up, and both teams to compete night in and night out. There’s no quit in New York.

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