As the New York Yankees and New York Mets battle in the Subway Series comments from Alex Rodriguez and Brian Cashman may have sparked a battle off the field over which team has the better player.

Before the series started, A-Rod stated, “They have the world’s greatest player playing shortstop over there, and the most exciting. I turn on the TV every time I get a chance to watch him.”

This season A-Rod has a fair point. Reyes is leading the NL in fWAR and has kept the Mets afloat in trying times (although a player in the Yankees division, Jose Bautista is leading the entire MLB).

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman took exception to Rodriguez’ comment, likely wanting people thinking the best player is on the Yankees.

In a statement Friday night, Cashman said there was more to being the best than electricity, and that consistency should be taken into account as well. He said, “Robinson Cano is the best player on the field.”

After talking more about Reyes, he said “Cano’s probably the premier player at his position in baseball, and he’s done it consistently now for two or three years.”

Cashman may have a point. While Reyes has accomplished more (at least stats wise) in his overall career, Cano has been the better player of the past couple years while Reyes has battled injury. In that period, Cano has produced 13.3 fWAR to Reyes’ 8.9.

Either way, it seems both are wrong. If talking about just this season, Jose Bautista has been better than Reyes. If talking about a period of a couple years, it’s hard to pick any hitter not named Albert Pujols.

On the field, the Yankees have won the first two games of the series of the game (and are in the midst of a seven game win streak) while the Mets have fallen back below .500 on the season. The Yankees have the best record in baseball after winning and maintain a 2.5 game lead on the Red Sox in the AL East.

Reyes left Saturday’s game early with tightness in his left hamstring which could cause concern to some Mets fans. Reyes missed time in 2009 with an injury to his right hamstring and has dealt with other leg issues at different times in his career. He is scheduled to have an MRI Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.

The Yankees took Saturday’s game 5-2 with the Subway Series wrapping up Sunday with Freddy Garcia facing R.A. Dickey.

Used with permission of the author.

Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.