Red Sox @ Yankees for four big games

The third place Red Sox travel to Yankee Stadium for a huge four game series this weekend, starting tonight through Monday.

The Red Sox are an uninspiring 3-5 vs. the Yankees this season. This is the second of three consecutive series between the teams to be played in the Bronx. These teams last met when they split a brief two game series back in mid-May.

This is a critical series for the Red Sox, who are six games out of first place in the AL East and 5.5 games behind Tampa Bay in the wild card standings. On paper, the pitching matchups favor the Red Sox, who send their top four pitchers out to the mound for this series.

Here are the pitching match-ups for this weekend (updates to follow after each game):


Friday, Aug 6^th: Boston 6, @ New York 3
WP: Buchholz (12-5), LP: Vasquez (9-8), SV: Papelbon (27)
A good start to the weekend for the Sox. Let's hope it continues.

Saturday, Aug 7^th: Boston @ New York
Lackey (10-6) v. Sabathia (13-5)


Sunday, Aug 8^th: Boston @ New York
Beckett (3-1) v. Burnett (9-9)


Monday, Aug 9^th: Boston @ New York
Lester (11-6) v. Moseley (1-1)



The two teams will close out their season series at the end of September and at the beginning of October.

Yankees in town for three over the weekend

The Yankees are back at Fenway for three key games this weekend vs. the Red Sox. New York won the season opening series at Fenway, 2-1.

Currently in the AL East, the Yankees are in second place with a 19-8 record, 1½ games behind first place Tampa Bay. The Red Sox are in fourth place with a 15-14 record, 6½ games out.

As always when these two teams meet, I expect a great series with long, grinding games.


Pitching match ups and summaries for the series:

Friday, May 7^th: New York @ Boston
Hughes (3-0) v. Beckett (1-0)


Saturday, May 8^th: New York @ Boston
Sabathia (4-1) v. Buchholz (3-2)


Sunday, May 9^th: New York @ Boston
Burnett (4-0) v. Lester (2-2)

After this series, the Red Sox will play the next nine games in the season series at Yankee Stadium, starting with a two game set on May 17-18.

The Yankees final visit to Fenway will be to close out the 2010 regular season on October 1-3.

Yankees visit Fenway for three HUGE games.

True enough, whenever the Yankees and Red Sox get together the games are huge. Never more so than the three game series that begins tonight at Fenway.

Entering this series, the Red Sox own an 8-4 advantage vs. New York this season. But those last four losses, a four game series sweep by the Yankees in New York earlier this month, were devastating losses.

That sweep is a large reason why the Red Sox find themselves in second place, 6 1/2 games behind New York in the standings, entering this series. That the Red Sox need to return the favor and sweep this series is a no-brainer if they want any shot at the AL East title in 2009. Even so a Sox sweep still would have them 3 1/2 games behind. Perish the thought, but if the Yanks sweep the Red Sox this weekend, they'd be 9 1/2 games out and the division race would be over for the Sox.

I've been reading articles around here lately that say the Sox need to focus on the Wild Card and forget about catching the Yankees. I say that's a load of crap. It's a defeatist attitude and is not helpful. Until the Red Sox are mathematically eliminated from wining the division I say they should focus on both the division and Wild Card.

But how do they do that?

As the much vilified Al Davis always says, "Just win, baby." Just play good ball and win as many games as possible and see what happens in the end.

The Red Sox do seem to be on a roll, sweeping the Blue Jays in Toronto the last three days, including an impressive win over ace Roy Halliday.

In any case, these next three games will be fun. Good drama as always, I'm sure.


Here are the pitching match ups for the series, beginning tonight:


Friday, Aug 21^st: New York 20, at Boston 11
Pettitte (9-6) v. Penny (7-7)
WP=Pettitte (10-6), LP=Penny (7-8)
20 runs in a game most allowed by Red Sox since 2000.


Saturday, Aug 22^nd: at Boston 14, New York 1
Burnett (10-6) v. Tazawa (1-2)
WP=Tazawa (2-2), LP=Burnett (10-7)
One good beating deserves an even bigger one - this time by the Sox.

Sunday, Aug 23^rd: New York 8, at Boston 4
Sabathia (14-7) v. Beckett (14-4)
WP=Sabathia (15-7), LP=Beckett (14-5)
Beckett allows career high five homers as Sox fall.


As always, this post will be updated after each game with the results and link to the recap and box score.

The last regular season series of the year will be Sept 25-27 at Yankee Stadium.

Sox in the Bronx

The Red Sox (62-44) enter this series 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees (65-42) coming into this always crucial and always fun rivalry. Four game weekend series in the Bronx are never dull. This series should be more of the same.

The fact that the Yankees are 0-8 vs. Boston this year is stunning but hardly relevant now since the teams haven't played since June. I would think that the pressure for this series is still on the Yankees even though they are ahead in the standings, they still have to prove to themselves that they can beat the Red Sox. I expect a hard fought, well played series. Realistically I would be pleased if the Sox can split these four games and clinch the season series which would ensure any tie breaker scenarios for playoff positioning go Boston's way.

I'll also admit that the Sox have been in a funk since the All-Star break, while the Yankees have been playing some of their best ball of the year lately. I can take some solace in the fact that when these teams last met in June the Yankees were also playing well and Boston's sweep put them in a funk for a few weeks. Hopefully that will be the case here.

Here are the pitching match ups for the series:

Thursday, Aug 6^th: at New York 13, Boston 6
Smoltz (2-4) v. Chamberlain (7-2)
WP=Chamberlain (8-2), LP=Smoltz (2-5)
All I can say is, "Ouch, this one hurts."

Friday, Aug 7^th: at New York 2, Boston 0 (15 innings)
Beckett (13-4) v. Burnett (10-5)
WP=Coke (3-3), LP=Tazawa (0-1)
What a duel! What a heartbreaker! Ouch again...

Saturday, Aug 8^th: at New York 5, Boston 0
Buccholz (1-1) v. Sabathia (11-7)
WP=Sabathia (12-7), LP=Buchholz (1-2)
O offense, wherefore art thou? 3x ouch!

Sunday, Aug 9^th: at New York 5, Boston 2
Lester (9-7) v. Pettite (9-6)
WP=Coke (4-3), LP=Bard (0-1), SV=Rivera (32)
Red Sox lost weekend in NY complete - including 31 consecutive scoreless innings (most since 1974).


As always, this post will be updated after each game with the results and link to the recap and box score.

The Red Sox next shot at redemption comes Aug 21-23, when the Yankees make their final regular season Fenway appearance.

It's about time!

A long overdue honor, in my opinion:

Rice to have jersey retired by Red Sox

Associated Press - July 22, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Boston Red Sox are retiring Jim Rice's No. 14 jersey.

The team said Wednesday it will honor Rice in a ceremony at Fenway Park on Tuesday, two days after Rice is inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.

It will be the seventh number retired by the Red Sox.

Rice, an eight-time All-Star, batted .298 with 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs in 2,089 games for the Red Sox from 1974 to 1989.

He was the American League MVP in 1978, when the Red Sox captain hit .315 with 46 homers and 139 RBIs. He had 406 total bases, still the only time an AL player had 400 total bases since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.

Yanks for three at Fenway

The New York Yankees visit Fenway Park for a critical three game series beginning tonight, with first place in the AL East on the line. The Yankees come into this series in first place, up by one game in the division over the Sox.

The Red Sox have swept the series so far in 2009, winning the first five of the eighteen game season series. While that's impressive, it's a streak that can hardly be expected to continue much longer. The Yankees are too good and the rivalry too intense for that.

The pitching match ups for the series go like this:

Tuesday, June 9^th: at Boston 7, New York 0
Burnett (4-2) v. Beckett (6-2)
WP=Beckett (7-2), LP= Burnett (4-3)

Wednesday, June 10^th: at Boston 6, New York 5
Wang (0-3) v. Wakefield (7-3)
WP=Wakefield (8-3), LP=Wang (0-4), SV=Papelbon (15)

Thursday, June 11^th: at Boston 4, New York 3
Sabathia (5-3) v. Penny (5-2)
WP=Saito (1-0), LP=Sabathia (5-4), SV=Papelbon (16)

Wow, 8-0 vs. New York so far in 2009. Something like this hasn't happened in the Sox-Yankees rivalry since 1912, when the Red Sox won the first 14 games of the season against the New York Highlanders, including the first ever game at Fenway Park.

As always, the post will be updated after each game with the results and link to the recap and box score.

After this series, the teams next hook up for a four game tilt at the New Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, August 6-9.

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Today is the beginning of year five of this here wonderful slice o' blog heaven, which began June 9, 2005. I've never had to delete anything or change URL's since day one. All 1,000+ posts are available in the archives on your left. Please indulge yourself! Happy reading.

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Last but certainly not least, today is my little sister's 26^th birthday. Happy Birthday, C!

Look....it's the new Yankee Stadium

The Red Sox make their first ever appearance at the new Yankee Stadium for a brief two game series this week. Fresh off their 3-0 series domination of their New York rivals last week, the Red Sox enter this series at 15-10 and the Yankees at 13-11.


Monday, May 4: Boston 6, at New York 4

Lester (1-2) v. Hughes (1-0)
WP=Lester (2-2), LP=Hughes (1-1), SV=Papelbon (7)


Tuesday, May 5: Boston 7, at New York 3

Beckett (2-2) v. Chamberlain (1-0)
WP=Beckett (3-2), LP=Chamberlain (1-1)

Apparently this is only the third time in Red Sox history that they've opened 5-0 vs. New York. Those other seasons were 1912 and 1985, according to NESN.

After this the Sox and Yankees next get together will be June 9-11 at Fenway.

A New Season - a Rivalry Renewed

Yes, it's that time of year again for the Red Sox and Yankees to renew their rivalry with the first three of eighteen meetings in the 2009 season. Entering the series, both teams are 9-6 and tied for second place behind Toronto, two games off of the pace. No matter what the situation, Yankees v Red Sox is always good fun.

As I always do, I'll update the post after each game, providing a link to the recap and box scores.

The pitching match ups:

Friday, April 24: at Boston 5, New York 4 (11 innings)
Chamberlain (0-0) v. Lester (1-2)
WP=Ramirez (2-0), LP=Marte (0-1)


Saturday, April 25: at Boston 16, New York 11
Burnett (2-0) v. Beckett (2-1)
WP=Okajima (1-0), LP=Albaladejo (1-1)

Sunday, April 26: at Boston 4, New York 1
Pettite (2-0) v. Masterson (1-0)
WP=Masterson (2-0), LP=Pettite (2-1)

A nice little sweep of the hated arch rivals to cap a perfect 9-0 homestand and 10 game winning streak. Each game provided much drama and definite excitement if you're a Red SOx fan, as I obviously am.

The Sox will visit the new Yankee Stadium for two games during the first week in May.

#14 makes it on the 15th (and final) try

Okay, I admit it, I'm a homer. I've thought that Jim Rice should have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame ten or twelve years ago. But it's official, he's in now and that's just fine with me. Granted he squeezed in with 76.4% of the vote (75% needed), but that's all it took.

Maybe some of you who live in other parts of the country aren't as familiar with Jim Rice as I am. After all, the man retired from playing Major League Baseball 20 years ago this year.

But I can tell you, growing up in the Boston area and being a lifelong Red Sox fan, watching Rice play both in person and on television was a treat. When Rice batted, you paid attention. The stadium always grew quiet and people at home stopped what they were doing to watch. Every time. Picture what happens now when David Ortiz comes to the dish. That was how it was with Jim Ed.

Sure you can read all kinds of stories both for and against Rice's HOF worthiness, which forever more will be debated when others with similar achievements are up for Hall consideration, so I won't rehash most of those arguments here.

Rice followed in the great tradition of power hitting Red Sox left fielders, some slouches (also HOFers) named Williams and Yastrzemski. From 1975-1986 he was as dominant a hitter as you'll ever see. His defense in left field at Fenway may not have been flawless, but he wasn't nearly as bad as some critics will maintain. Could you play a carom high off 'da monsta like Rice (or few others) could? I doubt it. I know I certainly couldn't.

Yes, it's true his last three years he was not nearly as good. Failing eyesight made him a shadow of his former playing self and he retired after only 16 seasons, knowing he was not the player he once was. This shortened career left him 18 homers shy of 400 and .002 below a lifetime .300 hitter, two standards that virtually ensure a plaque at Cooperstown.

Heck, my mom even knows who Jim Rice is and she doesn't even like baseball. For sure, my nine year old son knows who Jim Rice is. Every time we play catch now, M uses my old Jim Rice signature model glove. M's glove now; passed on from father to son like the treasured heirloom it has become.

I even have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Rice on several occasions at baseball card shows, and have his autograph on three or four cards and two baseballs.

And for what it's worth, in the 20 years since Jim Ed hung 'em up, no one has worn or might I assume, even dared to ask for Red Sox jersey #14.

Now the Red Sox need to do the right thing in 2009 and place Rice's number up on the right field facade with Williams (9), Yaz (8), Doerr (4), Cronin (1), Fisk (27), Pesky (6) and Jackie Robinson (42) and ensure that no one will ever wear #14 for the Red Sox again.

Congratulations, Jim, on your election to the Hall of Fame today. It's a well deserved honor for you and makes us proud to root for the Boston Red Sox. Thanks for the memories.

Yankees return to the Fens

For the first time since 1995, the New York Yankees will not make it to the playoffs. I'm really quite broken up about that. Really I am......





NOT!!!!

Seriously though, to make the playoffs for 13 consecutive years is quite an accomplishment, for any team but especially in baseball because not as many teams qualify for the playoffs as in the other major sports.

The Yankees do come to Fenway for the final three games of their season this weekend. It's always fun when the Sox and Yankees play, no matter the situation. It's an important series for the Red Sox, as they tune-up for the playoffs.

There is a small chance that the Red Sox could still win the American League East, if Tampa loses its final three games and if the Red Sox can sweep the Yankees. Otherwise the Red Sox will enter the playoffs as the AL Wild Card team and will play against the Los Angeles Angels in the first round.

So far this season, the Red Sox lead the season series, 8-7.

The pitching match ups for this weekend's battle with the Yankees is as follows (as always, updates provided after the conclusion of each game):

Sept. 26th Yankees 19, @ Red Sox 8
WP=Robertson (4-0), LP=Pauley (0-1)

Sept. 27th (postponed, rain)

Sept. 28th Yankees 6, @ Red Sox 2
WP=Mussina (20-9), LP=Matsuzaka (18-3)

Sept. 28th @ Red Sox 4, Yankees 3
WP=Hansack (1-0), LP=Veras (5-3)

my brush with literary fame

I don't remember if I've ever told this story on my blog before. This post started out as a comment on another blog. The following is a true story.


I'll admit it, I've never gotten into the writing of Stephen King and never even knew what he looked like.

I went to a Red Sox game once and the usher who helped me find my seat told me that "I was the lucky one."

I had no clue what he was talking about until I saw my seat, which was on the aisle on the first base side. Sitting in seat #2 was a thin, gaunt looking man with glasses who had a big hardback novel in his lap.

My initial impression was, "who in the %&*!^&*$*# brings a freaking novel to a baseball game! If you love to read your book so much, stay home and read it!! What a freaking moron!"

Then I heard the names, "King" and "Stephen" mentioned (apparently by his wife and son) but not in the same sentence, as I took in the sounds and conversation of the pre-game ballpark crowd. Then it dawned on me who I was sitting next to and why the usher called me lucky.

So I asked him for his autograph.

He politely refused, reasoning that if he signed something for me, then he'd have to sign stuff for everyone else and his enjoyment of the ball game would be ruined.

Having been, at one time, an autograph seeker groupie I respected and understood his reasoning for refusing my request, instead of being mad and considering him a freaking a$$hole.

Another fella recognized him and came up and asked him for his autograph, which he also politely refused.

As the course of the game went on, we started talking about baseball, the Red Sox and the game we were watching. We even high-fived on one occasion when the Red Sox were doing particularly well.

Late in the game King asked me if I thought the Sox would let the rookie (making his major league debut that night) bat in a tight, crucial situation. I told him that I did and my reasoning why. He seemed to find my explanation sound and appeared to agree with me.

If memory serves, I was rewarded when the rookie not only batted in said late game situation, but also got a hit which scored some runs for the Red Sox.

When the game ended (the Red Sox won) and we were about to leave, King reached over, grabbed my program and signed it, because I didn't hound him for an autograph and because for three hours that night, we became friends.

If you asked Stephen King about it today, I doubt that he would remember me. He might remember the game, being the renowned Red Sox fan that he is, but probably not me. But that's okay, it's certainly a night I'll never forget.

BTW, the year was 1992 and the rookie was John Valentin, who wore #13 and primarily played shortstop during his time with the Red Sox. I can't remember the score of the game, but I believe the Red Sox were playing the Texas Rangers that night.

Yes, I still have the autographed program somewhere and maybe the ticket stub from the game too.

And I've still never been able to get into the voluminous mass of Stephen King's published work.

last regular season visit to Yankee Stadium

Yes, the house that Ruth built, the one that was lavishly refurbished in the 1970's is closing it's doors and making way for the new Yankee Stadium to open in 2009.

So it's with a certain amount of sadness that these next three games will be the last of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry to be played at the old ball yard in the Bronx.

So far in 2008, the season series is tied 6-6. Twelve down and six to go. Red Sox-Yankees is good fun and always great drama.

The pitching match-ups for the three game series look like this (with results updated after completion of each game):

Tonight (Tuesday): Red Sox 7, @ Yankees 3
WP=Wakefield (8-8) LP=Pettite (13-10) SV=Papelbon (34)

Wednesday: Red Sox 11, @ Yankees 3
WP=Byrd (9-11) LP=Ponson (7-5)

Thursday: @ Yankees 3, Red Sox 2
WP=Rivera (5-5) LP=Masterson (4-4)

These two long-time rivals will meet at Fenway Park for three at the end of September to close out the regular season.

No rain out this time

The last time we tried to do this we had lousy weather. In fact they never got the tarp off of the field.

That was July 24^th when my dad, V, M and I tried to attend a Nashua Pride baseball game. That day torrential downpours, thunder and lightning were the order of the day.

Tonight the weather was about as opposite as you could possibly get. Blue sky, puffy clouds, bright sun and warm temperatures. Perfect baseball weather.

The Nashua Pride play in the Can-Am league, which is an eight team independent league that is not affiliated with any major league teams. Even though the Pride lost to the Sussex (NJ) Skyhawks 7-5, we had a good time. More importantly, V and M passed the test I had set for them - with flying colors.

That test, of course, was to see if they could handle sitting through a live baseball game. If they could, which they did, I told them I'd try to get ticketses for us to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park in 2009, which are much, much, much more expensive.

We got to the stadium about 10 minutes before the gates opened at 16:05. We knew from the last time that our seats would be in the front row, just to the left of home plate. Awesome seats. V and M brought their baseball gloves but because of where our seats were behind the screen, they would have no chance to catch a foul ball.

Before the game, which started at 17:05, we were walking around the stadium checking things out. Tori wanted to see if she could get someone to give her a baseball and she was able to talk to one of the bat girls about it. The bat girl told her that she would see if she could but wasn't sure. When the game ended, V asked again and was rewarded for being persistent. The best souvenir for me is happy kiddoes.

These minor league games are great because they give away promotional items as you come into the stadium before every game. The promotion/give-away for the rain out game was Delta Dental toothbrush night. Tonight was Pride backpack night. They also do things between innings, like have kids (and some adults) participate in contests, toss tee shirts into the stands and other stuff.

When the game was over they had one final contest, which was to try and throw some foam baseballs into a small orange bucket at home plate (from the stands) to win a prize. I have no idea what the prize was but no one won it anyway. I did manage to "win" a great consolation prize. As I was walking past some seats on my way out, there was a real official Can-Am league baseball on the ground next to some of those foam balls, which I was able to handily grab and stash in my backpack.

Yankees - Red Sox @ Fenway part II

Any time the Yankees and Red Sox play, it's good entertainment.

Such is the case this weekend, as the Yanks make their 2^nd of three trips to Fenway this season. So far this year the Red Sox hold a 5-4 series edge and are three games ahead of the Yankees in the standings entering tonight's action.

The pitching matchups for the weekend (results updated throughout the weekend):

July 25: Yankees 1, @ Red Sox 0
WP= Chamberlain (3-3), LP= Beckett (9-7), SV= Rivera (26)


July 26: Yankees 10, @ Red Sox 3
WP=Pettite (12-7), LP=Wakefield (6-8)


July 27: @ Red Sox 9, Yankees 2
WP=Lester (9-3), LP=Ponson (6-2)


After this series, the Sox will travel to New York for games August 26-28 and then Yankees will close out the regular season at Fenway, September 26-28.

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Plus, Patriots Training Camp opened on Thurdsay, in preparation for the 2008 season. Providing it doesn't rain, V, M and I, aong with my dad will be traveling to Foxboro on Sunday morning to check out the situation.

Hopefully it won't rain...

I'm going to see them tonight.... and have dinner at the Gator Pit, which is the barbeque/cookout area underneath some of the seats. All you can eat hot dogs, sausages, chicken wings, spare ribs, steak tips, salad, macaroni salad and corn on the cob, plus soda all for $25 and you get to see the game, too. What a deal!

I will tell you how the game went at some point with a nice, tidy update of this here post. Ciao!

The Lowell Spinners are the class A (short season) minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. There are actually four class A minor league teams in the Red Sox system, and Lowell is the second lowest level which means these are kids pretty much fresh out of college that likely won't have an impact in Boston for 3-5 years.

The Lowell Spinners (10-11) lost, 10-3 to the Jamestown (NY) Jammers (13-6), who were clearly the superior team tonight.

Still, it's good to get out to the ball park once in a while and have fun. And fun we had! We go to one Spinners game a year, with members of my mom's senior citizen program.

And towards the end of this month, V and M will get to experience their first live baseball game. More on that later.

Red Sox @ Yankees for the holiday

The Sox and Yankees haven't played since April and meet this holiday weekend for four games at the Stadium in New York. This is the first time since 1997 that a Sox Yankees series hasn't featured one of the two teams in first place. The Sox are in 2^nd place by 3 1/2 games and the Yankees are in 3^rd place, 8 games behind the surprising Tampa Bay Rays.

The Red Sox hold a 3-2 series edge so far in the season series entering tonight's game. As always, I'll update the post throughout the weekend

The pitching matchups:

July 3: Red Sox 7, @ Yankees 0
WP= Lester (7-3), LP= Pettite (9-6)

July 4: Red Sox 6, @ Yankees 4
WP=Beckett (8-5), LP=Rasner (4-7), SV=Papelbon (25)

July 5: @ Yankees 2, Red Sox 1
WP=Mussina (10-6), LP=Masterson (4-3), SV=Rivera (23)

July 6: @ Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 (10)
WP=Rivera (3-3), LP=Papelbon (3-3)

These two archrivals will play three more at Fenway, July 25-27.

grad-yee-way-shun and a no-no

Yesterday my youngest sister graduated from college... again. This time with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Everyone say "Oooooooh! Aaaaaaah!

Actually I'm very proud of her accomplishments. Congrats, C. All the best to you.

I have to say though that as I was listening to all the speeches and associated graduation crapola that goes along with it, I couldn't help but chuckle at the idealism, hopefulness and anticipation of going out into the "real" world that I heard laced in every speech.

Sure, some in her graduating class might make it big or make a noticeable impact on society, but more than likely most of her graduating class will struggle to make ends meet and suffer through interminable job after interminable job, like most of us inevitably do.

Gee, do you think I'm a wee bit jaded, or what??

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Unlike last time, I didn't miss this one. (hello, Esther!)

Well, at least I saw the last three innings of Jon Lester's no-hitter tonight against the Kansas City Royals.

Because I'm a sports geek, one thing that I love is all of the neat statistics that ESPN and other media outlets dig up when someone pitches a no-no, like:

The Red Sox, as a team, have thrown 18 no-hitters in their history, second only to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Red Sox are tied with the Yankees and Marlins for the most no-hitters since 1993 with four.

Lester's no-hitter was his first complete game in his major league career. He's 24.

Lester is the first Red Sox lefty to throw a no-hitter since Mel Parnell did it on July 14, 1956.

Jon Lester's no-hitter was the first no-hitter in the majors since teammate Clay Buchholz threw one last season. The last team to have two straight no-hitters was the Angels in 1974 and 1975, when Nolan Ryan threw both.

The Royals were no-hit for only the second time in franchise history. The first time was in 1973 by the Angels' Ryan.

It was only the second time that there has been a no-hitter in consecutive seasons at Fenway Park (1916-1917).

Red Sox Catcher Jason Varitek set a major league record, catching his fourth career no-hitter with four different pitchers (Hideo Nomo in 2001, Derek Lowe in 2002, Clay Buchholz in 2007 and Lester).

A Rivalry Renewed in 2008

The Yankees make their first appearance at Fenway Park this weekend. It's the first three of 18 games this season. The Red Sox will play a quick two games at Yankee Stadium next week. Both teams enter the series with 5-5 records.

As I did last year, I'll update this post with the results of each game.

April 11: New York 4, @ Boston 1
WP= Wang (3-0), LP= Timlin (0-1)
Wang hurls 2 hitter in series opener.

April 12: @ Boston 4, New York 3
WP= Beckett (1-1), LP= Mussina (1-2), SV= Papelbon (4)
Manny's 3 RBI pace Sox.

April 13: @ Boston 8, New York 5
WP= Matsuzaka (3-0), LP= Hughes (0-2)
Matsuzaka escapes with win, offense & bullpen bail out Sox.

Green's 2008 Baseball Predictions

Even though the Red Sox have already played two games in Japan that count in the standings for this season, the rest of Major League Baseball got underway last night with one game and today with a full set of games in both leagues.

You know I like to tell y'all what I think, even if y'all don't care as much as I do. Everyone's got an opinion so I thought I'd give you my predictions for this new, wonderful baseball season!! With a full 162 game schedule for each team between now and October, anything can happen and it usually does. One thing I know for sure is that I'm going to enjoy the ride.

American League

East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. *Cleveland Indians
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

West
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Texas Rangers

National League

East
1. New York Mets
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Washington Nationals
5. Florida Marlins

Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Houston Astros
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. St. Louis Cardinals

West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. *-San Diego Padres
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. San Francisco Giants
5. Colorado Rockies

*= Wild Card teams

WILD CARD PLAYOFFS (best of five)

AL- Boston over Cleveland
AL- Detroit over Los Angeles
NL- Chicago over San Diego
NL- Los Angeles over New York

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (best of seven)

AL- Boston over Detroit
NL- Chicago over Los Angeles

WORLD SERIES (best of seven)

Boston over Chicago

Since I was in college, the Chicago Cubs have consistently been one of my favorite National League teams. Lou Piniella is an outstanding manager who has won a World Series (1990 Cincinnati Reds) and the Cubs look to have a very good team this year. Plus, they are the sentimental favorites, since their last World Series championship was in 1908. Yes, 1908. 100 years ago. And you thought the pre 2004 Red Sox and pre 2005 White Sox were pathetic. C'mon admit it, you did. Yes. You. Did.

I may be a bit of a homer when it comes to predicting for or against my Red Sox, but the defending World Series Champions are essentially returning with the same team as the one they won with last year, which rarely happens in this day and age of professional sports, so how can I not pick them to repeat?

World Series Champs

Someday, as a Boston sports fan, I'll look back on these days with pride and amazement. Pride in the fact that I'm a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan (since 1975) and amazed that this team won its second World Series (sweeps no less) in four seasons.

We're talking uncharted water here, folks. Even the powerhouse Red Sox in the 1910's (four World Series titles, no defeats in the decade) never accomplished this. Jayson Stark of espn.com agrees, pointing out some very interesting statistics along the way.

But for me and many Red Sox fans, winning this World Series had a much different feel to it than the win in 2004. In '04, the Red Sox had to conquer the mountain (86 years and four heartbreaking seven game world Series defeats between titles) which included coming back from a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the ALCS before steamrolling St. Louis. That World Series was all about redemption and the "Aren't World Series supposed to be painful experiences?" mantra of fans for more than a generation. This World Series was simply fun from the get-go. No pressure, no problem.

But, if you haven't lived and died with the Red Sox over the years, you probably wouldn't understand the difference in the two championships.

You'll note that I apparently gave the Rockies too much credit in my World Series prediction. My bad. Even I didn't expect the Sox to sweep the Rockies.

As game 7 last night was winding down I predicted, at least 15 minutes before the award was given out, who the World Series MVP would be on a team full of worthy candidates... Esther can back me up on this too, as she and I were talking on YM when the game finally ended around 12:15 AM.

And here's a stat I never thought I'd be able to legitimately write: In the 21st century so far, the Yankees are 0-2 in the World Series (losing in 2001 and 2003) and the Red Sox are 2-0 in the World Series (winning in 2004 and 2007).

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If that weren't a glorious ending to the sports landscape here in New England this weekend, we sure had a heck of a beginning. #2 Boston College did nothing in the first 56 minutes against Virginia Tech last Thursday, yet won the game, 14-10 in the last four minutes with two touchdown passes by QB Matt Ryan (being dubbed "Matty Heisman" recently around here, as one of the leading candidates to win that award this season).

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Exhibit C is the Patriots weekly dismantling of their opponent. This week's victim was the Washington Redskins lost 52-7. If ever there was a garbage-time touchdown in football, the score by the Redskins was it. Every week I say, "Can it get much better for the Pats?" and apparently it does. The Patriots have scored 331 points in 8 games and 204 more points than their opponents. Only two other NFL teams (Dallas, Indianapolis) so far have scored over 204 points for the whole season. The New York football Giants just miss out with 200 points scored.

There are only two unbeaten NFL teams left through eight weeks (Patriots, Colts). Those two teams will meet on Sunday in Indianapolis. The winner will, in all likelihood, have home field advantage for the playoffs. Right now, Indianapolis has the upper hand. They are the defending Super Bowl champs and have beaten the Patriots three straight times, including the epic AFC title game last January, 38-34. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. If you like American football, it doesn't get any better than this. The game will be nationally televised this Sunday on CBS @ 16:15. Tune in to see a great game.