Nobody Betting Against Yankees As Red Sox Series Begins

The New York Yankees have followed this pattern for several years now, yet nobody seems to pick up on it. New York was once again left for dead by many analysts early this year.

Just as they have the past few seasons, the Yanks have played much better ball leading into and from the All Star break and are now right in the middle of the American League East division race.

Nobody is betting against the Yankees now. They were told they did not have enough bats, and that their pitching was suspect. All they have to do answer the critics is what they always do around this time of year. They win.

Derek Jeter still has not found the stroke that has made him great the past few seasons and they still lack a deep pitching staff. That does not change the fact that the Yankees can wrestle the division lead away from Boston this weekend when the two teams meet.

In a rivalry that is usually the other way around, it is the Yankees this year that must win the series to prove they can hang with the Red Sox for the long haul. The Sox have all the pieces in place to once again win a World Series title.

A Yankee sweep would only shortly damper those plans, but a Red Sox sweep could mean it is back to the drawing board for New York. As is the case with so many of these series' between the two teams, a lot is on the line. Much more for guys from the Bronx.



2008-07-25