Subway ride’s still thrill

JOE GIRARDI remembers how much George Steinbrenner couldn’t stand losing to the Mets, how much mental anguish it would cause The Boss if the Yankees were made to look inferior to their crosstown rivals, even if it was only for one night.

So even though Yankees-Mets might not have the same luster as it used to, and despite the Mets already looking ahead to next season, Girardi feels plenty of pressure heading into this week’s four-game, two-borough Subway Series that begins Monday in the Bronx, especially after losing two of three to the Red Sox.

“Oh, yeah. They are,” Girardi said of them being pressure games. “You’re playing your crosstown rival or whatever you want to call it, subway rival. But I think they are important. Now, when George was here obviously he might’ve been more vocal about it, but we all understand it and we all feel it and we know the importance of it.”

The fact that the Mets are out of the playoff race doesn’t take anything away from the upcoming series, Girardi said. And the fact is the Yankees need to win as many games as possible if they want to take the AL East.

“I think there will be a ton of excitement in both stadiums,” Girardi said. “Obviously they’re really important games for us, and I’m sure the Mets consider them really important for them, too, as part of the rivalry. But for us in the standings it’s really important.”

There is a compelling wrinkle to this latest Subway Series as the Yankees and Mets have engaged in trade talks this season. Neil