A Little Consistency Please?

It hasn't felt like a Yankee-Red Sox rivaly yet, and maybe that's what October is for. Today the Yankees got pounded 14-1 and nothing about today was a good sign. Yesterday it was 20-11 Yankees and almost everything (except some minor bullpen players) looked good. That has been the story this year. The 9-5 Red Sox edge in the season series has been that way through 8 straight wins and then 5 straight losses and then today's win. It doesn't seem like we have seen two great evenly matched teams yet. Today it was Tazawa shutting down the Yankees and Burnett getting rocked...huh? Previously Burnett had been dealing and was matching with Beckett in a showdown that went 15 innings. Clearly that was a clase game on the scoreboard but the Red Sox had their best pitcher on the mound and only managed 4 hits, and that was their high for the series.

Right now I'm wondering where these two teams are headed. I'm going to be frank because why play this bullshit game and talk about the Rays and Rangers like they are legit threats for the postseason. Cut the crap, the Yankees will win this division and the Red Sox will be the Wild Card team. I'm fairly certain the Yankees will stomp Detroit and The Red Sox who have always bested the Angels will advance as well. This leads to a playoff matchup we are all salivating to see in October. The matchup that created tons of hysteria in 03 an 04 which were epic series for both teams. 03 was capped off by a mammoth game winning, walk off solo HR for Aaron Boone in the 11th inning in game 7 of the ALCS. 04 was the drama of 4 straight wins for the Red Sox after being down 3-0, each win coming in great fashion (for Sox fans). This year may or may not be the same. I think these two teams will meet in October and I think these are the two best teams in the AL. I think the Angels are damn close, but if Boston gets some things together, they are deadly. The lineup is undeniably good, 2nd best in fact (to the Yankees). Their starters aren't deep like they should have been, but they have 2 aces in the top of their rotation, Beckett and Lester. If Wakefield/Bucholtz/Dice-K emerge as a legit 3rd option, this team could be dangerous.

The same could be said for the Yankees, who have 4 legit pitchers, a great pen, and a fantastic offense that also fields extremely well. That is why for a few weeks now I have said the Yankees are the best team in baseball and should win the World Series if all stays well. I am curious which teams will show up in the playoffs, because if Boston and the Yankees are at their best (neither team has been during any of their series) this could make for a historic and memorable matchup. I am excited because it is the first time in a long time I feel like the Yankees will be there when it matters, not may, but will be there. For the last 7 years I'd say, maybe more, I felt that the Yankees had a legit chance to win it all, but were not the favorites. Not since the late 90's were the World Series a realistic goal. This year the Yankees should be there and will be if they stay healthy and keep this ball rolling. I just wonder if Boston gets right and meets us on the last step of the way, will we be able to do what we must and get over that hump. It's been since 2003 that we made it to the Series and 2000 since we won, that's too long for me to wait. I hope this year changes that and I hope we play Boston on the way because we need to beat the best to be the best, and for a change I'm confident of our success vs them. They should be fearing us, not us fearing them.

Back to the present, we finish the series tomorrow vs Boston in Fenway at 8pm with CC vs Beckett, a crazy fun matchup. I think we should be able to put up a good fight, certainly a pitcehrs duel is in effect (maybe one team won't get double digits). I think a win would be great to take the series for future confidence sake, but I think everything the Yankees needed to do to win the division was done in the 4 game sweep and Friday's win. 5.5 or 7.5, either way we are looking way back in the rear view mirror and I'm not worried for once.