After much turmoil in negotiations on a return to play plan, the MLB is finally coming back from the COVID-19 pause. 30 MLB teams, including New York’s own Yankees and Mets, will begin the one-time 60 game quest to hoist the Commissioners Trophy. While the MLB and NHL will each be resuming with their seasons at around the same time, some Islanders fans will attempt to split their devotion to whichever pair of team’s they root for. However, some fans will see parallels between the two teams and make some connections between certain players on each roster, and below is a list of eight possible comparisons that can be made between New York baseball players and the Islanders.

Mat Barzal- Jeff McNeil

Kicking off the list is a pair of all star players that can set the table for each of their respective offenses. McNeil is their first pitch swinging machine at the top of the lineup consistently, and his ability to get on base quickly can help set up the guys behind him. Furthermore, he is versatile and can play a wide range of positions from second and third base to right field.

Barzal is similar in that he can do anything when carrying the puck into the offensive zone or looking for the perfect pass or shot. As his career has gone on he’s been improving defensively and developing a better shot. As a result, both players can make an impact anywhere at any point in the game and are very valuable to each team’s offense. as they both set the table for their respective teams.

Casey Cizikas- Brandon Nimmo

This pair is similar because Nimmo and Cizikas are both heart and soul players for each of their respective teams. Both can give it their all regardless of how good or bad the game is going and are leaders for their teams. Nimmo has made a name for himself with his affectionate personality and hard working style of play. Nimmo can always work a long at-bat, and he is always willing to sprint 90 feet to first base and crack a full smile even when he draws a walk. His tendency to work long at-bats is a huge part of his offensive game, and he plays with quality defense as well.

Cizikas also plays a similar never say die style of game in which he can contribute offensively and defensively. He is the team’s marquee two-way player and can make an impact in any way on the ice, whether it is killing penalties, fighting for the puck in the corner, playing the body, or creating offensive opportunities. He alongside Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck set the tone for the team in its games, and it is possible that his absence could be a main reason why the Islanders have struggled. As a result, Brandon and Casey are each good clubhouse guys and can play very well on either side of the ice or field.

Josh Bailey-Brett Gardner

Bailey and Gardner are similar in that they have similar roles and are the longest tenured players on their rosters. Ironically, they have both been on their respective teams for the same time span, 2008 to the present. For their respective roles, neither player is necessarily the face of the franchise, but they are still quality assets that can play a very solid all around style. Gardner, even if average and power are not his strengths, can still set the table with a good ability to get on base and solid speed. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, even with a career high in home runs last year, but he is a good contact hitter and does hit the big home run on occasion.

Bailey, even if he is not a marquee goal scorer, has a solid ability to make plays and set up his teammates to score. Bailey can also come up big with a clutch goal at the right time as well. He is also an alternate captain for his leadership and time with the club, so his experience is also useful in certain situations. As a result, even if Bailey and Gardner aren’t franchise players, they still play the role of the elder statesman well, can still contribute and come up in big spots, and can have leadership roles to help develop younger players.

Ryan Pulock-Aroldis Chapman

The one similarity that can be drawn between these two is that they have one marquee skill, and when they use it they use it hard. Chapman, often referred to as the “Cuban Missile” early in his career, makes his money on his fastball. Throughout his career his fastball has often been one of the hardest in major league baseball, sometimes hitting around or above 100 miles per hour on average every year. He even holds the major league record for the fastest recorded pitch at 105 mph.

Pulock, a continually emerging defenseman, has been praised by scouts for his slap shot that can often be clocked at over 100 miles per hour. While it can be inaccurate at times, when it’s used in the right spot and hits its target, it can be very useful for the Islanders and can give them an advantage on offense. Even with age beginning to show on Chapman, his fastball is still fast and is not to be taken lightly, much like Ryan Pulock’s slapper.

Brock Nelson-Michael Conforto

Both of these players are homegrown assets that have skill and can show it throughout the season at various points. Brock Nelson particularly was impressive early in the year, and his first half earned him the honor of being the Islander representative in the NHL’s Last Man In for the All Star Game. He has seen his solid two-way style of hockey with a great wrist shot continue after a career year last season. Conforto can see his success spread throughout the year and can also be considered a borderline all star and top outfielder. He has great power, can hit 30 home runs any year, works solid at-bats with his good eye, and can make big plays with a decent glove in the field.

However, there is one thing that can hold the players back from the honor, and that issue is consistency. Both players are talented, yes, but they can often go through stretches where they look lost. Conforto can go through stretches where he looks unstoppable hitting near .300 for a week or two, but a bad game can send him into an 0-20 or worse tailspin for a few weeks. Nelson throughout his career has also been known for similar play. He is often known for having a strong first half but struggling to find the back of the net in the second, and his struggles are prominent as the team heads down the stretch (although that issue has gotten better over the past two years). While Nelson and Conforto are indeed skilled and are top 5 position players for their rosters, they both suffer from a consistency flaw that can prevent them from taking the next step forward.

Anders Lee-Pete Alonso

The final Met on this list is closest related to the Islander captain for a pair of reasons. One is that it has been proven they can rally their teams and fanbases together down the stretch. Anders has worn the “C” on his jersey proudly and is often seen sticking for his teammates on the ice and keeping the team together. His leadership has helped lead the Islanders as a playoff contender and to lock up a postseason spot. Lee is also vocal in the community, as his annual Kancer Jam raises thousands of dollars to fight cancer and support those that are battling it.  Alonso meanwhile has also shown great leadership, even as a rookie. He is a heart and soul of the Mets locker room and most of the time is relatable to his teammates and fans. For example, while participating in the MLB Home Run Derby, when he won it and the one million dollar cash prize, he didn’t use it all for himself and donated a tenth of it to 9/11 charities and foundations. He also coined the rally cry “LFGM” and was one of the main figures that helped rally the team to a furious run late in the 2019 that nearly saw them make it to the playoffs.

The other reason is that they each emphasize power to their game. Lee often uses his size to get around opposing players racing for the puck or fighting in the corner, and he uses it to establish himself in front of the opposing team’s net looking for the perfect redirection or to screen to goaltender. Alonso meanwhile uses his size and power with the bat to drive the ball deep into the gap or out of the ballpark on a regular basis. While both aren’t tremendously fast, the size is how they make their money whether it’s driving to the net or taking a big hack at a hanging curveball. Add that to their tremendous job of leadership and those are the reasons why they are the most similar.

Jean Gabriel Pageau-DJ LeMahieu

Both of these players are not necessarily the most skilled on their active rosters, but each of them are very well rounded. Pageau, even if his time with the Islanders is young, has always been known as a high quality two way center.  He is on pace for career highs in every offensive category and he can play quality defense when called upon. He can make an impact in almost any way on the ice, whether it is on offense or defense.

LeMahieu is the same type of player at almost the exact same time. He enjoyed a career year in 2019 with the Yankees with career highs in average, home runs, hits, and RBIs and was one of the main reasons for their resurgence to the top of the AL East. DJ is also a very capable fielder, for he is three time gold glove winner and two time Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award winner. He built upon his existing status as a great player up the middle at second base, and expectations are high for him to have a near repeat performance in 2020. As a result, LeMahieu and Pageau each play a very well balanced game between offense and defense, and they can each make an impact on either side of the game.

Anthony Beauvillier-Clint Frazier

The last comparison on this list is one between two young players that are still growing in their respective careers. Beauvillier and Frazier can be considered similar in that they are each former first round picks, but they are still trying to hit their stride. Beauvillier can be considered a very streaky player in his fourth NHL season. While he has gotten better with 18 goals and 21 assists, he still can have his warts with prolonged slumps and mistakes on defense.

Frazier is the same way in his fourth season as well, only hitting .267 with 12 homers and 38 RBI and not being a tremendous fielder. They have the potential to be very good players in their respective leagues, however they each have flaws and can be exposed at various moments throughout the past year. While each saw numbers in certain categories hit career highs in the past season, there are still things that Beauvillier and Frazier can fix, and time is still on their side.
With sports beginning to return after the long pause from the Coronavirus, it will be an exciting time to see every league start back up at the same time. As fans begin to watch their favorite teams once again, some may begin to make connections between certain players on different teams, and so baseball and hockey teams may be similar in some way.
Do you agree with these comparisons of Islanders to New York baseball players? Leave a comment and let us know if you agree with our picks, have any different comparisons to those made in the article and some of your own if a certain player is not mentioned here.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.