THE Yankees and Mets both opened this spring with new houses for their all-star lineups. Now it’s time for us fans to help pay the mortgage with every exorbitantly priced ticket we buy. But in this economy, minor league baseball

makes sense, and New York is lucky enough to have

two home teams at the almost-famous level — the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees.

“Going to the Mets game

is fantastic,” concedes Cyclones GM Steve Cohen, whose team is playing a

7 p.m. game in Staten Island against the minor league

Yankees tonight, then returning home to host its cross-town rivals tomorrow at 5 p.m.

“But what’s nice (about a minor league game) is that you don’t have to be a diehard baseball fan to enjoy it.”

Comparing major league and minor league starting rosters wouldn’t be fair —

but when you factor in the low, low ticket prices,

availability of seats (not to mention shorter lines at the concession stands!) the underdogs tend to come out ahead. Check out the box scores.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

KeySpan Park, 1904 Surf Ave., Brooklyn

Hot dog: $3.50

Cheese fries: $4

Beer: $6

Cracker Jack: $3.25

Peanuts: $3.75

Soda: $3.50

Ice cream: $2.75

Ticket prices: $8-$16

MARQUEE PLAYER: Pitcher Darin Gorski is the top prospect.

NEW YORK METS

Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Queens

Hot dog: $4.75

Crinkle-cut fries: $4.75

Beer (12 ounces): $5

Cracker Jack: $4.75

Peanuts: $4.75

Ice cream: $3.75

Soda (16 ounces): $3.50

Ticket prices: $11-$695

MARQUEE PLAYER: Carlos Beltran, who will make $19,243,682 this season.

STATEN ISLAND YANKEES

Richmond County Ballpark, 75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island

Hot Dog: $3.25

French fries: $3

Beer: $5.25

Cracker Jack: $3.50

Peanuts: $3.25

Soda: $3

Ice cream: $5.50

Ticket prices: $12 to $16

MARQUEE PLAYER: Outfielder DeAngelo Mack

NEW YORK YANKEES

Yankee Stadium, 161st Street and River Avenue

Hot Dog: $3

Garlic fries: $6

Beer: $6

Cracker Jack: $5.75

Popcorn: $6

Soda: $3

Ice cream: $6.50

Ticket prices: $14-$375

MARQUEE PLAYER: Alex Rodriguez, who will make $33,000,000 this season.