Big Apple Battle: A New York Baseball Podcast

The season is moving fast, and both New York teams are approaching a critical stretch.

In Episode 32, Alec and Ed check in on where the Yankees and Mets currently stand as the summer heats up. The Yankees continue to battle through inconsistencies while trying to prove they belong among the American League's elite. What's holding them back, and what needs to improve before the second half?

Then the conversation shifts to Queens, where the Mets are still searching for answers. The offense remains frustratingly inconsistent, injuries continue to play a role, and the margin for error is shrinking. Are the Mets still positioned to make a run, or are bigger questions starting to emerge?

Plus, with the trade deadline rapidly approaching, Alec and Ed look ahead at what each team needs to show over the next few weeks and what types of moves could help push them toward October.

The standings matter.
The deadline is coming.
And the next few weeks could define the season.

The Yankees and Mets are both dealing with rough stretches right now, but the feeling around each team couldn’t be more different.

In Episode 31, Alec and Ed break down the recent Yankees slide and why, despite the injuries and tougher stretch of games, it still feels like a normal part of a long baseball season for a legitimate contender. What concerns are actually real, and what’s just baseball over 162?

Then we head to Queens, where the Mets are starting to build an identity nobody wants attached to their team. The offense looks lifeless, the injuries keep piling up, and the overall product on the field has turned into ugly baseball. Is this just a skid… or a deeper issue with how this roster is built?

Two struggling teams.
Two completely different vibes.

The vibes in New York couldn’t be more different right now.

In Episode 30, Alec and Ed dive straight into the chaos in Queens as the Mets continue their brutal stretch. Alec goes off in a full rant—what’s actually broken, who deserves the blame, and how bad this can realistically get if nothing changes.

Then we flip to the other side of town. The Yankees are rolling in the Bronx, and we break down what’s clicking—from lineup production to pitching stability—and whether this start feels sustainable.

Two teams, two completely different stories. Same city, opposite energy.

Eight games in, and the takes are already flying. But what’s actually real?

In Episode 29, Alec and Ed check in on the Mets and Yankees after the first stretch of the season. We break down the early vibe vs. the record, biggest surprises, and what we’re buying (or not) so far.

Then we sort through the noise. Which storylines feel legit, and which ones are getting overhyped? Plus, one “is this a thing?” take each and a quick look at early manager decisions.

To close it out, we adjust the outlook on updated MVP and Cy Young picks, and one take we’re ready to double down on.

Small sample size, big reactions.

Opening Day is here, and it’s time to call your shot.

In Episode 28, Alec and Ed kick things off with a gut check on both the Mets and Yankees as final rosters lock in. What surprised us? What do we love? What already has us a little uneasy? From there, it’s straight into Opening Day itself—matchups to watch, early storylines, and yes… a quick rant on the streaming situation shaking up how fans actually watch the game.

Then it’s prediction time.

Each side brings what they’re most excited about heading into the season, their biggest concern, and one bold prediction that could define how 2026 plays out. The takes are on record now—no hiding from them later.

To close it out, we zoom out and look at the full season. Records, MVPs, Cy Young picks, and the expectations that will ultimately define success or failure in New York this year.

Opening Day energy, real predictions, and the start of another chapter in the Big Apple baseball rivalry. Episode 28 sets the tone.

Opening Day is around the corner, and the picture is starting to come into focus. In Episode 27, Alec and Ed take a wide-angle look at what’s happening in Mets and Yankees camp with just two weeks to go. Which storylines actually matter? Who’s making real noise this spring, and which early headlines might be getting overblown?

From roster battles to rotation questions to the general pulse around both clubs, it’s a classic late-spring temperature check as the season starts to feel real.

Then the conversation shifts to the global stage. With USA and the Dominican Republic set to clash in the World Baseball Classic semifinals, the guys preview one of the sport’s most electric matchups. Star power, national pride, and the kind of roster depth that makes this tournament special.

Spring storylines, international baseball energy, and Opening Day right around the corner. Episode 27 keeps the countdown rolling.

The ABS system is coming, and it could quietly change baseball as we know it. In Episode 26, Alec and Ed break down how the challenge system may impact framing, pitcher strategy, and big late-game moments. Is this competitive fairness… or the beginning of a very different feel to the sport?

From there, it’s classic Spring pulse check. Who’s legitimately turning heads? Whose stuff looks different (for better or worse)? And which roster battles actually matter as Opening Day gets closer?

Technology, tension, and early-camp truth serum. Episode 26 keeps it sharp and forward-looking.

Here comes the annual reset button for New York baseball. In Episode 25, Alec and Ed kick off the 2026 season by separating real takeaways from classic overreactions after just a handful of Spring Training games. It’s the ultimate early reality check — what actually matters, what absolutely doesn’t, and which subtle roster decisions might tell us more than the box score ever will.

The conversation then shifts to Opening Day projections, breaking down rotation confidence levels, early bullpen pecking orders, and the lineup construction questions that could define April. Who feels stable? Who feels like they’re still experimenting? And which early storyline deserves real attention before the season ramps up?

The episode closes with a nod to Spring’s Subway Series energy — favorite rivalry moments, underrated personal memories, and the kind of nostalgia that reminds everyone why this city hits different when both teams are playing meaningful baseball. Fresh starts, familiar pressure, and a clean slate in the Bronx and Queens. Episode 25 sets the tone for the season ahead.

With spring training almost underway, Alec and Ed are officially back in baseball mode.

Episode 24 delivers a full offseason breakdown for both the Mets and Yankees — every key addition and what it actually means heading into 2026. No recycled narratives, no panic takes — just honest evaluation of how these rosters stack up right now.

The Mets conversation focuses on whether this retooled group can turn potential into consistency, while the Yankees’ side centers on did they meaningfully improve or are they once again banking on what they already have?

The episode also zooms out to identify the most concerning division rivals and which teams quietly strengthened their position over the winter.

Spring training has begun. Expectations are forming. Baseball is back — almost.

As 2025 comes to a close, Alec and Ed hit pause on the chaos and look ahead — breaking down New York baseball’s New Year’s resolutions for 2026 based on where the Mets and Yankees actually stand right now. No fantasy rebuilds, no hindsight bias — just honest, roster-driven goal-setting with a little optimism and a lot of perspective.

The Mets’ conversation centers on identity, continuity, and turning raw talent into sustained belief, while the Yankees’ focus shifts toward balance, accountability, and getting more out of a roster that’s been knocking on the door. From lineup construction to clubhouse tone, each team gets a resolution rooted in reality — and framed through the lens of growth rather than panic.

The episode widens into a holistic look at what “success” really means for both franchises in 2026, touching on pressure, expectations, fan trust, and the fine line between patience and urgency. As always, the rivalry stays alive, the banter stays sharp, and the takes stay honest. A year-end reflection, a forward-looking reset, and a classic Battle for the Big Apple send-off — Episode 23 closes out 2025 the only way we know how.