Projo Sox Blog

What a difference two weeks make. Two Thursdays ago, the New York papers were looking at a four-game weekend series between the Red Sox and the Yankees and describing it as a life-or-death situation for the men in pinstripes. The Yankees won all four games -- improving their season record against the Sox to 4-8 -- and they head into Boston for three games this weekend with a comfy 6 1/2-game lead in the division. As most people in New England would concede, the Red Sox are trying to win games this weekend not so that they can chase down the Yankees, but so that they can maintain their slim lead over Texas and Tampa Bay (who will be playing against each other) in the American League wild-card race.

But the gleeful New York tabs are looking at this weekend's series as the forum for the Yankees to deliver a coup de grace to the hated Sox. The New York Daily News features a garish cartoon on its backpage of a tubby CC Sabathia flying through the air and about to land on the head of David Ortiz in the middle of a wrestling ring; Kevin Youkilis looks like he has a large insect bite on his head and Mark Teixeira is giving Dustin Pedroia a noogy. The New York Post backpage has a large casket with a Red Sox logo on it hanging in front of the Green Monster, with the headline "Box the Sox." Showing that all things Boston have become an obsession in New York the same way that Red Sox fans have always obsessed over the Yankees, the Post has a front-page headline about a subway mugger it dubs the "Bosox bandit," because the guy commits his crimes while wearing a Red Sox cap.

The Daily News' John Harper writes that just two wins for the Yankees this weekend would serve to put the Sox permanently in the rear-view mirror. I'd counter that they don't have to worry too much even if they just win one of three.

George A. King of the Post notes that the Yankees have the decided edge in the pitching matchups this weekend, starting with tonight's Pettitte vs. Penny game.

But the real proving ground for the Yankees won't be this weekend. It will, of course, be in the postseason. And no one will be more closely watched once he gets there than CC Sabathia, the big-money free-agent acquisition who has a history of failing in the playoffs. One thing that may weigh in his favor this time is the way the Yankees have succeeded in limiting his innings. Sabathia has pitched 178.2 frames this season. Last year at this time, when Sabathia was a horse for the Milwaukee Brewers, he was at 194.1. Two years ago, when he was on his way to a Cy Young Award with Cleveland, Sabathia was at 195.

The Yankees have also been careful about managing young Joba Chamberlain. Joe Girardi and company seem to understand that having Sabathia, Chamberlain and A.J. Burnett performing at peak capacity in the postseason will be key to their success in the playoffs. While the outcome of this weekend's games probably won't make a difference in terms of the Yankees ultimately reaching the postseason, preserving and even extending that big division lead will give New York ample opportunity to rest its regulars -- and especially its big arms -- down the stretch, as the other teams like Boston, Texas and Los Angeles of Anaheim go full-throttle to lock up a playoff spot. That's probably motivation enough.

 Tags  New York Yankees

Comments

PIckingPros said:

.A-Rod has been way off the last month+ but hit well in this game. The Sox are in big trouble if they lose this series. If A-Rod gets hot towards the end of the season for once this could be the year for A-rod and the yankees.

Link | August 21, 2009 8:56 PM
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