Maybe Yo Knows Beisbol.
But Noah knows a good idea for his teammates when he sees one.
Many of the Mets wore “Yo Knows Beisbol” T-shirts — a tribute to teammate Yoenis Cespedes and a takeoff on the old “Bo Knows Baseball” ad campaign — before the Mets handled the Yankees, 5-1, in the Subway Series opener at Citi Field on Friday. The shirts were the idea of Noah Syndergaard, who saw them on the Barstool Sports website and arranged to outfit his teammates.
“I’m a big Barstool Sports fan, so I saw that and I know a couple of guys that work for them, and I was like ‘I’d love to have some of those shirts in the clubhouse’ and they sent us a bunch,” Syndergaard said.
Teammates no doubt were breathlessly awaiting their arrival.
“It was in a box over there and I picked it up,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said of the shirt he was wearing.
OK, so maybe not breathlessly.
Syndergaard will have a little more than teammate fashion on his mind Saturday when he pitches Game 2 of the series, which around these parts is viewed as only slightly less significant than the signing of the Magna Carta.
Not bad for a 22-year-old who began the season in the minors.
“I’m really excited for [Saturday]. First Subway Series, really excited to be a part of that,” said Syndergaard, who like all Mets pitchers who are barely legal to drink, is having both his innings and pitches monitored. “Just being outside for [batting practice] right now, a lot of fans already are ready for some baseball. It’s really cool, two teams competing for a playoff spot. So it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
If Syndergaard (8-6, 3.20 ERA), who faces off against Yankees righty Michael Pineda (10-8, 4.25), thought the batting practice atmosphere was special, wait until he gets 40,000-plus screaming fanatics crammed into the ballpark. It will seem as if the playoffs began several weeks early.
“I think we got a little taste of that in the Washington series,” Syndergaard said. “That was a lot of fun to be a part of, but I can’t imagine what … this series [is] going to be like.”
Just imagine the energy of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Now triple it. The art of hearing oneself think could be tested.
“I do my best and try to tune it out,” Syndergaard said. “Sometimes it’s a little difficult to. I try to use it to my advantage, but … Once I step on the mound it’s just me out there with Travis and we’re just playing catch and that’s all I’m focused on.”
Mets manager Terry Collins insinuated last week that Syndergaard is likely to be reined in at seven innings for the remainder of the regular season. Syndergaard insisted limits in innings or pitching are not on his mind. They are, after all, not his calls to make.
“That doesn’t change my mentality out there,” he said. “Just take it one pitch at a time.”
Syndergaard is returning from a seven-inning outing in Atlanta that came after he was skipped a start to save up the innings for possible playoffs appearances. Now, Syndergaard is back home, where he has met good success and obviously is comfortable, posting a 2.15 ERA at Citi Field. That’s a comforting thought for the Mets as they play the single most important Subway Series since at least the last Subway Series.
“The Yankees are a phenomenal team. Just going to go out there and battle and I’m looking forward to it,” said Syndergaard, who welcomes the big stage and the challenge of a game that has meaning for both sides. “We’re both playoff teams here …we’re both in the race, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
