Carlos Zambrano Prefers Mets Over Yankees

Carlos Zambrano will most certainly be one of the most biggest prizes in the 2008 free agent market. Although that's a long way off, Mets fans will be happy to know that if Zambrano were to make his living in the city of New York, that his preference would be Queens over Manhattan.

"I like the Yankees, but I don't see myself pitching at Yankee Stadium. Too many rules," he said with a laugh. "If I play in New York, it's going to be with the Mets. First of all, because I get to hit. And I love hitting.

"I can't say ... that I would never play for the Yankees. Hopefully no, but you never know. This is a business."

Now I'm not going to take all that much stock in a quote from March, nor will I take much stock into a guy saying he prefers the Mets over the Yankees because he prefers to hit. But two points here:

Carlos Zambrano and the rotation starved Mets would be a match made in heaven.
For anyone to come out and say that they prefer the Mets over the Yankees, especially a stud like Carlos Zambrano (no matter that it's only because he prefers to hit) shows you that the gulf between the Yankees and the Mets that was present when Omar Minaya first took the job as Mets GM has shrunk significantly.

In many ways, the Mets will always be the "little brother" in New York, but for the Mets to even be close to the Yankees like this is a seismic shift. No matter where Zambrano ends up (as long as it's not the Yankees) it's already a victory and a vindication for the Mets and for the Minaya era.

Besides, the potential for a classic commercial featuring Zambrano as a Met would be huge!