Other than each trailing team making some noise in the late innings, this series was a bust. It really isn’t as much fun when the tying run is on second base and the entire stadium is up on its feet.
“I really like it when it is close,” said former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan yesterday. “This hasn’t seemed like it usually is. I think the Red Sox are in front by too much and the games have lousy.”
Here are 10 things we learned in this unusually quiet Sox-Yanks series in the Bronx:
1. Yankees need a good Roger Clemens.
Other than Mike Mussina’s laying an egg, the Yankees have decent starting pitching. The problem is the Sox have very good starting pitching. The current Yankees remind me a lot of last year’s Sox, which was not good after the first three starters. Roger Clemens, at least a good Clemens, will make this interesting. If Clemens is OK, the Yankees are cooked.
2. Julian Tavarez has guts.
Keep writing him off. Julian Tavarez keeps getting better. This guy’s role is to keep the Red Sox in games, that’s it. He beat the Yankees and Tigers, in succession. His slider was a nice addition to the sinker, which he was throwing too much. This guy is more valuable than we realize.
3. Kevin Youkilis belongs in Boston.
We are still not sure about J.D. Drew. He’s got that Edgar Renteria thing going right now and to be honest, it’s a concern. But Kevin Youkilis (.347) just keeps on plugging away. He had six hits in 14 at bats. He personifies tough, both mentally and physically.
4. Joel Pineiro belongs on a small market team?
Terry Francona can’t hide Joel Pineiro any more. Imagine this guy was supposed to be the Red Sox closer? While he appears to have a nice arm, he just doesn’t appear confident when he is on the mound. Pitching in Boston is nothing like pitching in Seattle.
5. Coco Crisp might be in wakeup mode.
Coco only had three hits in 10 at bats (.300), but he appears to be getting some confidence and spunk. He has made his presence felt all season on the basepaths, and continued that in this series. Watch him closely the next week.
6. Yankees are Curt Schilling’s daddy for now.
While Tavarez is 2-0 against the Yankees, Curt Schilling is 0-2 on baseball’s biggest stage and has been pretty much hit around by the tough Yankees lineup (11 runs and 20 hits in 13 innings). You can almost always count on Schilling to keep the Sox in the game, but last night, he was slightly above batting practice. You can usually count on Schilling in games like this (after a loss and against the Yankees after a loss).
7. Red Sox not itimidated by the Yankees.
This is a big deal for fans over 30 years old, who grew up watching the Yankees win every big game, it seems, these teams played. This weekend was not of that ilk. Game 2 was a perfect example. Manny Ramirez’s 3-run homer in the first inning basically sent the message. Even in defeat, the Red Sox were gracious and unemotional. I think things will ramp up when Yankees come to Boston on June 1.
8. Celtics lottery hangover still around.
The Celtics owned Boston on Tuesday night. The Sox-Yankees were a distinct second fiddle as the Celts were supposed to get the first or second pick in the lottery. Well, it didn’t happen, and the city was in a funk all day today. It made tonight’s Sox-Yanks game feel less important. So did the 10.5 games between the two teams in the standings.
9. When Johnny Damon hits, the Yankees offense it tough to beat.
In the two Yankees wins, Johnny Damon had three hits in each game. In the loss, he was hitless. Remember those numbers, Sox fans? Damon is the straw that stirs that offense. When he gets on in front of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui, fagedaboutit! When game-planning the Yankees, he is the most important out in the lineup.
10. Next week will be great.
Yankees fans and media treated this series as the most important this year and several Yankees responded. That’s what will happen around here next week, especially with Clemens standing on the mound at Fenway Park in one of those games. Even if Clemens didn’t pitch, it would be Wang, Mussina and Pettitte. Folks, it should be exciting.
Let me know your thoughts on any of the above. If you think there was another element or two I missed from this series let me know.
