Sox Offenders

Mid-April and the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees is in October form, and taking a turn towards insanity. And that’s the way we like it.

The Curse of the Big Papi

This stuff is just too bizarre to make up. Some semi-connected Soprano wannabe is working construction on the new Yankee Stadium. He also just happens to be a Red Sox fan. So he decides to put a curse on the new stadium by mixing a David Ortiz jersey in with the cement being used to pour part of the foundation. OK, sounds like he might have gotten his drink on a little early that day, but whatever. So the NY Post grabs the story and runs, and Hank Steinbrenner (speaking of a wannabe), tries to downplay the whole thing – expect when he said “I hope his coworkers kick the shit out of him.” And just when you think it’s over, a couple of New York “heroes” spend all day Sunday (probably at double-time-and-a-half) digging the fucking thing up. Come on, Hank, who believes in curses?

Johan Who?

It should have been an off-season bidding war for the ace of aces. But both the Red Sox and Yankees chose to pass on Johan Santana, deciding the young talent they already had was too much to give up. Right now, it looks like the Sox have a much better chance of that happening than the Yankees. Lester, Buchholz and Ellsbury continue to contribute for the Sox. The must-keep Yankee duo of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are a combined 0-3 with ERA’s of 9.0 and 13.5 respectively. Hughes has pitched a grand total of five innings in his past two starts, throwing 152 pitches to get those 15 outs. Kennedy has just one start and one relief appearance – a move made by Girardi due to weather conditions. Unlike his decision to pitch to Manny on Saturday which was driven by sheer stupidity.

Hank vs. the World

When not busy threatening construction workers, Hank Steinbrenner likes to use the media to try to intimidate the Red Sox and their fans. He is quoted almost daily in the New York rags trying desperately to carry the torch for King George. But he fails miserable, sounding exactly like what he is – the spoiled rich kid who inherited an empire and has no clue what to do with it. His feeble jabs at Papelbon are something George never would have stooped to. I expect Hank to start rocking the white turtle neck and blue blazer to try to get some respect. George, though hated by Red Sox Nation, was hated with respect. Hank is hated with more of a comical hate. Shirt-burying Gino Castignoli said it best in response to Hank’s threat: "Tell Hank he can come meet me if he wants to try - and tell him to bring Posada, because he's the one Yankee I can't stand." At last check, Posada is unable to throw a baseball, never mind a punch.

Second String Rivals

The first round of Yankees vs. Red Sox was not quite the marquee match-up it usually is. Aside from the wave of young players both teams are carrying, an additional crop of new faces is up to replace the rash of injured regulars. Jose Molina is behind the dish for New York for the injured Posada. Alberto Gonzalez is playing short for the ailing Captain Intolerable – who somehow manages to get just as much camera-time from the bench. Sox newcomer David Aardsma also got his first taste of the rivalry, pitching a two-inning hold in Sunday’s win. Even Papi had a rare day off in a Yankee series. Come summer, things will be different.

The Next Fifteen

The rivalry continues this week, with a quick, two-game set in the Bronx. Wednesday’s match-up should be Buchholz versus Wang. They faced each other Friday – Buchholz pitched a solid six innings while Wang pitched the game of a lifetime in a complete game two-hitter. Thursday will feature Beckett against Mussina. That’s Josh Beckett – need I say more? After that, we’re done until a four-game series over the July Fourth weekend. A long way off in baseball time.

That’s all for now folks. Good to see the greatest rivalry in sports is still as intense as ever. By the time summer finally kicks in around Boston, I expect the drama between these teams to get bigger and better. Girardi versus Tito in a steel cage match? Jeets and A-Rod in a special edition man-love episode of Sox Appeal? A sex tape of Clay Buchholz and his Playmate girlfriend with “Yankees Suck” tattooed on his ass? Anything is possible.

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