Red Sox Show Something Against Yankees
BOSTON (CBS) - There is a lot of things to pick through when it comes to this weekend's Red Sox-Yankee series at Fenway, with Boston taking two of three to reclaim first place in the AL East....
--First of all, these two teams are both outstanding teams and not much separates them. Both have good starting pitching, bullpens, hitting, and defense... both have players that can grind with the best of them in Pedroia, Youkilis, Ellsbury, A-Gon, Ortiz, Cano, Jeter, Teixeira, Gardner, on down the line... and should they play each other in an ALCS, there is no clear-cut favorite...
--So, no... it doesn't mean much to me that the Sox are 10-2 against the Bronx Bombers this season...
--The next time you see a hitter's stats against a certain pitcher, remember Sunday night's 9th inning. Dustin Pedroia was 0-for-10 with 5 strikeouts lifetime against the greatest closer in the history of the game, Mariano Rivera. He is still 0-for-10, but... but... with a sacrifice fly that tied a game and eventually allowed the Red Sox to walk away with a win. Remember that when Terry Francona allows someone to hit against an opposing pitcher even though the stats suggest it's not a favorable match-up...
Recap: Reddick, Red Sox Rally By Yankees In 1oth
--Have to love Josh Reddick. He just won't go away. When it looks like he's coming down to earth... he picks it up again. Besides picking up his first career walk-off RBI, he's now hitting .381 over his last six games. The kid that impressed so many a few spring trainings back won't let go of the starting right field job. Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald, JD Drew and others have all been nipping at his heels, but he won't give in. Fun to watch...
--Josh Beckett won't ever get fined for pitching too quickly in a game, but it's still fun to watch this kid pitch. He mixes all of his pitches and meshes with Jason Varitek to grind out innings.
--Jonathan Papelbon doesn't give Sox fans much anxiety any more when he's on the mound. Looks as good as he ever has. Will be interesting to see what the open market brings for him this off-season...
--The strangest stat of the 2011 season: CC Sabathia is 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA vs the Red Sox. 16-2 with a 2.11 ERA vs everybody else. How do you explain that and how do you give him the Cy Young award?
--I'm ok with Erik Bedard. Looks like if he can stay healthy, he 'll be better and perhaps more consistent than Lackey, Miller, Wake, etc...
Read: Sox Release Kevin Millwood
--Speaking of Lackey... he didn't do anything to dispel his big game reputation Saturday... and in listening to Fox's Ken Rosenthal it sounds like dealing with his wife's battle with cancer has been quite difficult...
-- A tip of the cap to catching guru Gary Tuck. Watching Jarrod Saltalamacchia throw, block balls, etc is a pleasure these days. Salty has come a long way and it's a credit to both him and Tuck. It still amazes me how hard you have to work to get to the big leagues and to try to stay there. Talent can only take any player so far...
--There are 40-plus games left and plenty of baseball still left to be played, but, my MVP ballot has Dustin Pedroia atop it. No disrespect to Jose Bautista, Adrian Gonzalez, or Jacoby Ellsbury...
--I know they both say differently... but I think A-Gon and Big Papi were different hitters coming out of the home run derby...
--Enjoy the games...
