The Yankees and Red Sox are a "Disgrace" to Baseball?

In a recent interview with the Bergen Record, veteran umpire Joe West ripped into the Yankees and Red Sox for the typically slow pace of their ballgames.

The Yankees and Red Sox are notorious for their epic, nine-inning marathons and four hour affairs. As a result, West stated, "It's pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play." He went on to say that this issue is "a disgrace to baseball."


Yes, the Yankees and Red Sox are a disgrace to baseball, according to a longtime Major League umpire. The same Yankees and Red Sox that provide the game of baseball with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue (the Yankees, in fact, brought in $441 million in 2009, $173 million more than the second-place New York Mets). The same Yankees and Red Sox who consistently provide the best television ratings for networks and make up more back page headlines than the rest of Major League Baseball. Yes, the very same Yankees and Red Sox who quite literally represent and define baseball in America thanks to the long, historic, and heated nature of their decades-old rivalry. What would baseball be without these two teams?

Since 1995, either the Yankees or the Red Sox have made the postseason every single year. During that span, the Red Sox accrued two championships (2004 and 2007) while the Yankees won the Fall Classic five times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009). During that same time frame, only the Florida Marlins became World Series champions more than once (1997 and 2003). For Joe West to come out and publicly criticize the two teams that have made baseball what it is today in such a way is absolutely ludicrous.


Boston and New York play long games because they are and have been the two best teams in baseball over the past decade. Both lineups are full, from top to bottom, of players who see more pitches per plate appearance than the rest of the league. Last season, the league average for pitches per plate appearance was 3.84; the Red Sox were ten points higher at 3.94. The Yankees and Red Sox also ranked first and second, respectively, in walks AND on base percentage. The Yankees scored the most runs in baseball last year while the Red Sox were third. And let's not forget that the Yankees and Red Sox play more primetime, nationally-televised games than the other M.L. teams and ad revenue and longer commercial breaks has quite a lot to do with the pace of games as well. Do you think all this might have something to do with the fact that they play long games?

Mariano Rivera was asked about West's comments and responded, ""It's incredible. If he has places to go, let him do something else. What does he want us to do, swing at balls?"

Mo sums things up pretty nicely with that quote, I think. As for me, I'm going to have to agree with Jonathan Papelbon for the first and probably last time in my life; during spring training, Papelbon asked WEEI.com, "Have you ever gone to watch a movie and thought, 'Man, this movie is so good I wish it would have never ended?' That's like a Red Sox-Yankees game. Why would you want it to end?"

(Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)

Meet Your 2010 New York Yankees!

Easter evening is Opening Night, and the World Champion New York Yankees will be taking on the archrival Red Sox at Fenway Park. After a long winter, baseball is back, and back with a vengeance.

Spring Training treated the Yankees well, and despite a few nicks here and there (especially this past week), the team will start the season relatively unscathed.

So who is breaking camp with the 2010 Yankees?

Take a look!

Starting Pitchers

















CC Sabathia, the ace of the staff, will start Sunday evening's grand opening in Boston against Josh Beckett. A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte remain integral, proven pitchers at the top of the rotation, and former Yankee Javier Vazquez is back via a trade with Atlanta. One of the only true competitions in Spring Training this year was the fight for the fifth starter role, with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Alfredo Aceves, and Sergio Mitre the leading candidates. In the end, manager Joe Girardi chose Hughes and sent the remaining three candidates to the bullpen.



Bullpen






















Alfredo Aceves and Sergio Mitre are two considerations for long men out of the bullpen at this point, having lost the fight for the fifth starter role to Phil Hughes. Chan Ho Park, a late addition to the team during Spring Training, will also be on hand, as well as the Yankees' only lefty out of the 'pen, Damaso Marte. Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson are likely to battle it out over the set-up man spot in front of the great and incomparable Mariano Rivera.


Infield






















The starting infield for the 2010 New York Yankees is exactly the same as the previous season; Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, and Captain Derek Jeter are the starters, meaning the Yankees literally have an All-Star at every infield position. Ramiro Pena will be the utility infielder, and following the departure of Jose Molina, Francisco Cervelli is the new back-up catcher.



Outfield














While most of the 2010 team looks much the same as the 2009 World Champion Yankees, the outfield is where you spot the real differences. Gone are Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon, replaced now by Curtis Granderson and Randy Winn. Brett Gardner will be the left fielder, Granderson's in center, and Nick Swisher will patrol right. Winn remains a backup, along with former Yankee Marcus Thames, who was the last man to be named to the Opening Day roster.



Designated Hitter




2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui is a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim now, so the Yankees brought in their old farmhand, Nick Johnson, for DH duties. Johnson will primarily DH but can also fill in quite capably for Teixeira when Girardi needs to give his regular first baseman a rest.

So there you are. What do you think of the 2010 Opening Day roster?

(All photos courtesy of mlb.com)

State of the Yankees

After completing a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon, the New York Yankees now find themselves tied atop the American League East division standings, along with (who else?) the archrival Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees are headed to the West Coast for one last series before the All Star break, where they will take on the always difficult Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (of California of the United States of North America of the former Pangea of Earth of the Universe). Meanwhile, the Red Sox will continue their four-game set versus the Kansas City Royals.

Should be an interesting weekend! What a shame the Yankees can't play the Twins every game.

Washed Away

After a two hour rain delay, the Yankees dropped the first game of their two-game set against the rival Red Sox.

Phil Hughes labored through four innings, allowing 3 earned runs, including a long homerun by Yankee-killer, Mike Lowell.


The Yankees fought back against Jon Lester, cutting the lead to 4-3 thanks to a two-run shot by Johnny Damon and a solo shot from Teixeira.


Alfredo Aceves, just called up, relieved Hughes and pitched very effectively. Unfortunately, he made one mistake, and it ended up being the Red Sox margin of victory. Jason Bay clanked a two-run shot off the left field foul pole in the 7th inning and the Red Sox took a 6-3 lead.

Mark Teixeira delivered a second solo homerun in the 8th, prompting Terry Francona to go to his closer for a rare 5-out save. Jonathan Papelbon came in and made things interesting, loading the bases in the bottom of the 9th before striking out Robinson Cano and securing the 6-4 Boston victory.

The Yankees are 0-4 against the Red Sox thus far. What is even more alarming is that Jorge Posada left the game with a tight hamstring. Last season provided the Yankees with their first bitter taste of life without Posada; let's hope this is just a minor setback and that Jorge will be back behind the plate within a few days.



Josh Beckett and Joba Chamberlain finish up the series tonight at the Stadium.

Just My Imagination

As far as I'm concerned, the first Yankees/Red Sox series of the season never happened.

That is all.

Big Papi = Big Hypocrite

Joba Chamberlain is not a popular man in Massachusetts. And there is no love lost between the young Yankee hurler and Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis.





Yesterday, David Ortiz decided to weigh-in on the topic.

In response to the Joba vs. Youkilis feud, Ortiz said:

"None of that, man — just play the game the way it's supposed to be, and that's about it."

"This is a guy, as good as he is, the next step for him will be to earn respect from everybody in the league. He's not a bad guy, but when things like that happen, people get the wrong idea."

Now, I actually quite like David Ortiz as a person. But this is ridiculous. Hello, Ortiz, do you recall a longtime teammate of yours by the name of Pedro Martinez? No? Well, let me refresh your memory.

Once upon a time, Pedro Martinez pitched for the Boston Red Sox and was regarded as one of the most notorious headhunters of his era. Pedro enjoyed mango trees, long walks on the beach, and sending Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano to the hospital.

Ancient history, you say? Fair point.

Well, then, let me take you back to just two weeks ago. Josh Beckett- you know him, right?- was suspended 6 games for throwing at the head of (ex-Yankee) Bobby Abreu.

Remember that?

OK, David, just one more thing. Since you joined the Red Sox in 2003, more Yankee batters have been hit by Red Sox pitchers, your own teammates, than the other way around. That is an inarguable fact.

So, if you'd be so kind,

Shut your hypocritical mouth, Big Papi.

Here We Go Again

Who would've thought that, after their abysmal beginning, the New York Yankees would be playing a meaningful series against the Boston Red Sox in September?

As they prepare for a three-game set in Fenway Park, the Yankees look to topple the Red Sox from their perch atop the American League East standings, where they've resided all season.
With only two weeks left, a 5 1/2 game deficit is not easy to surmount. The best, and possibly only chance the Wild Card leading Yankees have is to sweep this series and hope for some help. In the meantime, Boston would like nothing more than to give the Yankees a taste of their own medicine and sweep them out of town. Once up by 14 1/2 games (shades of '78), the Yankees are a little too close for comfort in the eyes of the best team in baseball.
Despite having the best record in the Majors, the Red Sox trail the Yankees 7-8 in the season series, thanks in large part to the most recent series between the two in which New York swept Boston two weeks ago. In fact, since May 23, the Yankees are 7-2 against their rivals, and remain the best team in baseball since the All-Star Break (Boston is second).
The epic rivalry is renewed this evening, as Daisuke Matsuzaka and Andy Pettitte face-off at Fenway Park. Dice-K has been smacked around by the Yankees this season, to the tune of a 6.98 ERA, and he's coming off the worst outing of his (albeit very short) Major League career. Pettitte, on the other hand, is 2-1 against the Sox this season, is 9-2 since the All Star break, and is looking for the 200th win of career.
The pitching match-ups this weekend couldn't be better. Matsuzaka and Pettitte tonight. Tomorrow, two 18-game winners in Josh Beckett and Chien-Ming Wang will toe the rubber. And on Sunday night, Roger Clemens returns to Fenway as a Yankee for the first time since the 2003 ALCS (a.k.a. "Ultimate Fighting Championship: Pedro Martinez vs. Don Zimmer), to take on another fiery old veteran in Curt Schilling.
As is typical with these two teams, there are several underlying storylines and a fair share of bad blood that will likely be stirred up this weekend. This season alone, there have been hard hits and questionable slides (Mike Lowell, Alex Rodriguez), head-hunting (Scott Proctor), hit batsmen galore (Jeter, A-Rod, Posada, Pedroia, Youkilis), veiled accusations and league suspensions (Terry Francona, Kevin Youkilis and Joba Chamberlain). Never a dull moment with these two. This weekend should be no different. With this being the last meeting between the two bitter rivals and the playoffs just around the corner, all bets are off. This is the last face-off between the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox of 2007. Unless, of course, October beckons.

(All photos courtesy of Yahoo! Sports and Yankee Kids)

Yankees and Red Sox Round 1: The Battle For First Place

The Greatest Rivalry in Baseball Begins Tonight!

Yankees: Chien Ming Wang (1-1)

Red Sox: Tim Wakefield (1-4)

Expect a chilly reception for from the Fenway faithful when Johnny Damon steps into that batter's box with a big "New York" stretched across his chest. Should be fun!

Lara*