Baseball showdown! Yankee Stadium vs. Citi Field

Baseball season finally arrives in New York on Monday March 31. And while a lot can change in the off-season (new sluggers and grub), some things stay the same (depressingly dim prospects of a championship in Queens). See how the hometown teams and their respective stadiums stack up in 2014.

Yankees				Mets
The club made huge moves this off-season, placing big bets on former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and highly touted Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.		New players to watch		The Mets nabbed ex–Yankee outfielder Curtis “The Grandy Man” Granderson and potato-sack-shaped innings-eater Bartolo Colon.
Besides the standard hot dogs and Cracker Jacks, check out Brother Jimmy’s BBQ offerings and Parm’s meatball sandwiches. The beer is mostly domestic and imported macro brews.		The grub		In addition to fare from Shake Shack and Blue Smoke, the stadium unveils two new Empire State craft-beer stations, offering suds such as Bronx Brewery Pale Ale and Queens Brewery Lager.
If you remember the rabid fandom of the ’90s toys, Ty Beanie Buddy Day (Sept 21) will be a can’t-miss (the promo is really for kids, so make sure to bring a niece or your pal who always gets ID-ed).		Freebies		Considering you can buy a ticket for as low as $15, the team’s “Free Shirt Fridays” is basically a form of bribery, value-wise. We’ll take it.
Turn up early to Old-Timers’ Day (June 22) to see retired players don pinstripes for an on-field exhibition (last year Reggie Jackson and Rickey Henderson took part).		Theme night		Postgame concerts give you the chance to sing along to “In da Club” (50 Cent, June 14), “The Power of Love” (Huey Lewis & the News, July 12) and “I’ll Make Love to You” (Boyz II Men, Aug 16)
@Yankees offers daily lineups, score updates and other dry factual news befitting the notoriously professional organization.		Twitter presence		Since Mr. Met (@MrMet) made his Twitter debut in March, the mascot has already proved himself to be a master of short-form wit and a prolific selfie taker.
River Avenue is littered with divey watering holes: The Dugout (between 161st and 162nd Streets) is a good stopping point for some pregame hydration at sub–stadium prices (beers bottom out at $3).		Pregame beer spot		None. Brown-bag it on the subway at your peril.
Longtime shortstop Derek Jeter has announced that this will be his last season, so expect fanfare surrounding his departure (heartwarming or nauseating, depending on your POV).		One thing to know		Last year the Mets finished third in the NL East, which is their best since 2008. And for what it’s worth, David Wright was named the “Face of MLB” for 2014.
The club made huge moves this off-season, placing big bets on former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and highly touted Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.		Odds of winning the world series		…while the Amazin’s odds are more of a long shot at 100-1. Who doesn’t like an underdog?

AND THE WINNER IS… A tie! The Yankees might have more action on the field, but the Mets excel at the accessories of the game. Choose wisely.