So the Yankees are in Fenway this weekend and the real question has to be this – does anyone REALLY care? Boston versus Detroit was a superior series. Boston versus Atlanta was a superior series. Boston versus Cleveland was hands down a fantastic series. The thing is…the Yankees are so bad right now that they drag the Red Sox down to their level. This is a bad thing for many reasons, not the least of which is that it gives the Yanks a false sense of confidence. In addition, it also leads to the Sox playing some truly mediocre baseball, and if you are taking in a game on a weekend – who really wants to see that? The Yankees are currently stuck full of forks for the simple reason that even if the Red Sox get lazy when they are playing each other, no other team in the league is quite so complacent. Honestly, this is like a gang of nerds finding the school jock/bully on crutches in a darkened computer lab late at night – needless to say, the opportunity to take revenge on a past tormenter is not passed up. Not only do Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa Bay enjoy the new lows that New York has fallen to, they like the fact that their stands are fuller because people come just to see the Yankees lose. How great is that? Too bad the Red Sox are a lot lazier about the whole “Greatest Rivalry in Baseball” thing they have going on with New York, but sometimes arrogance is bliss. All the same, no matter how much Yankee fans and writers point to past comebacks that the Bronx Bombers have made legendary, it is simply impossible for a team with pitching as bad and as broken as their rotation is now to make that kind of leap. Pitching wins in baseball, and while the Yankees scrape their cupboards bare for arms that they can throw into the battle, the Red Sox can still look forward to the return of Jon Lester to their ranks – which will only make them better than they already are. Interestingly, there is now talk that since New York blinked and decided to save Roger Clemens 2007 debut for the White Sox that they are already conceding the East to Boston (or someone who is not the Yankees). The notion is curious, and good fodder for writers and bloggers everywhere, but it is tough to believe that they have really totally given up. After all, Alex Rodriguez is doing a pretty good job of keeping the Yankees out of the headlines.   

Of course, Jason Giambi is working overtime to make his life a mockery after injuring himself while rounding the bases after hitting a home run. Come on now, does ANYONE really think Giambi will be welcome in a Yankee uniform after this season? Not very likely, and Anaheim will likely be welcome to him and all his steroid induced maladies.

When you talk about the most dangerous lineup in baseball, it is obviously the Yankees that come to mind first and foremost. Sure, they cannot pitch worth a damn, but those bats are quite scary – as Boston learned Friday night the hard way. However, to be perfectly fair to the Tribe – Cleveland HAS to be considered for the title of most dangerous lineup in baseball. Reading a box score has nothing on seeing these guys in person, and even though they dropped two of three to the Sox, there can be no doubt that this is a team that is primed to make opposing pitchers bleed. Travis “Pronk” Hafner and Victor Martinez lead the charge of scary people to have to pitch to. Both players are patient and strong at the plate, and can beat you with one swing of the lumber more often than not. Grady Sizemore is potentially the best leadoff hitter in the game, and is another bat that is just starting to come into a scary prime. Ryan Garko is putting his stamp on the first base job thanks to his impressive turn with the bat, while Jhonny Peralta is no Grady Sizemore, but is clearly inspired to be like him – with a little more power perhaps? Heck, even our old friend Trot Nixon is fitting into that lineup like a glove, and gutting out some quality at-bats in the process. Looking at these guys leading the charge, their strength and consistency at the plate makes it easier for the rest of the lineup to relax a little more and just try and pitch in. Should Andy Marte ever deliver on his promise, the lineup only gets better…and good things just keep happening for the Tribe. The pitching is there for the club too, even if they could still use some help in the relief corps. Still, it would be no surprise at all to see Cleveland win the division this season, and the thought of Cleveland and Boston in the playoffs would mean some great baseball if nothing else. Tough to argue with that, especially after seeing how lackluster the first Red Sox-Yankee game was. Honestly, we pay good blood and money for our rivalry, the least they could do is keep us interested.

Sheesh.

Whatever will happen to us if the Red Sox versus the Yankees stops being interesting? Perhaps we will start to look forward to Red Sox versus Devil Rays? Red Sox versus Twins? Naturally, Red Sox versus Cleveland of course! Heck, gotta keep Detroit in there too, those guys are good. Seriously though, now that this season is wrapping itself up with a pinstriped bow, lets look ahead to the offseason – it is NEVER too early to think about the future. Besides dumping Coco Crisp and picking up Torii Hunter, and maybe losing J.D. Drew in some freshly poured concrete, what other changes are in store for the Olde Towne Team?

Odds are good there will be some new pitchers coming to town, and do not expect the team to scrimp in that department. Carlos Zambrano will probably be looking for a new team, and since he is likely already aware of the fact that Jason Varitek can kick people’s butts, should be more willing to behave when discussing baseball matters with a teammate. Besides, coming to a winner would have to be pretty attractive to a guy like Carlos, and everyone knows how the Sox – and the Fenway Faithful – love their pitchers. The only real question will be this…does anyone think Schilling will be back?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Excelsior!

Have a question or comment for Chris? Email him at chrismeyer@sportsgrumblings.com