When we last checked in on A.J. Minter and his newly discovered hatred for the Yankees, it was equal parts baffling and laughable. Here’s a guy who’s never been involved in the so-called “rivalry” between the Yankees and Mets, yet he’s posturing as if he’s a historian of New York baseball. Minter, let me save you some embarrassment—zip it. You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re trying to stir the pot, at least do some homework first. Jeana Bellezza nailed it in her piece ARE THE YANKEES AND METS REALLY RIVALS? Go read it, Minter—you might learn something. Shut your pie hole.
But now, thanks to his misplaced commentary, Minter has officially secured a spot on the list of people Yankees fans can roll their eyes at. He didn’t have to try hard; he just had to be himself. Over at Yanks Go Yard, they dissected this whole debacle perfectly. Ever since Steve Cohen took over as the Mets’ owner, there’s been a growing chorus of Mets fans declaring their team the kings of New York. Minter seemed to hop on this train by insinuating that “real fans” support the Mets, while Yankees fans are just bandwagoners who “don’t know baseball.” It’s a laughable narrative, but apparently, some people have bought into it. Spoiler alert: this argument has all the depth of a kiddie pool.
Here’s the reality: the Mets have been underdogs for most of their existence. There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s actually part of their charm. But ever since Cohen started throwing around Monopoly money like he’s playing on easy mode, things have gotten… complicated. David Stearns is now stuck trying to make sense of Cohen’s spending spree, which included an eye-popping sum for Juan Soto, but apparently no budget left to re-sign cornerstone players like Pete Alonso. Instead, they’ve resorted to scraping the bargain bin, picking up guys like Minter and Winker. It’s giving off major “we blew all our money on the main course and forgot about dessert” energy.
And yet, Cohen and his fans seem to think they’ve dethroned the Yankees as New York’s team. History, however, tells a different story. The Yankees are the most decorated franchise in baseball history. The Mets, meanwhile, have made headlines for things like Bobby Bonilla Day and collapses so epic they could headline a Broadway show. Sure, Cohen has tried to reshape the narrative, but no amount of PR spin can erase decades of reality. The Yankees have rings. The Mets have regrets.
But let’s talk about Cohen’s grand plan—or lack thereof. Sure, he shelled out a fortune for Soto, but at what cost? Alonso, arguably the heart and soul of the Mets, is still waiting for a contract that makes sense. Meanwhile, the roster looks like a mismatched puzzle. Even Mets fans are starting to question what they signed up for.
They wanted a ruthless owner who’d do whatever it takes to win, but now they’re realizing that kind of ruthlessness comes with strings attached. The team has lost its identity, and the front office looks more like a soap opera than a well-oiled machine.
And now, because the Mets can’t seem to help themselves, they’re reportedly sniffing around Max Scherzer. Again. According to Pat Ragazzo on SI, the Mets were one of several teams to watch Scherzer throw a bullpen session and are considering signing him to a one-year deal. The question is: are they doing this because they genuinely think it’s a good move, or are they just trying to keep pace with the Yankees? Honestly, it feels like a little of both. The last time the Mets brought in Scherzer, it ended in disaster. But hey, why not rinse and repeat?
Here’s the bottom line: since Cohen took the reins, the Mets have managed to spend more money than anyone thought possible, yet somehow still feel strapped for cash and short on answers. Sure, they’re inching closer to the World Series, but at what cost? They’ve lost their sense of direction, and their roster-building strategy looks like it was pulled from a hat. And all of this seems to stem from one thing: Cohen’s obsession with beating the Yankees. He overpaid for Soto just to ensure he didn’t lose out to the Yankees, and now he’s saddled the team with financial constraints that make the Wilpons look responsible by comparison.
In the end, though, the results speak for themselves. The Yankees remain the standard of excellence, while the Mets are still trying to figure out who they are. As Derek Jeter once famously said, they’re “just the Mets.” And no amount of money—or bad takes from A.J. Minter—is going to change that.
