Tonight "The Best Rivalry in Sports" take center stage for a big time series with momentum and the AL East division lead weighing in the balance. I know people say it is still too early to be worried about standings and records but in one series everyone has a pulse for is Red Sox, Yankees.
At 7:05 PM this heated rivalry opens the newest chapter in their long history, to face off in a three game series in the Bronx. With the Red Sox up two games on the Evil Empire in the division, the return of key players Kevin Youkilis and Mark Teixeira and a test for some early Cy Young candidates in Lester and Buchholz it is a series that certainly has some weight right now. I'm here to break it down position by position and tell you what you should expect to see in this weekend series...
First off...Pitching:
The big time matchup comes tonight with a rematch of opening day starters Lester (6-1) for the Red Sox, and C.C. Sabathia (4-4) for the Yankees. Saturday will see Feliz Doubront (3-2) for Bean Town, battle Phil Hughes (2-3) for the Bombers. And then on Sunday round out the series with one of the hottest pitchers in the majors Clay Buchholz a dazzling 7-0 for Boston and Hiroki Kuroda (6-3) for New York. For me the first match up is obviously the best and a coin flip for who is going to win. Although Sabathia is struggling right now (0-2 with a 4.85 ERA since June 27th) he seems to always come to play against the Sox. The Doubront, Hughes matchup is probably the biggest toss up of all with both posting high ERA's thus far in the season. That game will really come down to offense which works in the Sox favor with a first place ranking in runs this season and the Yankees coming off a series where they struggled to score runs. Sundays game I hand to Buchholz since there is hardly anyone pitching as well as he is right now. With all this in mind I give starting pitching to Boston particularly this weekend. Their starters have been more consistent and reliable than the Yankees starters.
Although the Sox took the starters category, I give the bullpen pitching to the Yankees. Boston's bullpen is perhaps the weakest aspect of this team and particularly with Mariano closing the door for the Yanks you always have to like their chances. Sure he blew a save this past week but he is the best closer of all time. If one of these games is a pitchers duel and the Yanks are up just a few in the 8th Red Sox fans everywhere will turn their TV's off, that is normally a game over situation. (Welllllll I did say normally)
Moving on to the field...
Catcher: Jarrod Saltalamacchia vs. Chris Stewart/Austin Romine
This ones easy. Saltalamacchia has been solid in the month of May hitting .282 with two homers and 10 RBI while Romine and Stweart have been splitting time and neither hitting over .260. It is safe to say the Yankees are missing the days of Jorge Posada this year. Salty takes it.
First Base: Mike Napoli for the Sox vs. The return of Mark Teixeira
This is interesting because Teixeira is coming off an injury and comes off a year where he hit less than 30 homers for the first time in his career. That being said I think at this point he can't match the season Napoli is having coming into this series .261 with 39 RBI and 8 home runs already this year. Despite his 75 K's I give the edge to Napoli.
Second Base: Dustin Pedroia vs. Robinson Cano
This is probably the most intriguing comparison between both these teams as both players are in the MVP discussion and both providing a lot offensively and defensively for their teams. PD batting a stunning .329 with 3 home runs and 30 RBI while flashing his glove on defense consistently. Cano hittis .296 is third in the home run race with 14 long balls and adds 38 RBI with it, while only committing one error in 53 games this year. Although it really could go either way and either is a solid pick if we're speaking in terms of 2013 and right now entering tonight I have to take Pedroia. He may not be the power threat Cano is in terms of home runs but he is hot at the plate and a tough out every game. He refuses to get out. In a series where offense is going to be key he's good for several hits in a game and won't let you down in the field.
Shortstop: Stephen Drew vs. Jayson Nix
Neither of these guys are putting up impressive numbers thus far this season. Drew in as an experiment for the Sox with young talent at that position waiting in the ranks and Nix just holding Jeter's spot till he returns. Nonetheless if I'm picking one here it's Drew. Despite only hitting .217 he does have 21 RBI and three triples, which leads the team. He can come up with an extra base hit when the Sox need it. Nix on the other hand has just 13 RBI in 45 of the 53 games played this season. The Yankees definitely want Jeter back ASAP.
This Base: Kevin Youkilis vs. Jose Iglesias
Iglesias, although solid in the field, is playing his first game at first which isn't always an easy adjustment, just ask A-Rod, and is looking to continue his hot hitting, .419 in 13 games. With Youk returning to the Bronx Bombers for the first time since April 28, I expect him to have much of the success he was having early on in the season. I give it to Youkilis here even though I don't like picking people normally coming off an injury I expect him to be fully recovered and enthusiastic about getting back out on the field against his former team. For clarification the difference between him and Teixeira is that Youkilis has actually played this year and had early success Teixeira is just getting back into it.
Outfield: Ellsbury/Nava/Gomes/Carp/Bradley Jr. for Boston vs. Ichiro/Gardner/Boesch/Wells for the Yankees
With Ellsbury finding his bat again in recent games and coming off a franchise record breaking 5 steal game, a category he leads the majors in, I expect him to continue his great success at the plate. Nava is filling in for an ailing Victorino right now but has grown into his roll showing a solid bat with 7 home runs thus far and 33 RBI, while showing consistency in the outfield as well. Gomes has been the biggest disappointment of all the outfielders but Carp has been used as a utility player hitting .270 with three home runs. And then of course there is Bradley Jr. who is expected by some to be the future of the Sox organization getting called up recently after hitting .360 with Pawtucket.
For the Yankees they are seriously missing Granderson especially when they got a tease of him for 8 games only to find him on the DL again for another month. Now its been up to the late offseason pick up Wells to carry the team in some regards. He is batting just .258 with 24 RBI, and has done a decent job at creating offense for a team lacking some important starters. Ichiro is only batting .250, the lowest of any of season averages since he entered the majors in 2001, and has a lackluster 8 RBI. Gardner may be the most impressive of all the outfielders hitting .262 with 5 Homers and 20 RBI but he as been inconsistent at the plate as well. His best bet is using his speed when he gets on base as he has 9 stolen bases thus far in the season. Lastly Boesch is hittng .275 so far and has limited playing time.
Although Ellsbury has been the only solid performer from both teams, in terms of right now I've gotta give it to the Boston. Nava has come up strong on many occasions and with guys like Bradley Jr. rallying the young future of the Red Sox you have to like their chances this weekend.
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz vs. Travis Hafner
He's damned if he does, and he's damned if he doesn't. Say what you want about David Ortiz but he is a cold blooded killer at the plate! I love this guy. Every year there is talk about how its time for him to go, so what does he do this year coming back from his injury...oh just bats .339 with 9 long balls and 35 RBI. All higher than Hafner, .248 with 8 home runs and 25 RBI, who has played all season. No doubt about it advantage....BIG PAPI!
Last Category, Manager: John Farrell vs. Joe Girardi
This one for me comes down to experience. Farrell is only in his third year as a major league manager, Girardi has been a round a time or two and has won a World Series. Although I question how "great" of a manager he really is he still has a solid resume to back him to this point. Notch one for the Yankees in this category, but Farrell is up and coming.
When the dust clears from this debate the numbers work out like this...
Pitching: 1-1 (Starters go to the Sox, Bullpen to the Yanks)
Catcher: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1
First Base: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1
Second Base: Red Sox 4, Yankees 1
Third Base: Red Sox 4, Yankees 2
Outfield: Red Sox 5, Yankees 2
DH: Red Sox 6, Yankees 2
Manager Red Sox 6, Yankees 3
Final score 6-3 Red Sox. If that's the final score tonight I'll change my name to Spencer The Wise! Give me your feedback and if you think I got any of these wrong. Otherwise enjoy the game.
Go Sox!
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