Red Sox ready for creaky Yankees
Posted: Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:00 PM
Starting Friday it will be the first weekend series of the season at Fenway Park and the Yankees visit for round one of what is the beginning of an essentially separate season played over 18 games between these two archrivals.
The Yankees and Red Sox play the rest of the American League (including the Blue Jays who harbor hopes of challenging both teams for superiority in the AL East). Plus both New York and Boston go against NL teams in interleague play. But for the Bronx Bombers and the BoSox the season that matters is the one that takes place inside their intense rivalry -- battles waged to win the war between the two premier franchises of this decade.
Boston is home from its international barnstorming tour that began in Japan and ended in Canada. Tuesday’s Opening Day in Beantown saw a cascade of emotions as Bill Buckner returned to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to a standing ovation and the Red Sox took delivery of their much-anticipated World Series rings that exceed two carats. The Red Sox are mostly happy, fairly healthy and well steeled to defend their title.
Not so for the Yankees. Their big offseason decisions were to retain their own young and promising arms and pass on the golden left wing of Johan Santana. Yes, the organization has made a commitment to young pitching, but obscured by that focus has been the age of the Yankees lineup.
So just over a week into the 162-game schedule what have the Yankees seen?
They’ve seen that veteran catcher Jorge Posada can’t throw out base runners due to a strained shoulder that has put him on the bench but not the DL – and least not yet.
They’ve also seen that first-baseman Jason Giambi hasn’t hit and can’t run and that veteran shortstop Derek Jeter has a bum leg, more specifically a strained left quadriceps. It’s the Yankees’ hope that Jeter heals – and fast. They are also aware that reserve Wilson Betemit is playing more than he should and they’re holding their collective breath on the health of 34-year-old Johnny Damon and soon-to-be 34-year-old Hideki Matsui.
The Yankees have played from behind the last few years and survived to make the playoffs, but slow starts were a concern in the final years of Joe Torre’s long run as manager and a slow start this spring would certainly bring an intense focus on Joe Girardi, who is in his first season as Torre’s successor. To the dismay of the organization that George built, health throws a roadblock in the Yankees’ best plans.
One older Yankee who creates no concern is closer Mariano Rivera. And Rivera’s seemingly untouchable setup man Joba Chamberlain is the reason. Accumulated wisdom teaches us to avoid never saying “never” to anything, but what the heck, how can Chamberlain ever go from the bullpen into the rotation – a plan spoken of by the Yankees this spring and one under consideration to occur as early as midseason?
Chamberlain is thoroughly dominant in the setup role. Rivera’s world is as stress-free as a 38-year-old closer can experience. He gets clean one-inning save opportunities through the efficiency of Chamberlain. The bottom line is the Yankees have options in the rotation, but they have NO ONE who can remotely duplicate Chamberlain as a setup man.
This year the tussle between these two AL East powers could be determined by starting pitching. Boston looks to have the early advantage, even with Josh Beckett’s back issues. As far as contributions from youth, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester appear to have an early edge on the Yankees’ tandem of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield provide a solid base until Beckett regains form. Meanwhile, the Yankees search for that same stability behind Chien-Ming Wang. Mike Mussina’s second start was much better than his first but was it a mirage? Andy Pettitte’s inner strength will be tested as he tries to pitch through his unsettled winter.
Much of the country recoils at the Northeast Corridor and the incessant national television fawning over the Yankees and Red Sox. But a lot of eyeballs will be fixed on the series at Fenway Park this weekend. People still want to see the best and that will be on display in a three-game set that makes for anything but just another April weekend.
FIVE MORE SWINGS
1. An addendum on who is baseball’s most indispensable player. It took just one week for Johan Santana to claim the crown. Just look at the NL East and the ancient Mets’ injury woes. Without Santana, the Mets would be a lock for third in the division. With him, they may be the team to beat.
2. On Tuesday night Milwaukee employed the strategy of batting the pitcher eighth. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has long claimed to see merit in this move. It’s worth watching box scores more carefully to see if any other managers follow suit.
3. Closers again: The Angels burst Cleveland’s stride Monday night when Torii Hunter homered off the Indians setup man (Rafael Betancourt) and closer (Joe Borowski). The next night Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez was unavailable (bad ankles) and a ninth-inning home run by Cleveland’s Travis Hafner exacted revenge. So much for momentum.
4. Best young arm seen so far this season: Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto, who made his second start Tuesday night, working 6.1 innings, striking out eight and not allowing a walk. In his first start, he struck out 10 and walked no one.
5. More injury absurdity: After one week of play, Oakland has two starting pitchers sidelined: Justin Duchscherer and Rich Harden. No surprise, however, with the fragile Harden.
