YANKEES / RED SOX

[sammyk]

Ahh yes, time to watch the ensuing drama unfold!

[mullet_mel]

Yankees in 6! GO BERNIE!

[Don]

NJay:

[A] It took less than a minute to go to the search engine and type "NJay" and "Yankees". I knew I would find some pretty easy because I know I had seen some pretty loser a$$hole comments in your posts.

So, because you are a Yankees fan, you can post loser a$$hole comments. You have earned that right by choosing the team that won the vast majority of their championships before you were born. Congratulations. Wow. That's quite an accomplishment. I suppose I could have picked the Montreal Canadiens to be my hockey team and I could stomp around saying that the Devils need 20 odd more championships to catch up.

[C] I just thought this was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I didn't want to call a spade a spade without having the backup reference to cite. Seems to have hit a nerve. It's just fine for YOU to post cocky a$$hole comments, but nobody else. Got it.

[D] I was havin' a drink, watching a football game and surfin' the net. I'm guessing that you were out knocking on doors, collecting food for orphans.

Edited October 10, 2004 by Don

[Chris]

I bet 2/3 of those comments of mine were caused by a Red Sox fan saying a cocky thing that ticked me off.  Plus as a Yankee fan, I can be alittle cocky, because my team always beats the Red Sox in the postseason.

Your team has beaten the Red Sox in the postseason TWICE in the history of the two franchises--1999 and 2003. The team you root for may have more championships than any other team in sports, but it also has a four-year championship drought inundated with choke jobs that nearly rival the Red Sox' past ones.

The team I root for has more championships than any other team in all of sports.  Being a fan of a team that dominates until they play in big games doesn't really qualify you to be cocky.  Qualifies as being a fan of a 86 year old choking team, but doesn't qualify you to be cocky.

Oh, my, what entertainment. You don't consider sweeping the Angels, the second best team in the AL, the hottest team in September and the team that gets more offense from their three, four and five hitters than the Minnesota Twins get from their entire lineup "dominating" in big games? That's not surprising, considering that Yankees fans seem to actually enjoy fooling themselves into believing in curses, automatic wins brought on by history and domination until they reach the pinnacle of the baseball season: the World Series.

What will you use as your excuse if the Red Sox finally do put the rabid New York chihuahua to sleep? Will you be calling for Steinbrenner to open his wallet a bit more, to mortgage away his family's future, to force the Red Sox into an even more ridiculous free agent war? These two teams are already embarrassing the sports world with their free spending, and I'm sure you'd love to see it to expand.

Edited October 10, 2004 by Chris

[RowdyFan42]

I mean until the Red Sox start winning something like the ALCS or the World Series, cool it down with those confident/a$$hole comments.

Because really, how dare those lousy Red Sox fans show any sort of confidence at all?

That's kinda funny. NJay gets all pissed off when Devils fans DON'T talk confident and cocky, even when the odds are against us.

Never did I say for Devils fans to get cocky. Good try though.

No, but you tend to go off on people who aren't 100% confident going into big games, whether they be in the regular season or the playoffs. You are so confident that the Devils will win that it comes off as cockiness at times, and you expect everyone else to share in your confidence.

I bet 2/3 of those comments of mine were caused by a Red Sox fan saying a cocky thing that ticked me off.

A Red Sox fan saying "hello" ticks you off.

This is the best chance the Sox have had in years. They're better than they were last year, and the Yanks are arguably worse than they were last year. The Red Sox have no choice but to go to the World Series this year. One thing that even a Boston fan has to admit is that the Yankees step it up and get it done when it counts. The Sox have shown their fair share of that so far.

Prediction: Sox in 6.

[insanity_gallops]

"...rabid New York chihuahua"?

[Derek21]

Here's a preview of this series. Hope you all enjoy it no matter which side you root for .

"The Rivalry Continues"

Part II: Yankees vs Red Sox set for ALCS rematch

by Derek Felix

When fans discuss what sports rivalries are all about, none are more intense than Yankees-Red Sox. Two bitter baseball rivals for the last 85 years since the Yanks purchased Babe Ruth from Boston after the 1918 season, it has been all Yankees. They have won 26 World Series' championships and 39 pennants. Meanwhile, since their last World Series victory in 1918 over the Cubs with "The Babe" on their side, the Sox have only won four pennants since and no championships. Quite a contrast between the two storied franchises.

They have come close in some years. Most notably 1967 against the Cardinals, 1975 against the Reds and in 1986 versus the Mets. All three series were lost in a deciding seventh game.

But if you're a Boston fan, the one that hurts the most has to be the way they lost to the Mets.

Against the Mets, the Sox were one strike away from winning the championship in Game Six when things fell apart. For all the discussion of Bill Buckner, the unlucky first baseman who let a Mookie Wilson grounder bounce between his legs for the Mets' winning run, nobody mentions that the Boston bullpen faltered. It was Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley that cost them certain victory that night. With Wilson at the plate, Stanley had already tossed a wild pitch that tied that game sending Mets fans into bedlam. And for all the talk of that being the defining moment, let's not forget that in Game Seven, the Sox were ahead 3-0 behind Bruce Hurst heading to the last of the sixth when he tired. The Mets came all the way back to take the series.

While those shortcomings are packed deep in New Englander's minds, no team inflicts more pain than the archrival Yankees. Just to put things in perspective, the great Ted Williams only led the Red Sox to one World Series in his illustrious career. They lost in seven games to the Cardinals back in 1946. Too many of those seasons, Williams' Sox were overshadowed by Joe DiMaggio's Yanks. Even in '41 when Williams hit over .400 finishing at .406, he still lost the American League M.V.P. to DiMaggio with Joe's major league record 56-game hitting streak being the major story that year. Such was the luck for Teddy Ballgame. Williams also missed three seasons as did DiMaggio due to World War II service from 1943-45.

In 1978, the Sox had an insurmountable 14 game lead on July 18th over the Yankees for the A.L. East crown. But however, with Billy Martin replaced by Bob Lemon, it sparked the Yanks all the way back. They even swept a four-game series up in Boston by outscoring them by a ridiculous 39-4 margin to tie for first in September. This would become known as The Boston Massacre. Not too long after that, the Yankees took the lead in the division.

But the Sox didn't go quietly. In the final weekend of the season, they rallied to tie the Yanks for the pennant and force a one-game playoff at the friendly confines of Fenway Park.

With ex-Yankee Mike Torrez shutting down New York and Boston ahead 2-0 in the seventh, the Yanks mounted a rally. And it would come from an unlikely source in the form of light hitting shortstop Bucky Dent. With two men aboard, Dent hit a towering line drive to left that cleared the Green Monster. And just like that, the Yanks were ahead 3-2. They would tack on two more runs including a Reggie Jackson solo homer to make it 5-2. But the Sox wouldn't die. With Yanks' closer Goose Gossage on in the eighth, Boston cut the deficit to 5-4 heading to the ninth. The Sox started the ninth by getting a leadoff single. And then, a defining moment happened. With Jerry Remy at the plate, he hit a sharp line drive to a sunny right field. A confused Lou Piniella couldn't see the ball. But he pretended he was going to catch it and duped the Sox baserunner long enough to keep him from advancing to third. The play wound up saving the Yankees. After the runner went to third on the second out, Gossage would popup Sox slugger Carl Yastremski to clinch the pennant.

With the Yanks struggling to mostly second and third place finishes during the '80s, the rivalry wasn't as heated. How could it be when both teams almost never duked it out for a division title? Other than which hitter was better between the Yankees' Don Mattingly and Boston's Wade Boggs, there wasn't much for fans to debate over.

After losing the World Series to the Dodgers in '81, it took the Yanks 14 years to make it back to the postseason. On the flipside, after the Sox lost the World Series to the Mets in '86, they won the A.L. East title in '88 and '90 before bowing out to Oakland both times. Ironically, they also made the postseason in '95 by taking the division while the Yanks got the first ever wild card. However, both teams lost in the division series with the Sox falling to Cleveland and the Yanks downed by Seattle in a five-game classic.

In '98 and '99, the Yanks won the division while Boston took the wildcard. The Yanks would win their 24th World Series title in '98 over San Diego in a sweep. The Sox once again lost in the division series to the Indians. In '99, however, both teams would meet for the first time ever in an ALCS. The Sox were led by Nomar Garciaparra, Mo Vaughn and Pedro Martinez. The Yankees by Derek Jeter, Paul O' Neill and Mariano Rivera. But the Yanks were just too strong for Boston in this series taking it in five clinching another pennant on the Sox' homefield. The Bronx Bombers would go on to win their 25th World Series sweeping the Braves. They would add a third consecutive World Series in 2000 over the Mets in five games for championship number 26. No other major league ballclub comes close.

It would take four years for the teams to meet up again in another ALCS. But this time, the teams were better matched in 2003. The Sox took Game One boosted by strong pitching from knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. But the Yanks would bounceback in Game Two with a solid outing from Andy Pettite. In a pivotal Game Three before a raucous Fenway crowd, a classic match-up unfolded between ex-Red Sox ace Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez. However, both starters struggled early on. And the intensity picked up to a feverish pitch when the Yanks got some early runs against Pedro. Martinez would drill Yankee right fielder Karim Garcia right in the back. Something that infuriated Garcia and his teammates. Both benches cleared when Pedro made a gesture pointing to his head at catcher Jorge Posada. What happened next was one of the scariest and ugliest scenes a ballfield ever saw. Yankee assistant Don Zimmer, a 72-year-old man charged the field at Pedro. Martinez ducked his punch and pushed Zimmer to the ground. Luckily, Zimmer was okay.

The game became equally as heated when Clemens threw a high pitch around the middle of the plate. But Sox slugger Manny Ramirez reacted like Clemens was throwing at him. Clearly this wasn't the case. Once everything settled down, so did the hurlers after both were allowed to stay in the game. And the classic pitcher's duel everyone anticipated was on. However, Clemens would ultimately get the victory when Mariano Rivera closed it out. The Sox would not go quietly though sparked by the pitching of Tim Wakefield taking Game Four to even the best-of-seven series. But in Game Five, veteran lefty David Wells shutdown Boston and the Yanks would prevail taking a commanding one-game lead back to Yankee Stadium. With two chances to clinch, there was no way they could blow it, right?

Not so fast said the Sox. Late in Game Six, trailing the Yanks by a couple of runs in the seventh, Boston rallied to take the lead. They forced the final game of the series. What could be better? The ultimate win-or-go-home scenario between the two rival franchises. With the rematch between Clemens and Martinez set, it looked like it would be a pitcher's duel. However, that didn't transpire. With Clemens not sharp, the Sox took advantage and jumped out to a 4-0 lead. A key moment took place with the Sox having those four runs in early on. With the Sox having a great chance to increase their lead with the bases loaded and no out, Yankee manager Joe Torre decided to go to the bullpen. An unlikely candidate came out to pitch in this crucial situation. Starter Mike Mussina had all the pressure on his shoulders. But in a remarkable performance, he recorded a strikeout and got a 1-2-3 double play to get out of further trouble. This kept the Yanks alive.

But against a dominant Pedro, it looked like the Sox would win and finally beat the Yankees when it mattered. However, slugger Jason Giambi would club two solo homers to cut the deficit to 4-2 after seven innings. When Sox first baseman David Ortiz connected in the top of the eighth for a solo shot of his own to make it 5-2, the game seemed over. But this was the Red Sox vs the Yankees. Where anything could happen. And just when you thought you had seen everything in this classic rivalry, what was about to come next still was unbelievable.

With Martinez recording the first two outs of the eighth inning, it looked like the Yanks would go quietly. But then, they rallied to tie the game in unlikely fashion. With Martinez getting two strikes on every hitter, he couldn't put anyone away. A hard-hit Derek Jeter double started it. Then Bernie Williams hit a soft single to score a run. Then Hideki Matsui followed with a seeing-eye double that bounced just inside the right field line to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with Jorge Posada at the plate. Martinez had owned Posada for most of his career and earlier in the game, blew him away. But with Posada in a two-strike hole, he kept fouling off pitches. And finally, he would bloop a soft single that landed just in front of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez to miraculously tie the game at five. The Yanks had come all the way back!

After all that, manager Grady Little finally went to his bullpen and took out a devastated Pedro. The question many observers had was why didn't Little pull his tiring starter earlier. At this point, the damage was already done.

The Yanks went to Mariano Rivera to pitch the ninth, 10th and 11th innings. Rivera, one of October's most dominant closers was asked to keep the ballgame tied. However, in the 10th, Rivera got himself into a hairy situation. When Boston put runners on 2nd and third with no out, the end seemed near. But as Rivera has done throughout his career, he pitched out of it getting a key strikeout and popup much to the delight of the home crowd.

With their bullpen cooked, the Sox finally turned to Tim Wakefield to start the 11th of this fall classic. Wakefield had been dominant in the series winning two ballgames with the Yanks hardly touching his knuckleball. However, as fate would have it, another unlikely source would be the hero for New York. Joe Torre sent up Aaron Boone to pinch-hit to begin the inning. On the first pitch he saw, Boone crushed a Wakefield knuckleball into the left field seats to send the Yanks to their major league record 39th World Series. A frantic celebration took place on the field as the Yankees mobbed Boone at the plate. Just another defining moment between the two teams.

While the Yankees would fall short in their bid to win their 27th fall classic, losing to the Marlins in six, nobody will forget that ALCS against the the Red Sox.

Now, a year later, with new faces added to the mix, both teams are set to face each other again in the ALCS. It promises to be intense. It promises to be exciting and it certainly should be great baseball. Get your nervous energy ready Yankee and Red Sox fans. You're going to need it!

Let's look at how these two ballclubs match-up:

Catchers: The Yanks go with the reliable Jorge Posada behind the plate. The switch-hitting Posada has experience and some pop in his bat. The last time these two teams met on the big stage, his clutch two-out single knocked Pedro Martinez out of Game 7. Posada has a strong arm that can throw out runners and calls a good game. John Flaherty is a steady backup. The Sox counter with their own switch-hitting power version in Jason Varitek. He is a line drive hitter with more power from the left side of the plate. He likes to setup late for strikeouts by moving around to throw off the batter. He is fairly similar to Posada in most aspects. Doug Mirabelli is similar to Flaherty.

Edge: Even

First Basemen: The Yanks will start John Olerud. A solid defensive player with an above average glove, Olerud's fielding could be important in this series. The veteran still has a good eye at the plate and likes to spray the ball to all fields when he's on. But he's not the threat he used to be. If he's struggling, the Yanks can call on switch-hitting Tony Clark to take his place in the lineup. Clark is also an excellent first baseman with great power. He's a classic boom or bust guy. He's gotten some big hits this season already. Don't be surprised if he gets more at-bats in this series. Boston will start slugging first baseman Kevin Millar. Millar, who struggled in the first half of the season, got hot during a three-game series against the Yanks back in July. In one game, he hit three homeruns. Since that point, he's been a dangerous hitter. He's a classic pull hitter with line drive power. He can go the other way if needed. Occasionally, Millar will chase balls up in the strikezone. In the field, he's done a decent job. But that's not what he's in for. Doug Mientkiewicz is the backup who usually spells Millar late in ballgames for defensive purposes. He is a superb first baseman with quick reflexes. At the plate, he's an average hitter.

Edge: Red Sox

Second Basemen: Miguel Cairo became the Yankees' regular at second base midway through the season. A winter signing that didn't get much attention, Cairo is a solid line drive hitter with a good eye who can work the count. If he gets on, he is a threat to steal. He's one of the few Yankees that can play small ball by laying down a perfect bunt. Also, a good fielder, Cairo has been solid. Enrique Wilson is the backup. He bats from both sides and has decent speed and also is excellent in the field. Mark Bellhorn will start for the Sox at second. He's a line drive switch hitter with decent power who looks to work the count in his favor. Bellhorn walks a lot and strikes out a ton. In the field, he's alright as long as he's at second. Pokey Reese is the backup. Reese is a superb fielder who has won Gold Gloves and sometimes will come into the game late for defense. He's a slap hitter at the plate and a fast runner.

Edge: Even

Third Basemen: In his first postseason with the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez has not disappointed. Arguably the M.V.P. of the division series against the Twins, A-rod came through big in Game Two with four hits including a HR and a game-tying double with the Yanks facing an 0-2 hole. Though he did cool off in Game Three and the early portion of Game Four, it was A-rod's 11th inning double and great baserunning that clinched the series for the Yanks. He also played spectacular defense at third making several outstanding pickups on tough hops and great throws. Enrique Wilson can back him up if needed. But unless A-rod gets seriously hurt, he's not coming out. Bill Mueller is an underrated ballplayer for the Red Sox. A smart switch-hitting line drive hitter who hits better from the left side, Mueller takes what pitchers give him. He uses all fields and can be especially dangerous in big spots. In the field, he is very solid at third base and usually makes excellent plays and has a strong arm. He also can play second but he's better off at the hot corner. Rookie Kevin Youkilis is the backup for Mueller. Youkilis is a good line drive hitter with great plate discipline for a young ballplayer and is okay defensively.

Edge: Yankees

Shortstops: Derek Jeter is one of the best players at his position. A remarkable ballplayer who does most things well, Jeter is the ultimate team player. He is the table setter for the Yankee offense. A more aggressive leadoff hitter than most, Jeter looks to get innings started quickly. He is a good line drive hitter with power to all fields and also has a good idea of the strikezone and can take pitches to draw walks when needed. Jeter can hit a homerun and he can also lay down a bunt and swipe a base. In the field, Jeter has been excellent this season. He possesses a strong arm and his range has been superb this year. He's great at turning the double play. There aren't many things he does to hurt his team. Jeter won't be coming out of any games anytime soon. Orlando Cabrera is the Red Sox' shortstop. A much superior defensive shortstop than Nomar Garciaparra, Cabrera has awesome range and has an accurate arm. His up the middle defense could be a difference for the Red Sox in this series compared to past series. At the plate, Cabrera is a solid line drive hitter with some pop in his bat. He likes to pull the ball most of the time and prefers the ball out over the plate. He also can run if needed. Like Jeter, Cabrera shouldn't be out of any games.

Edge: Yankees

Left Fielder: Hideki Matsui is a smart line drive hitter with solid power to all fields. He is a clutch player who can come through when the Yanks need it most. In the field, he's a bit of an adventure. At times, he can lose sight of balls. Other times, he can make good defensive plays and he is capable of throwing out baserunners trying for an extra base. Manny Ramirez is the most dangerous hitter in the American League. A legit M.V.P. candidate, Ramirez has great plate coverage and awesome discipline. He has power to all fields and has been a very good playoff performer for Boston. In the field, he's much like Matsui. At times, he can misjudge balls. In other instances, he can play caroms well and throw out runners.

Edge: Red Sox

Centerfielder: Bernie Williams is a reliable switch-hitting centerfielder with good power from both sides of the plate. He's been a staple for the Yankees for more than a decade. Williams is a good playoff hitter who can come through when the Yanks need it most. He looked pretty good against the Twins. In the field, he's not as fast as he used to be and can have problems with deep fly balls. He doesn't have a strong arm either. But he did have a good division series tossing out a runner at second. Johnny Damon might just be the Red Sox' best overall ballplayer. He plays an outstanding centerfield and covers a lot of ground. An excellent leadoff hitter, Damon has line drive power to right field and can use the opposite field well when needed. He also can work the count in his favor and get on-base. When on, he's a threat to steal at any time. He's the ultimate table setter for Boston.

Slight Edge: Red Sox

Rightfielder: Gary Sheffield has been a great professional hitter for the Yanks this year. Not only has he flourished in key situations at the plate but he's also played a solid rightfield. Despite his left shoulder killing him, he's been an ultimate warrior for New York. A devastating line drive hitter that loves to pull the ball out of the ballpark into the leftfield stands, Sheffield has great plate coverage and quick hands. He also has an excellent eye and can foul off pitches until he gets one he can do damage with. He also can steal a base occasionally but don't look for it. Trot Nixon has looked good for Boston. After missing some time earlier this season due to a bad back, Nixon hasn't been affected at the plate. He's a solid line-drive hitter with power to all fields. In many aspects, he is very underrated on this Sox ballclub. He can work counts, hit the ball well and fields his position like a linebacker. If Nixon needs to be spelled for a game, look for Gabe Kapler to play out there. Kapler is a great fielder with line drive power and speed.

Edge: Yankees

Designated Hitter: For the Yankees, the DH on most nights will be switch-hitter Ruben Sierra. At the age of 39, Sierra has become an elder statesman for this ballclub. Ironically, in his first stint as a Yankee, he had harsh words for Joe Torre when he was traded. But in his second stint that began last year, Sierra has a much better team first attitude and approach. He's never won a World Series before. Sierra is a dangerous power hitter from both sides of the plate who loves the ball down low and can drive pitches out like he did to tie up Game Four against the Twins. He will work the count more than he used to but still can chase pitches out of the strikezone. If Sierra is not DH-ing, look for Kenny Lofton to. Lofton is a slap hitter that uses all fields. He still has good speed and can beat out long grounders in the hole. He is still a threat to swipe a base when called upon and can bunt as well. For Boston, slugger David Ortiz will DH every game unless he gets hurt. He is a lethal pull hitter with huge power. Ortiz has a big uppercut swing and almost never gets cheated at the plate. He can hit the ball the opposite way if he has to. He can work the count and will take the walk if you give it to him. Against Anaheim, Ortiz clinched the series with an opposite field walkoff two-run homerun over the Green Monster. He is a very dangerous hitter.

Edge: Red Sox

Bench: The Yankees will most likely have Flaherty, Clark, Wilson and Lofton on the bench for this series. Look for reserve outfielder Bubba Crosby to also be included on the playoff roster for defensive purposes. He also has some speed. It's uncertain if Jason Giambi will be part of the roster. He wasn't included against Minnesota. Against a slugging team like Boston, Torre might see fit to include Giambi as insurance. He does still possess a great eye and can draw walks and is always a threat to hit a mistake out of the ballpark. The Red Sox should have Mirabelli, Mientkiewicz, Reese, Youkilis and Kapler on their bench. They also will have veteran outfielder Dave Roberts for pinchrunning purposes. Roberts has become a key player for them. He can distract relief pitchers and still steal bases at any moment. Will the Red Sox include veteran Ellis Burks?

Edge: Even

Starting Pitching: With the Yankees coming back to beat the Twins in Game Four, it enabled them to save Mike Mussina for Game 1 against the Red Sox. This could be vital for them to have a chance. Mussina is the clear-cut ace on this staff. Though he didn't have a great season, he finished it very strongly and pitched a superb opening game against Minnesota last Tuesday. The Yanks will need him to be equally as impressive in this series. Look for Jon Lieber to get the nod in Game 2. He's similar in style to Andy Pettite in that he won't blow you away and will give up hits. If his command is on, then he can give the Yankees a solid outing like he did in the division series. Plus Lieber tends to pitch better at Yankee Stadium. With Kevin Brown having a quality start Friday night against the Twins, look for him to pitch Game 3 at Fenway. Hopefully, he'll have more success than he did in his tune-up start back in late September. With him not pitching against the Twins and getting in better bullpen sessions, look for Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to be ready to start Game 4. If his arm is feeling good, he's a much better option at this point than the fragile Javier Vazquez. Although Vazquez didn't pitch a good game against the Twins, he didn't pitch that poorly either. He still has excellent control and should be included as an emergency starter who can also be moved to the bullpen. At this point, this might be the best way to use him.

For the Red Sox, their rotation should be setup nicely. They have veteran ace Curt Schilling to pitch Game 1. Schilling is one of the best starters in the game and has excellent postseason experience. He helped beat the Yankees with Arizona back in 2001. He's a workhorse who has great stuff. It will be his job to anchor the staff which is what Boston brought him in for. Pedro Martinez will start Game 2 before a raucous atmosphere at Yankee Stadium. It should be interesting to see how Martinez responds after calling the Yankees "his daddy" after a tough loss to them three weeks ago. Martinez is a gamer and has excellent command of his pitches as he proved in an effective Game 2 start against the Angels. Bronson Arroyo might be the most overlooked hurler on this staff. While he's not overpowering by any means, Arroyo has superb control and excellent breaking stuff and changeups. He can change speeds effectively and usually can provide the Red Sox with a quality start. He might be the x-factor in this series. It isn't known at this point if the Sox will use four starters in this series. But if they do, look for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to get the call. He had a lot of success against the Yankees last year and most of this year.

Edge: Red Sox

Bullpens: The Yanks will go to Paul Quantrill and Tanyon Sturtze in the middle innings to get the ball to Tom Gordon. While Quantrill had an awful finish to the regular season, the veteran right-hander looked more effective in the division series against the Twins. He still should get the ball in some spots. Sturtze has become the Yanks' secret weapon late in the season. He has become an alternative middle man if Quantrill is struggling. If needed, he can also mop up early in games for ineffective starters. He has developed a nice cut fastball and has a nasty changeup. Look for him to be a key pitcher in this series. It isn't known whether the Yanks will take Esteban Loiaza on this roster. However, he didn't hurt himself much in pitching a couple of key scoreless innings against the Twins holding them to five runs in Game Four. The Yanks will hope Felix Heredia can get lefties out in big spots. For whatever reason, despite his control problems, Joe Torre continues to show faith in him. With Tom Gordon setting up Mariano Rivera, that is an excellent 1-2 punch to finish games. Gordon has done a great job all season and can sometimes be called upon to pitch two innings. Although Rivera blew his third career postseason save in Game One against the Twins, it should be noted that he was rushed into that game and pitched much more effectively the rest of the series. The key with Rivera is location. If he's able to locate his cutter, he will be very tough to hit.

The Sox usually use Mike Timlin and Mike Myers in the middle innings to get the ball to closer Keith Foulke. Timlin is a hardthrowing righty who can pitch a couple of innings if needed. He pitched very well in last year's postseason. Against the Angels, he did cough up a four-run lead serving up a grand slam to Vlad Guerrero in Game Three. But in his other outings, he was solid. Myers has supplanted Alan Embree as the lefty specialist. He has a weird sidearm delivery and can be very tough for left-handed hitters to read. He made Garrett Anderson look badly striking him out in a key spot in Game Two. Embree will still be used in some instances to get outs. Scott Williamson wasn't used in the division series and is still coming back from an injury. If he is good enough to go, he's a huge bonus for the Sox because he has very good stuff and can setup well. Ramiro Mendoza also wasn't used against Anaheim. For most of the year when he was healthy, Mendoza pitched very well. He is a sinker ball pitcher that likes to keep the ball low. But he didn't have a strong finish to the season and the Yanks' hitters were a reason why. Derek Lowe struggled for most of the season as a starter. Due to that, he was sent to the bullpen for the Angel series. He did work one scoreless tenth inning to record the victory in Game Three. That's probably where Lowe will remain for the ALCS. Keith Foulke so far has been very reliable for the Red Sox in the postseason. He got out of some tough spots against the Angels in Game Three including a bases loaded situation when he struckout the final two batters. Foulke has a nasty offspeed pitch to go with a good fastball. It makes him tough to hit at times. If his command is good, he usually is very reliable.

Slight Edge: Yankees

Managers:The Yankees have one of the best in the game in veteran skipper Joe Torre. He will never hesitate to bring his closer into a big spot. He wants his starters to go six innings. If they can give him quality outings, then he'll turn it over to his bullpen. Torre has faith in his guys. He is good at getting the right match-ups with pinch hitters. He's won four World Series with the Yanks and done a masterful job adjusting to each ballclub's strength. The Red Sox counter with Terry Francona. Francona is a player's manager who believes in supporting his guys. He usually will ask his big pitchers to go seven innings before turning it over to the bullpen. He also is not afraid to use his closer in a tight spot. He also loves to substitute better defensive ballplayers and better baserunners late in games.

Edge: Yankees

Intangibles: Both these ballclubs are polar opposites in terms of personalities. The Yankees are a professional ballclub that takes games one at a time and tries to remain calm in pressure situations. The Red Sox are a loose bunch of guys that are ready to go and are revved up to play baseball. Both ballclubs take on the personalities of their managers. Both teams are great hitting ballclubs that are very resilient and can comeback late to pull games out. The Yanks have done that all year long with the Sox not far behind. Neither club will give up till the final out. As far as the pressure, both teams have immense pressure to perform well and prevail in this action packed highly anticipated ALCS rematch. The Yankees don't want to be the team that loses to the hated Red Sox. The Red Sox believe they match-up well and this is their best chance to beat their nemesis. They also have 85 years of pressure on their backs to win this series. A lot is riding on the line for both sides.

Edge: Even

Series Prediction: These two teams will fight to the very end. But Boston has an advantage with their starting pitching that they haven't had in the past. Both teams should bash the ball equally. Most of these games should be very close. But unless the Yankee starters pitch well, this might be the year the Red Sox finally overcome the Yankee hurdle. It should be a great series to watch.

Red Sox in 6

Projected Game One Lineups:

Boston Red Sox New York Yankees

1.Johnny Damon, CF 1.Derek Jeter, SS

2.Mark Bellhorn, 2B 2.Alex Rodriguez, 3B

3.Manny Ramirez, LF 3.Gary Sheffield, RF

4.David Ortiz, DH 4.Hideki Matsui, LF

5.Trot Nixon, RF 5.Bernie Williams, CF

6.Kevin Millar, 1B 6.Jorge Posada, C

7.Jason Varitek, C 7.Ruben Sierra, DH

8.Orlando Cabrera, SS 8.John Olerud, 1B

9.Bill Mueller, 2B 9.Miguel Cairo, 2B

SP- Curt Schilling SP- Mike Mussina

[sheeps]

Go do something with your life.  Pretty pathetic, eh?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Says the man with 7,770 posts...

NJay, your argument is based on the Yankees beating the Red Sox in the postseason which, as Chris has pointed out, has only happened TWICE. You can keep saying 86 years and yadda yadda but when it comes down to Yankees/Red Sox, TWICE. Acknowledge that.

And I must reiterate, I am not a Red Sox fan, I probably couldn't name five players on their team, I have not watched more than twenty seconds of any baseball game this entire season. I only want to see them win so Yankees fans have to stop citing the curse and the 86 years bullsh!t. That's it. If my wanting you to stop being cocky is cocky, then I just don't know about your interpretations...

[Derek21]

Sheeps, I think it's more than two series. Read my article on the history between the two teams. The Yanks beat out the Red Sox countless times when there wasn't another division and just a World Series. Why else do you think Ted Williams only got to one World Series?

I'm fed up of Sox fans like Chris making moronic statements about chokes. Are you kidding? 2001 was a choke? The Yanks cameback from the dead against Oakland and were down 2-0 against Arizona and pulled games out in their last at-bats to push that series to the brink. If that's a choke in your book, then what the hell is 1978 or 1986 or last year Chris?

And 2002 wasn't a choke job either. Anaheim was better and proved it by winning it all. Florida was better also and won in six games.

[Guest Devsrule]

River looks to be out because of two deaths in his family. Looks like Red Sox in four now.

[Chris]

Sheeps, I think it's more than two series. Read my article on the history between the two teams. The Yanks beat out the Red Sox countless times when there wasn't another division and just a World Series. Why else do you think Ted Williams only got to one World Series?

I'm fed up of Sox fans like Chris making moronic statements about chokes. Are you kidding? 2001 was a choke? The Yanks cameback from the dead against Oakland and were down 2-0 against Arizona and pulled games out in their last at-bats to push that series to the brink. If that's a choke in your book, then what the hell is 1978 or 1986 or last year Chris?

And 2002 wasn't a choke job either. Anaheim was better and proved it by winning it all. Florida was better also and won in six games.

Oh, so whenever the Yankees lose in the postseason, the other team is simply better? How, exactly, were these teams better? Are you willing to admit that your team has a horrible front office and consistently loses to teams with 25% of the payroll?

Hire Glen Sather!

[Derek21]

When it comes to the art of the choke, the Red Sox are in the dictionary. And save me your payroll garbage. Your team has the second highest payroll and you're using that against us.

Last time I checked, Yankees- 26 World Series, 39 Pennants and 44 postseasons

Red Sox- 4 World Series, 8 pennants and 15 postseasons

Hey Chris, everything is tilted in Boston's favor this time. On paper, they match-up well. I even picked them. So, if the Sox don't get it done, what's going to be your excuse?

[NJDevs4978]

Go do something with your life.

Edited October 11, 2004 by Hasan4978

[Chris]

When it comes to the art of the choke, the Red Sox are in the dictionary. And save me your payroll garbage. Your team has the second highest payroll and you're using that against us.

Did I say anything about the Red Sox' payroll? If you scroll up, you'll see that I bashed them for that as well. I said that the teams that have beaten you over the last four years have been teams with 25% of your payroll, and that you should be questioning your front office's approach.

Last time I checked, Yankees- 26 World Series, 39 Pennants and 44 postseasons

                              Red Sox- 4 World Series, 8 pennants and 15 postseasons

Do I care? Since 2000:

Red Sox: 0-1

Yankees: 0-3

Hey Chris, everything is tilted in Boston's favor this time. On paper, they match-up well. I even picked them. So, if the Sox don't get it done, what's going to be your excuse?

If they don't get it done this year, they're done. Period. But, if the Yankees don't get it done, you do realize that they're in the same kind of trouble, right? Holes can't be magically patched up, no matter how much money you have. A team is a team, and you can't replace that with a band of free agents.

When did I praise the Red Sox, by the way? I disagree with the way they've built their team and conducted themselves over the years. I can tell you right now that I would have done things very differently, but I can't deny the fact that this year's team looks very strong and that they are playing like a team. They look like the Yankees from the late 1990s. You obviously remember them well, since you rely on the memory of those teams to console yourself when these Yankees fail year after year.

Edited October 11, 2004 by Chris

[Derek21]

Did I say anything about the Red Sox' payroll? If you scroll up, you'll see that I bashed them for that as well. I said that the teams that have beaten you over the last four years have been teams with 25% of your payroll, and that you should be questioning your front office's approach.

I have openly questioned some of the things the Yanks have done. But at the same time, you have to remember that Steinbrenner has a lot of say in what goes on. So, it's not like we have much choice. If they want to give away prospects for an unproven N.L. pitcher and give him a ridiculous contract, you have to point to who runs the show. They also gave away Willie Mo Pena for Henson a few years back. I could also point out the stupid trade of Mike Lowell for garbage.  For the record, I hated the Boone deal last year. Still do. But he did hit that big homer. So, yeah. The Yanks have made their share of bad deals. But at the same time, they are trying to win and have had that opportunity every season since this playoff streak began back in '95.

Do I care? Since 2000:

Red Sox: 0-1

Yankees: 0-3

Hard to say. But you labeled the Yanks chokers. I can't compare some of their losses to some of Boston's. That would be a little extreme. And the fact that you cite that both teams are 0-for the World Series since 2001 (Yanks won in 2000) means that you're not thinking in terms of where you should. That would be in terms of the Red Sox. You say you don't care what the Yanks do but you still cite our record like it would be on par with a Red Sox championship. I would think Boston fans would go a lot crazier if their team won.

If they don't get it done this year, they're done. Period. But, if the Yankees don't get it done, you do realize that they're in the same kind of trouble, right? Holes can't be magically patched up, no matter how much money you have. A team is a team, and you can't replace that with a band of free agents.

Oh, absolutely. I know things eventually are going to end for the Yankees. Rivera and Williams are getting older. So are Jeter and Posada. And most of our rotation is old. And when the well runs dry, the Yanks will be screwed. I know winning the way they have comes with a price.

When did I praise the Red Sox, by the way? I disagree with the way they've built their team and conducted themselves over the years. I can tell you right now that I would have done things very differently, but I can't deny the fact that this year's team looks very strong that they are playing like a team. They look like the Yankees from the late 1990s. You obviously remember them well, since you rely on the memory of those teams to console yourself when these Yankees fail year after year.

So, let me get this straight. You disagree with signing Johnny Damon to play CF and be the most valuable Sox player overall? You disagree with signing Manny Ramirez, arguably the best hitter in the game and the guy who could kill the Yankees in the upcoming series? You disagree with picking up David Ortiz off waivers from the Twins after he became the Sox' new version of Mo Vaughn? And he's not making a lot of money. You disagree with trading a scrub reliever Heathcliff Slocumb to Seattle in exchange for Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe??? You disagree with ripping Arizona off by giving away overrated prospect Casey Fossum for Curt Schilling??? I could probably go on. But you get the point. To an outsider looking at the Sox, they've been assembled pretty well. I don't know what more you could ask for them. They are the favorites this time despite not having homefield advantage. They have the stronger rotation. They have as dangerous a lineup and their defense is much improved as is their closer. What more could you ask for going in?

And who said anything about Yankee fans using the late Yanks' late 90's teams to console ourselves? Bottom line, those teams got it done. And they were not the most talented teams. It wasn't just a bunch of names there. They had karma. If you're saying this Boston team has that, you could be proven right.

The misconception is that we're arrogant fans. But the truth is for this fan, I enjoy this time of year. And not winning it in a few years makes me want to see this Yankee team do it. Most experts don't think they have the mettle to win this time. They weren't saying that the last couple of years. I like being the underdog. Let them all pick Boston. The Yanks are supposed to be dead without Andy Pettite, Roger Clemens and David Wells. Well, they're not going to rollover for Boston. Here they are. Take your best shot.

P.S. I respect the Red Sox a ton. Now we'll find out what happens on the field.

[Chris]

[Elias 2662]

I don't get it when Red Sox fand label the Yanks as chokers since 2001. I can name 26 other teams who haven't won a WS since then. Fact of the matter is, the team with the highest payroll doesn't always win it all. Otherwise the Rangers would be at the end of a dynasty right now and professional sports would be very boring. What the high payroll does give us is a chance to contend every year, but it doesn't guarantee the championship.

Anyways, Yanks in 7.

PS: I love the "only beat the Sox twice in the postseason" argument. Are you people that ignorant, if we've only played you two times in the playoffs it ain't possible to beat you more than twice is it?

[Don]

PS: I love the "only beat the Sox twice in the postseason" argument.  Are you people that ignorant, if we've only played you two times in the playoffs it ain't possible to beat you more than twice is it?

BTW - just for context here, I'm a marginal baseball fan at best. I've been a Jays/Expos fan for the most part (which is why I knew Pat Borders was MVP back in 92), and in any given playoff series, I just hope for the team with the lower payroll.

In response to the above:

Are you so ignorant that you miss that the point being made is that you can't brag that the Yankees "always beat the Sox in the postseason" when "always" only consists of two series? Two does not make a huge pattern. You can't give a mathematician two numbers in a series and ask him what the pattern is.

There is more validity to "The Rangers always beat the Devils in the playoffs".

[sammyk]

Hey, so does anyone know the answer to my question earlier as to what percentage of revenue the Yankees spend on payroll?

[femalenynjazfan]

Yankees all the way baby. If you can not respect them then leave the USA right now. I have no use for low class people who have to say Yankees suck for no reason what so ever.

[RowdyFan42]

Yankees all the way baby.  If you can not respect them then leave the USA right now.  I have no use for low class people who have to say Yankees suck for no reason what so ever.

Do Red Sox fans count as "low class people"?

[LOTCB]

NJay, your argument is based on the Yankees beating the Red Sox in the postseason which, as Chris has pointed out, has only happened TWICE.  You can keep saying 86 years and yadda yadda but when it comes down to Yankees/Red Sox, TWICE.  Acknowledge that.

So coming back from 14 games in 1978 and beating the Red Sox in a playoff to win the division dosent count is the correct??? The point of the whole 86 years thing does not involve the Yankees 100 percent, but they sure have a lot to do with it. It has to do with this supposed babe Ruth Curse (Im a Yankees fan and I really dont buy into it, but its there) In 1949 Boston had a 1 game lead over the Yankees the last weekend of the season, Yankees won both games, won the pennant...Righetti's No Hitter against Boston on July 4th, 1983...heck, Roger Maris's 61st HR was against Boston...there are many reasons why, not just 2...it seems you choose to view it as 2 things so if the Red Sox win, youll view the score as 2-1, thats FAR from the case IMO.

This is one reason why in some ways I was hoping the Yankees would NOT make it this far, I do not want to give the Sox fans the $ati$ifaction, ESPECIALLY E$PN!!!, an alledged NATIONAL network who is CLEARLY biased.

Having said that, after hearing all the great things about the Sox and they have Schilling and a great lineup and a supposed great closer, I expect them to win now. Im asking the Red Sox to finally prove it if they have it. Bring it. And if they FINALLY win, Ill tip my cap to them.

[NJayDevil]

It all starts tonight. Now we let the players do the talking for us. May the best team win...

GO YANKS!!

[insanity_gallops]

Yankees all the way baby.  If you can not respect them then leave the USA right now.  I have no use for low class people who have to say Yankees suck for no reason what so ever.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

i think whoever ends up coming out alive in this battle, won't make it past the astros anyways so it's a moot point.