Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It's one thing to beat up on the weak links of Major League Baseball, but it's another to elevate your game against the cream of the crop.
You'd be stupid to not take notice of what the Red Sox are and have been doing to the archrival Yankees -- 7 straight wins against the Bronx Bombers.
Now that's impressive.
While the Yankees have beaten up on the lesser teams (Orioles, Indians), they can't get it done versus playoff-caliber teams.
The Red Sox are just owning their rivals. Didn't it used to be the other way around? Not any more, obviously. During this head-shaking 7-0 record vs. the Yanks this season, Boston has scored 51 runs to only 28 for the Yanks, while outhitting them, .295 to .269.
The numbers don't lie. Granted, A-Rod or A-Fraud or A-Roid or A-Hole --whatever you want to call him -- was out of the lineup with his injury for the first five so the Yanks' lineup wasn't as powerful, but that's no excuse because the Sox are proving they can beat New York with A-Hole (0 for 7 in first 2 games in this series vs. Sox) hitting in the cleanup spot.
It almost seems like the Red Sox hitters know what pitch is coming next, well, it's not hard when facing Chien-Ming Wang, who can't get Little League hitters out right now. Let's see, putting youngster Phil Hughes in the bullpen for Wang? Yes, another great move by manager Joe Girardi. I still say Don Mattingly should be the manager of this team.
But anyway, credit the Red Sox scouting staff for knowing how to hit, position defensively and attack the New York Yankees hitters with their hurlers. Many factors go into owning your opponent, but scouting has to be a big part of this.
But maybe the biggest thing right now is confidence. The Red Sox BELIEVE they can win every time they play the Yanks -- home or away -- and it doesn't seem like the Yankees are confident at all. I guess when you get lackluster pitching performances like A.J. Burnett and Wang in this series, then you don't have much a shot, do you?
The Yankees are down to their final hope of beating the Red Sox -- CC Sabathia. If he can't beat the Red Sox and starting pitcher Brad Penny tonight, then this Red Sox streak could get a lot uglier before it gets better for New York.
Can the Yankees finally take a stand, or will the Red Sox continue to pound on their rivals?
It's no contest right now!
Good article Chad. Right on point. The worst mistake the Yanks have made was Joe Girardi. Don Mattingly has done a great job as the hitting coach for the Dodgers. I wouldn't be surprised if he takes over for Torre in LA, when Torre's deal is done
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