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 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.

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.

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)

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.

Sox and Yanks, briefly

The Red Sox make their first trip to Yankee Stadium tonight to begin a brief, two game series with the Evil Empire. The Red Sox won 2 of 3 last weekend at Fenway.

I'll update the post after each game.

April 16- @ New York 15, Boston 9
WP= Hawkins (1-0), LP= Tavarez (0-1), SV= Bruney (1)
Yankees score most runs v. Red Sox @ Yankee Stadium in 54 years.

April 17- Boston 7, @ New York 5
WP= Beckett (2-1), LP= Mussina (1-3)
Ramirez hits homers 494 & 495 in Sox win.

The Red Sox now lead the seaon series 3-2. The next time these arch-rivals meet is July 3-6 back here at the House That Ruth Built.

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.

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.

No Pressure (Boston) v. Pressure (New York)

Clearly that depends on which side you're on in one of baseball's best rivalries.

In this case, I'm talking about the Boston Red Sox resuming their season series with the New York Yankees for the next three days at Yankee Stadium in da Bronx, beginning tonight.

Eight days ago, the Yankees had cut the Red Sox lead in the AL East down to just four games. Now the deficit is back at eight games after the Red Sox record setting demolition of the White Sox in Chicago and the Yankees demolition at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, culminating in a 16-0 loss last night at Comerica Park.

Clearly, if the Yankees want any hope of winning the AL East in 2007 and even staying within a manageable deficit in the hunt for the American League Wild Card, they must sweep this series, or at worst, win two out of three.

At best, the Yankees will end this series five games behind and at worst their deficit could be back to eleven games. Clearly, momentum and offensive production trends currently favor Boston. However, when these two teams meet, anything can happen. And it usually does.

The Red Sox currently lead the season series, 7-5, with the final three games to be played at Fenway Park, September 14-16.

Per my regular format throughout the season, this post will be updated after the completion of each game.

Pitching match-ups:

Aug. 28: Ex Red Sox hero Damon lifts Yankees: @ Yankees 5, Red Sox 3
Yankees deficit: 7 games.
WP=Pettite (12-7), LP=Matsuzaka (13-11), SV=Rivera (21)

Aug. 29: Ex Red Sox hero Clemens lifts Yankees: @ Yankees 4, Red Sox 3
Yankees deficit: 6 games.
WP=Clemens (6-5), LP=Beckett (16-6), SV=Rivera (22)

Aug. 30: Wang blanks Red Sox:
@ Yankees 5, Red Sox 0
Yankees deficit: 5 games.
WP=Wang (16-6), LP=Schilling (8-6)

Yankees @ Red Sox

The Yankees once again invade Fenway for the weekend, starting tonight. After this weekend, the Sox and Yankees don't meet again until the last week in August.

The Red Sox lead the season series 6-3 and are 13 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, which is truly amazing to me.

Here are the pitching matchups for the series, with links added for game summaries upon completion of each game.

June 1: New York 9, @ Red Sox 5
Wang (3-4) v. Wakefield (5-5) [WP=Wang (4-4), LP=Wakefield (5-6)]

Ok, here's what's wrong with the Yankees - their starter, Wang, gave up three runs early but since had settled down and he had a six run lead - yet they took him out after 5 2/3 innings and went to an already over-used bullpen. I don't get it. Fortunately for the Yankees, the Red Sox starter had no command or control over his knuckleball.

June 2: @ Red Sox 11, New York 6
Mussina (2-3) v. Schilling (5-2) [WP=Okajima (1-0), LP=Proctor (0-3)]

June 3: New York 6, @ Red Sox 5
Pettite (3-4) v. Beckett (8-0) [WP=Bruney (2-1), LP=Papelbon (0-1)]

Red Sox @ Yankees

Entering this three game series in New York, the Red Sox lead the season series 5-1 and are 10 1/2 games up on the Yankees in the AL East standings. This series represents games 7-9 in the eighteen game season series, with games 10-12 to be played June 1-3 in Boston.

Here are the pitching matchups for the series, with links added for game summaries upon completion of each game.

May 21: @ Yankees 6, Boston 2 [WP=Wang (3-3), LP=Wakefield (4-5)]
Wakefield vs. Wang

May 22: Boston 7, @ New York 3 [WP=Tavarez (3-4), LP=Mussina (2-3)]
Tavarez v. Mussina

May 23: @ Yankees 8, Boston 3 [WP=Pettite (3-3), LP=Schilling (4-2)]
Schilling v. Pettite

On Roger and the Yankees

When Roger Clemens made the announcement today that he signed with the Yankees for 2007, I was not really surprised. I suspected it would happen during the offseason when one of Roger's best friends, Andy Pettite, signed back with New York after three seasons in Houston.

Am I upset that Clemens decided to sign with New York over my Red Sox?

Not really. I've always been a Clemens fan from his early years with the Red Sox and I always will be. I'm a Clemens fan because of the way he played while he was here and never making excuses. I met Clemems once at a baseball card show in the early 90's. He autographed two cards for me that are still valued parts of my Red Sox collection.

I'd be dishonest if I told you that I wished he'd decided to play for Boston (or even Houston) instead of going back to New York. But it is what it is.

Will Clemens help the Yankees win this season? The jury is still out on that but he will make that team much better and will make the remaining games with the Red Sox far more interesting. He'd better help them win, what with the rediculous salary and bonus perks he's getting.

Like I wrote last year when Johnny Damon chose to sign with the Yanks over re-signing with the Red Sox; I wish them well - just not when they play my team.

I remember when Dwight Evans, one of my favorite Sox players of all time, signed with the Orioles for his last season. That first game he played at Fenway in a foreign uniform, I was in the right field stands. When Dewey came out to play defense, we in the stands rightfully gave him a standing ovation and he tipped his cap in acknowledgement. Everything Dewey did that day drew cheers. He could have sneezed to thunderous applause if he'd wanted to.

One time when Carlton Fisk (another of my favorite former Red Sox players), then with the Chicago White Sox, came to Fenway I was in the stands to the left of home plate. It was around the time he was about to set the Major League home run record for catchers, and he hit a home run during the game. We in the stands cheered wildly for him because of what he'd done while playing for the Red Sox.