It’s About Damn Time

Written by a Yankees fan, why the Yankees deserve to lose to the Red Sox this year.

I am a New York Yankees fan. Diehard, at that. Yet, for some reason, the intense Division race going on between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox doesn’t faze me. I’m not obsessing about it.
Why? Barring any major unforeseen incidents, both teams will make the playoffs. And, when they presumably meet in the ALCS, the better team will win. And that team will be the cursed Sox.

Ever since George Steinbrenner let workhorse southpaw Andy Pettitte bolt for Houston last winter, I knew this team wouldn’t be a 1998-Yankees caliber team. True, that team was arguably the greatest team of all time. However, with the offensive lineup that Steinbrenner assembled this season, this year’s team could have been one of the greatest teams of all time. Except, The Boss seems to have forgotten what key tools propelled his championship teams: pitching and defense.

The pitching staff was questionable, at best, going into the season. Moreover, Boston’s excellent rotation made the Yankees’ quartet look like a high school group. Mike Mussina is a great third pitcher on a staff, and a pretty good second starter. He is not an ace for a World Series team. Kevin Brown’s health was an issue from day one. Javier Vasquez was a solid pitcher–not even great, for a lowly Montreal team that averages less fans than J.Lo’s private weddings. Jon Lieber hadn’t pitched in a year. Heck, the Yankees’ best pitcher has been a pitcher that was in the minor leagues two months ago!

Boston, however, under the guidance of Moneyball-er Theo Epstein, chose pitching over offense. Granted, they screwed up the Alex Rodriguez deal royally. However, they added the prize pitcher of the offseason, Curt Schilling, and a reliable closer, Keith Foulke, to settle their dysfunctional bullpen. They understood that a threesome of Pedro Martinez, Schilling, and Derek Lowe would be tough in a seven game series, and almost impossible to beat in a five game series, with Martinez and Schilling pitching four times.

It wasn’t hard to see this Boston run coming, either. Yankees have been dropping like flies this season, starting with the pitchers, and progressing with stars like Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, and Gary Sheffield. The Yankees have even been plagued by parasites–actual parasites, as opposed to Nomar Garciaparra in Boston. Meanwhile, Boston was putting together the best trade of the season (acquiring good-hands shortstop Orlando Cabrera and Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, while dealing the cancerous Garciaparra.) Boston’s rotation is thriving, while the Yankees’ rotation is dwindling.

Looking at the two teams offensively, the Yankees do have an advantage–but a slight one. If Steinbrenner’s intention was to assemble the best offensive team in the league, he didn’t do that (St. Louis takes the cake.) In fact, the Yankees have the 16th best batting average in the league and the 18th highest hit total. To Steinbrenner’s credit, the middle of the lineup is downright scary: Jeter, Sheffield, Rodriguez, Giambi (when healthy), Matsui, Posada. Read that again.

Boston’s lineup, however, isn’t too shabby. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are legitimate MVP candidates. Kevin Millar is always dangerous, especially with the Green Monster looming in leftfield. The reigning batting champion, Bill Mueller, is hitting eighth. And Jesus Damon seems to kill the Yankees more and more each series.

Of course, there’s the one thing the Yankees have working for them: the intangibles. The Curse of the Bambino lurks in each Red Sox player’s head. Even the seemingly stable Martinez couldn’t find the guts to get Posada out last year in Game 7. And, if the Yankees have the lead in the eighth, the game is over. Mariano Rivera is the best closer in postseason history. He’ll be automatic in a tight spot against Boston.

When it comes down to it, I’m almost rooting for the Red Sox to beat the Yankees this year–in the division, in the playoffs, whatever. Steinbrenner deserves a loss this year, because he didn’t assemble the best team that money could buy. He was foolish: Javier Vasquez isn’t Curt Schilling. Jon Lieber isn’t Andy Pettitte. For those reasons, the Yankees deserve to lose.

And because I’m a HUGE fan of reverse psychology. 1918!