Red Sox Report: Sox Stun Rivera, Yanks Again!
Monday, August 08, 2011
The Red Sox have already won the season series. They are now 10-2 against the Yankees this season yet those numbers are somewhat irrelevant. Unless the Boston Red Sox finish tied with New York at the end of the regular season, in which case they would hold the tie-breaker by winning one more, their dominance this season against the Yankees will mean very little.
It is safe to say that, barring a disaster for either team, both Boston and New York will make it to the postseason thanks to the Wild Card. Because of that, they will be judged more so on how they do once they get there as opposed to anything that they did during the regular season.
However, if these two teams were to somehow meet in the American League Championship Series, Boston would have to feel pretty good about their chances against the Yankees. Not so much because of the fact that they have controlled the season series against them this year, but rather because they know how to beat CC Sabathia. And it’s not just that the Red Sox know how to beat Sabathia, they own the Yankees’ ace.
Sabathia is one of the front-runners for the American League Cy Young Award this season with his 16-6 record and an ERA of 2.81. But against Boston he is 0-4 this year with a 7.20 ERA. Against the rest of the league he is 16-2 with a 2.11 ERA. For his career, Sabathia is 6-9 against Boston with a career ERA of 4.19.
Sabathia’s postseason record is 7-4 with an ERA of 4.66. Against the Red Sox he is 0-2 in the playoffs with a 10.45 ERA.
It’s very simple. If the Yankees are to advance farther than the Red Sox in the postseason, they will need one of two things to happen. They can hope that another team will beat Boston in the ALDS or Sabathia had better improve his performance dramatically against the Sox.
-Speaking of great pitchers who have had their struggles against the Red Sox, Mariano Rivera falls into that category as well. The best closer in the history of baseball has only 36 career blown saves. Of those 36 blown saves, 14 have come against Boston including last night's game.
-Yankee manager Joe Girardi benched Jorge Posada again. This time, however, there was no temper tantrum by the aging slugger. Before Sunday’s game, Girardi called Posada into his office to inform him that he will no longer be the team’s designated hitter. Posada seemed to understand this time, unlike earlier in the season when he refused to play in a game once he was told that he had been demoted in the order. Posada is batting just .230 this season with 9 HR’s and 31 RBI. He has not homered since before the All-Star break. The fact that Girardi did not use Posada against a right-handed starter was very telling about where he stands in the eyes of Yankee management.
-If you’re looking for A.L. M.V.P. candidates, look no farther than Boston and New York. Heading into Sunday’s game, the Yankees had Curtis Granderson (.275 avg, 28 HR, 86 RBI), Mark Texiera (.251, 32, 86) and Robinson Cano (.296, 18, 75).
Boston has Adrian Gonzalez (.352, 18, 91), Jacoby Ellsbury (.321, 19, 72, 31 SB) and Dustin Pedroia (.310, 15, 59).
You could add players like Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz to the mix as well. Realistically, Gonzalez would have to be considered the slight favorite at the moment with Granderson quite possibly being his closest competitor. Ellsbury has elevated himself to the top of the MVP discussion as well over the past few weeks.
-Red Sox SS Jed Lowrie will be activated off the disabled list on Monday before Boston’s game against the Twins. Because Lowrie (shoulder) isn’t ready to play every day, Terry Francona suggested that he and Marco Scutaro will split the shortstop duties for the time being.
-If you thought that veteran pitcher Kevin Millwood to contribute to the Boston rotation at some point before the end of the season you may want to think again. Millwood, who was 5-1 for the Pawtucket Red Sox, was granted his release on Saturday. The addition of Erik Bedard to the Red Sox rotation clearly made Millwood expendable as Andrew Miller is now Boston’s “6th” starter.
-According to a report on ESPNdeportes.com, Red Sox DH David Ortiz is upset and hurt by the fact that Boston management has yet to talk to him about a new contract. Ortiz has leveled off a bit as of late but is still having a solid season. Heading into play Sunday, Big Papi was hitting .286 with 21 HR’s and 71 RBI. Ortiz is 35 years old and will turn 36 in November.
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