Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
You can start hating the Yankees again 08.20.09 at 11:41 pm ET
By Lou Merloni

As the Red Sox and Yanks get ready to square off this weekend, you wonder if this is the last shot the Sox have to catch New York in the AL East.

I think that most of us have changed our focus to the Wild Card, but what would happen if the Sox sweep the Yanks? Would the East be out of the question? Does it really matter? After all, let’s not forget that the Sox have won the World Series as both the Wild Card representative and the AL East winner. This series has been pretty lopsided so far this year, with the Sox winning the first eight only to get swept by the Yanks less than two weeks ago down in the Bronx.

So what should we expect this weekend? I will be shocked if we see a sweep, let’s start with that.

Early in the year, the Yanks had some serious issues. Their bullpen was awful. One of the reasons was because their rotation was struggling to get deep into the games, leaving the pen over-exposed. C.C. and Burnett weren’t exactly locked in. Joba was giving them five strong every night, refusing to get deep in any of his starts. Wang was a mess.  A-Rod was still recovering from hip surgery and Mark Teixeira got off to a rough start as he usually does every year. As a result, the Sox took the first eight these two played.

A few weeks ago in the Bronx, the Sox were the team in disarray. Jason Bay missed the weekend series and David Ortiz was busy dealing with the media talking vitamins and supplements instead of HR’s and RBI’s. We saw the last of John Smoltz, but we may have been introduced to Clay Buchholz once and for all. The bats were silent and panic settled in all across Red Sox Nation as the Yanks took all four games. But I must say, doesn’t this weekend bring back a little old school feel?

Both teams are playing good baseball at the same time for the first time this season. If the Sox had this lineup when they were in New York, they very easily could have won three of four. I must admit that Pettitte/Burnett/Sabathia sounds a lot better than Penny/Tazawa/Beckett, but I really believe that you can throw match-ups out the window and look more at how teams are playing.  That’s what makes this weekend so intriguing.

Isn’t it good to have the Yankees in the mix again? Did you have fun last year when you were more concerned with the Rays than the Yanks? I didn’t. I want to hate them. I want to fear them. It’s just more fun that way. You had to know that this year was going to be different for the boys from New York. Did you see what they did in the offseason? For years I’ve been pretty hard on their offseason moves, and rightfully so. Think of all the wasted money they have spent on players who were either flashes in the pan or over-priced players out of their prime. Let me just throw a few names at you.

Let’s start with what I call “smoke a mirrors” — Chris Hammond, Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright.

Now let’s name a few “on their way out” candidates — Estaban Loiaza, Ruben Sierra, Jon Lieber, Kenny Lofton, Al Leiter, Hideo Nomo, and Randy Johnson.

This is what the Yanks did for years. They reached for the free agents coming off of career years who had never done it before and haven’t done it since. They also signed the over-priced free agents who were well out of their primes. They took a shot and not much of it worked out.

This year, yeah they spent some serious dollars, but they were spent wisely…for once. They grabbed a starting pitcher in C.C. Sabathia who isn’t on his way out of his prime but is hanging out right in the middle of it. C.C. was a year removed from winning the AL Cy Young award and is young enough for the Yanks to think they have an “ace” of the staff for many years to come. They also snagged the best YOUNG hitter on the free agent market in Mark Teixeira. (Young is the key word here.)

Seeing that already have AROD signed through 2017, they may possess the best 3-4 punch in all of baseball for the next seven years. When it comes to these two highly sought-after free agents, it’s awful tough to say that the Yanks will ever regret spending the cash it took to land them. You may not be able to say the same when you talk about what they gave A.J. Burnett. That five-year deal may have been a reach, but he’ll no doubt give them three years or so of quality starts. When it comes to A.J., it’s not about his age as much as his history of arm trouble. That’s a deal we may have to wait and see on.

But the point is made, I hope. They went out and spent a lot of money, but it was money that was spent on players who were still in their primes. They weren’t one-year wonders. They weren’t guys on their way out. They are all good — very good – and that’s the difference.

So get ready. The Yankees are back. You can hate them again. I’m talking, “I can’t stand the sight of them” type of hate. Both teams are confident and playing well.  This may be the best test for both teams and its going to take place right here at Fenway Park.  Sit back and enjoy the hatred!!

Read More: a.j. burnett, C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, victor martinez Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • tdmtown

    ummmmm…….Lou?…..They won the division in 2007……ONE world series win as a wildcard…..

  • JT

    Ummmmmm….Lou?….Hideo Nomo never played for the yankees. Did you mean Hideki Irabu?

  • Melissa

    Ummmmmmm….JT?….”On July 27 2005, Nomo was picked up off waivers by the New York Yankees, who signed him to a minor league contract, but never recalled him.”

  • Mark

    Ummmmmm, Melissa, JT said he never PLAYED for the Yankees. I don’t think he was including their minor league team in his comment.

  • captken202

    This series is of little consequence. Red Sox are going to end up in third place. Texas or Tampa will take the wild card. Red Sox are too old and too slow. If Jason Varitek starts two games as catcher the sox will probable be swept again.

  • whitey

    I’m sorry, but the plural of ‘flash in the pan’ is ‘flashes in the pan.’

  • Realistic

    “easily would have taken 3 out of 4″? Talk about a ridiculous statement.

    I’m sure the Yankees could say the same thing is A-Rod, Teix, etc were in the lineup and playing well in the first series.

    If Mariano had been pitching up to his standards, the Yankees would have “easily won” the first game of the season against the sox.

    I read a great article recently about how the Yanks and Sox have switched places…again. Pretty much saying Boston has become old and slow, their pitching worn down and their farm…well, not living up to the hype (see how Robertson has out performed Bard…but you never read a word about him). Yankees old guys are performing well. Yankee young guns are more than contributing. Yankee free agent pick ups are dominating. Yankee trades (yes, Hinske and Jr.) are performing…

    Should be an awesome series. Even in the sweeps, the games are rarely out of control and make for a good watch. I would predict the Yanks taking the first 2, Boston in the 3rd…although, as stated by the author, its all about what has happened lately…so should we expect 5 innings of 7 run baseball from Beckett?

  • Dr.Zee

    All of the previous series have been taken by the team playing the best at that point in time. The only thing this series will determine is how good their bull pen is right now. Both teams couldn’t be any closer “statwise”, so don’t think for one second that because you pulled one out overated sweep, that it’s all good in Yankee town. Try the “realistic” approach and if you get swept in Fenway, it won’t be bcause of the bats, instead because you didn’t spend in bullpen arms. That’s what got you World Series wins back in the * years of the 90′s. Or did you forget… pitching wins championships.

  • DaisyDuke

    Are you kidding? Only one of these games will even be close! Remember, two of the Sox pitchers during this series are Penny and Tazawa. Sox hitters will need to put up at least 8 runs in those games in order to even have a chance. I predict by the end of the weekend, we will be 2 back in the wildcard race. We need to hope Texas and Tampa Bay fall apart–which isn’t likely. Wild card is our only shot now…

  • Dr.Zee

    Texas and tampa have to slug it out this weekend. Yeay for us! Oh and in case you didn’t know…penny is 5-2 at Fenway with ful one run less in era than on the road. And by the way he faced the Yankess once this year and I bet you cant tell me what he did against them…here it is(6.0 in pitched, 0 runs, 6 hits and struck out 5. The park Fenway. I like my chances.

  • Realistic

    slanted stats Dr.Zee.

    yes, we all know how well he did the first matchup. You are correct, he does pitch better at home…leaving him just off the all star team with a whopping 4.70 era at home! ya, he’s a stud.

    He is facing Andy Pettitte who, by the way, has faced the sawx 2x this year and, funny thing, you didn’t post his line. simple mistake, i understand, i’ll tell you anyway: 2 games, 13 innings, 3 er, .239 baa. Oh ya, and he pitches better on the road as well, to the tune of a 3.17 era!

    ya, typical diluted fan, you will find some way to spin the facts. Did you get your doctorate in dillusional?

    oh ya, just to rain on your parade again, just because the pen didn’t cost a lot of money, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been effective:

    Hughes: 1.31 era
    MO: 1.90
    Dave Robertson (aka Dave “I’m better than Bard” Robertson): 3.06
    Mark Melancon: 3.18
    Ace: 3.57
    then there is bruney and coke, with D-Mart on his way back and Wagner probably on his way over.

    I didn’t forget pitching wins championships, but you’ll soon be reminded that without steroids, they dry up quick!

    2 out of 3, easy. good luck with the rangers.

  • Realistic

    more facts for Dr.Zee (these from si.com…no pun Dr.Zee):

    The veteran left-hander has given up two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts

    Pettitte threw seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Aug. 9, though he didn’t get credit for the Yankees’ eventual 5-2 win. He’s 16-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 34 appearances versus Boston.

    The Red Sox counter with Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22), who is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA over his last four starts

    Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2009/08/21/25662_preview.html#ixzz0OqSNzJPT

  • http://www.gamewow.info/archives/world-of-warcraft-guild-recruiting-how-to-guarantee-that-you-never-get-quality-players/ Chuck Vacha

    It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I could I desire to suggest you few fascinating things or tips. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles referring to this article. I desire to learn even more issues approximately it!

  • http://www.directsoccer.org/ mercurial vapor

    Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…

  • http://sigmakom.com/ Madaline Wedel

    Subsequently, after spending many hours on the internet at last We’ve uncovered an individual that definitely does know what they are discussing many thanks a great deal wonderful post.

  • http://www.november811.co.uk Olivia

    hi-ya, I like all your posts, keep them coming.

  • http://tattoomanic.com/tribal-tattoo-designs-to-make-you-stand-out-amongst-the-crowd tribal tattoo designs

    You have mentioned very interesting points! ps decent web site.

  • http://chauyauch8961.blog.com/2011/10/27/simple-yet-just-weathervanes/ weathervane

    Hey there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

  • http://www.mayweathervsortizfight.com pacquiao vs marquez live streaming

    Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I wish to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means appear to get one thing done.

  • http://www.diigo.com/user/belinda57?domain=clayton38.posterous.com bathroom furniture

    Bathroom furniture is useful in any size of bathroom: it gives integrated storage inside and presents a sleek, coordinated finish on the outside.

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify