There are many pleasures that come with living in Boston. The Public Garden in the spring. The 4th of July fireworks over the Boston Harbor. Samuel Adams beer.
But nothing compares to the fever that grips this city whenever the Boston Red Sox play the New York Yankees. The only comparison I’ve seen is the love that people have for the St. Louis Cardinals. (Coincidentally, that’s my hometown team since I grew up in southern Illinois.) The fact that the Red Sox have the best record in the major leagues only inflates our optimism.
Everyone in this city is looking forward to the three-game series against the Evil Empire that begins tonight. But, how is it looking? Let’s see.
Overall Record: Red Sox: 30–13, Yankees: 19–23
2007 Match-Up Record: The Red Sox have won five of six games against the Yankees so far this year.
Recent Performance: The Sox have won seven of their last ten games. The Yankees have won three.
Pitching Match-Up: Tim Wakefield (4–4, 2.41 ERA) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (2–3, 4.54 ERA); Julian Tavarez (2–4, 5.59 ERA) vs. Mike Mussina (2–2, 5.64 ERA); Curt Shilling (4–1, 3.57 ERA) vs. Andy Pettitte (2–3, 2.83 ERA)
Wakefield is usually dependable as long as the offense provides enough run support to back up his knuckleball. Since the Red Sox have high morale and are on a winning streak, this should not be a problem in the first game.
The second game, however, may be a toss-up: Tavarez is either hit or miss, but Mussina, usually a dominant pitcher, has been shaky after returning from the disabled list. This game may turn into an offensive battle.
The third game will be an easy win: Compare Shilling’s performance to Pettitte’s.
There are other facts that favor the Red Sox to consider: Morale in the Yankee clubhouse is low, and manager Joe Torre may be fired (although the injury-laden pitching staff is not his fault). This may be the first time that the Yankees actually fear the Red Sox.
However, the games are at Yankee Stadium — and Yankee fans are just as, let’s say, enthusiastic as Red Sox fans. The Evil Empire, of course, has the homefield advantage. But that is their only advantage. The Red Sox and Yankees have equal offenses. It will come down to pitching.
Prediction: The Red Sox will win the series, and they have a 75% chance of sweeping the Yankees by winning all three games. I’ll see you at the pub.
Postscript: Boy, was I wrong. The Red Sox lost the two games that I predicted them to win, and they won the one game I thought they may lose. I had forgotten that the Yankees have pretty much figured Tim Wakefield out, just like the Red Sox have done the same with Mariano Rivera. Both Curt Shilling and Julian Tavarez surprised me — though for opposite reasons. Still, we do have a large lead. But, remember: it’s only May.
Second Postscript: Here is my roundup of the 2007 World Series — which, of course, was won by the Red Sox.
