Early Season Favorites, Red Sox Now Faltering
For Yankees Fans, The World Returns To Normal
Aug 25, 2009
For the last few years, the world seemed out of sorts to Yankees Fans. The Yankees saw the Red Sox win the World Series (coming back from three games down against the Yankees to do it), and saw their beloved Bombers miss the playoffs last season. Things seem to be getting back to normal, however, as the Red Sox are melting away like an ice cream cone left out in the sun once again.
The season for the Red Sox and Yankees started in totally different directions. It’s amazing what a difference a season makes.
Early Season Favorites
June 30, 2009, the Yankees were 2.5 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East.
The Red Sox began the season pleasantly surprised by the production from aging catcher Jason Varitek. The Yankees started the season with Jorge Posada injured.
Josh Beckett to Jonathan Papelbon was an automatic win. CC Sebathia was less than advertised, and Mariano Rivera was getting knocked all over the park.
David Ortiz had a slow start to the season, but Alex Rodriguez had an even slower start on the disable list. Mark Teixeira seemed to be blinded by the bright lights of New York, while Dustin Pedroia seemed to be a star in the making.
The Red Sox started the season with too much pitching; Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and the promise of John Smoltz midway through the season. The Yankees began the season with a pitching staff in shambles. A.J. Burnett was dreadful, Andy Pettite was too old, Joba Chamberlain seemed better suited to close, and CC Sebathia looked average.
The Red Sox had a solid outfield of J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jason Bay. They had the ability to bring in veteran Rocco Baldelli to spell any of the three. The Yankees started the season without a sure center fielder, and Xavier Nady lost for the season due to a bad elbow.
Red Sox In Trouble
As of August 23, the Red Sox had to trade for catcher Victor Martinez to bolster the offense that Jason Varitek (hitting .223) is not giving them. Martinez is a great hitter, but his defense is dreadful behind the plate.
CC Sebathia now generally offers seven quality innings. Beckett has been dusted up for three or more earned runs in five of his last ten starts.
David Ortiz has turned his season around, but Alex Rodriguez’ return has turned Mark Teixeira into the Yankees’ MVP (31 home runs and 93 RBI’s).
The Red Sox pitching staff now consists of Penny, Beckett, Bucholz, Lester, and Junichi Tazawa. Smoltz was released and now plays for the Cardinals, and Penny was booed off the mound in Fenway. The Yankees staff has come around, with Phil Hughes becoming a lights out eighth inning specialist.
The Red Sox recently had to end the Kevin Youkilis experiment in right field, which was a defensive disaster. Jason Bay seemed to have gone to sleep, batting under .260. The Yankees have enjoyed excellent seasons from Johnny Damon, and clutch hits from Melky Cabrera. They also seemed to have found a legitimate center fielder in Bret Gardner before he injured his thumb.
In just two months, the Yankees have not only taken over first place in the AL East, they have seemingly driven the last nails into the coffin of the Boston Red Sox. Boston looks as lost as the Yankees did at the start of the season, with little time left to get things together.
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