Only because New York is the self-proclaimed center of the universe can we get away with labeling this edition of the Subway Series a World Series Preview.
Apologies to the other 28 teams, and specifically the $400 million juggernaut in L.A. (maybe the fast-maturing Tigers?) but it's easy to imagine the two first-place neighbors that battled in the Bronx this weekend advancing to the Fall Classic this October.
And now, after experiencing the frenzied atmosphere of two Stadium sellout crowds -- fueled by their very vocal displeasure with Juan Soto -- we also have an idea of what it could feel like if that showdown does come to fruition.
"Crazy -- is that good enough? " Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday night's series finale. "I think it would be a really big deal. But it's May. We have our own season to play and trying to get to October baseball hopefully."
Still, amid Boone's typically balanced answer, he couldn't resist one parting thought.
"It would be, I'm sure, pretty epic," the manager said.
No argument here, and we're willing to buy in. This isn't just wishful thinking either. The Mets, whose 29 wins were second only to the Tigers (31), managed a split of the first two games by riding a logic-defying pitching staff that sports the best ERA (2.87) in the majors. They also relied on an unmatched late-game productivity as their .833 OPS after the sixth inning was tops, too.
By bringing Soto back to the Bronx, courtesy of Steve Cohen swiping him from Hal Steinbrenner with that $765 million deal, the Mets essentially carried a lightning rod into a thunderstorm this weekend. And while Soto didn't make a huge impact personally through the first two games (1-for-6, four walks, 2 stolen bases), his presence alone cranked up the intensity to levels rarely seen in a mid-May matchup, even for these two crosstown rivals.
"It's been fantastic," Francisco Lindor said. "Both sides have brought the energy. It's about the loudest it's been from all the Subway Series I've played in."
Said Pete Alonso: "Obviously it's loud and it's passionate, especially with us getting Juan this offseason."
As for the potential meeting in October, Alonso added, "Oh, that'd be sick" before launching into the benefits of no plane rides, thus avoiding the Van Wyck Expressway to JFK, for the totality of the Fall Classic. But as Boone pointed out, there's a long distance to travel before getting there, figuratively speaking.
The Soto signing was meant to put the Mets more on par with the Yankees, to help further Cohen's vision of shedding that "little-brother" perception and help give the Flushing franchise equal footing in New York. Cohen's strategy is working, but it's not all because of Soto, as the rest of his $328 million roster has been doing plenty of the heavy lifting.
As for the Yankees, you could argue they're better off without Soto, as GM Brian Cashman's winter pivot yielded a number of key contributors this season -- none bigger than Sunday's starter Max Fried. If Soto took the Yankees' $760 million bid, there's no way Steinbrenner approves the $218 million deal for Fried.
Two months later, they lose Gerrit Cole for the season to Tommy John surgery, and Fried winds up being the perfect replacement, entering Sunday night unbeaten (7-0) with a 1.11 ERA, the lowest in the majors. The Yankees also were 8-1 in his Fried's starts, which account for nearly a third of the team's wins, meaning they probably wouldn't be atop the AL East without him.
But Soto's domino effect doesn't stop with Fried. Steinbrenner probably would have turned off the money spigot entirely if he landed Soto, so that likely removes Paul Goldschmidt (.389 BA, .883 OPS) and Cody Bellinger, too.
Is it possible that the Mets actually did the Yankees a favor by taking Soto off their payroll, which now sits at $307 million, behind only the Dodgers and Mets? There's a case to be made. And by doing so, maybe increased the odds of these two teams facing off again in the World Series (there's still another July 4th weekend matchup coming up at Citi Field). Obviously, it's still Aaron Judge driving the bus, as he's on track for a third MVP (.402 BA, 15 HRs, 41 RBIs) and the Yankees remain one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the majors. They led MLB in homers (78), ranked second in OPS (.830) and third in runs per game (5.73).
The Mets have some catching up to do in those categories. They're more middle of the pack at the plate, but have been climbing with a .752 OPS (6th overall) and should get a giant boost as Soto heats up. While Soto seemed unfazed by his boo-filled Bronx homecoming, it can only help to have that mental baggage finally off his shoulders.
The Soto Effect on the Subway Series, however, is going to be spicing up this showdown for the next 14 years as the historic separation between these two teams continues to shrink. The Mets were 21-15 in this matchup since the Yankees last won in 2017 (via a four-game sweep) but the real decider wouldn't come until October.
"I haven't gotten that far," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "But the last two nights, they were like playoff-type games."
For now, the World Series may be a dream. But this weekend made it feel like a reality.