Going into the 2023 MLB Season, New York professional sports teams had been crushing expectations. In football, the Giants shocked even the most optimistic of fans by not only making the playoffs but by winning the Wild Card round. Additionally, the Jets managed to put together seven solid wins with a QB trio of Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White. In the NBA, the Knicks bounced back after a disappointing 2022 season to win a playoff series for the first time in a decade, while the Nets (If you even count them as a New York team) also made the playoffs despite completely blowing up their core. Finally, in hockey, both the Rangers and Islanders made the playoffs. All of this success led into the MLB season, where both Mets and Yankees fans expected incredible seasons.
The Yankees and Mets entered the 2023 MLB season with high expectations and even higher payrolls. The Mets and Yankees shared the second-highest odds to win the World Series according to Vegas and, in addition, had the 1st and 2nd-ranked payrolls in the league, respectively.
Despite this, the Mets hold a record of 55-66 (7.5 GB of a Wild Card spot), while the Yankees aren’t much better with a record of 60-61 (6.5 GB of a Wild Card spot). The Yankees haven’t had a losing record this late into the season since Billy Madison was in theaters. The last time both New York baseball teams finished the season below .500 was over 30 years ago, in the 1992 season.
If the season continues the way it is going, it is very possible that the Yankees and Mets will not only both miss the playoffs, but also have losing seasons. In a year that has provided so much success and joy, the Yankees and Mets are having the most disappointing season in New York baseball history.