Giuliani Rooting for Boston

Former New York Mayor and noted Yankees fan Rudy Giuliani is rooting for the Red Sox in the World Series.

“I’m rooting for the Red Sox,” the Republican presidential contender said in response to a question, sparking applause at the Boston restaurant where he was picking up a local endorsement.

“I’m an American League fan, and I go with the American League team, maybe with the exception of the Mets,” he said. “Maybe that would be the one time I wouldn’t because I’m loyal to New York.”

Any Yankees fan pulling for Boston in this series is in no position to talk about loyalty to New York or anywhere at all.

2008 Managerial Candidate: John Farrell

Since Joe Torre has decided not to return, it is time to profile some of the men whom the Yankees will look at, whom they could look at, whom they should look at, and whom they should not look at. Now we will look at John Farrell.

The resume: Pitched for three teams in the Majors from 1987 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. Served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University from 1997 to 2001. Worked as the Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Indians from 2002 to 2006. Served as Red Sox pitching coach in 2007.

Strengths: Farrell has been successful everywhere he has been. Fourteen pitchers were drafted while he was at Oklahoma State. USA Today twice named the Indians as its Organization of the Year while Farrell worked in their system. Boston led the American League in team E.R.A. in Farrell’s only season as pitching coach. He is a terrific communicator and is well-respected. Players love him, and he has a great mind for the game. The young players on the team would be in good hands, given his track record. He also would bring inside information on the Red Sox.

Weaknesses: Next to Farrell, Don Mattingly looks like Joe Torre in terms of experience. Farrell has only one season on a Major League coaching staff. A team expected to win now is not a good environment for somebody to learn how to run a team. He will have to learn all of the intricacies of strategy and running a clubhouse on the fly under the microscope of the Yankees.

Outlook: ESPN’s Buster Olney says he is a candidate. I have not heard anything about him from anybody else. He will have his work cut out for him to pass more experienced and better-known candidates. The Red Sox going to the World Series hurts his chances. Farrell now will have to wait longer to interview while other candidates get a head start. If the Steinbrenners want to tweak the Red Sox, Farrell has a shot.

My take: This would not be a very logical hire. Farrell seems to have all the tools to make a successful Major League manager some day, but that day is not today. It is certainly not in a big market with a team expecting to win a World Series within twleve months. He still needs to learn more about dealing with Major League players on a daily basis. He needs to develop his own style and philosophies. It is best to not have to work these things out in the midst of pennant races. There is an unfair institutional bias against pitching coaches in baseball for managerial positions, but that has nothing to do with why Farrell would be a bad choice. Farrell’s communication skills and work ethic will make his successful at some point, but the Yankees would not be a good fit at this point in time.

October of Redemption Possible

It is probably premature to think of the postseason since the Yanks have clinched nothing yet. However, there exists a realistic possibility that New York can exorcise all of the demons from recent October failures over the next month to win a 27th title. Everybody knows how the Yankees have not won the World Series since 2000.

In 2006, New York lost to the Tigers in the ALDS. With another win, the Yanks will clinch a postseason berth and eliminate the Tigers in the process. Gary Sheffield will watch the postseason on television as a symbol that the Yankee teams comprised of old, overpaid, selfish superstars is coming to an end.

The Yanks lost to the Angels in the ALDS in 2002 and 2005. Los Angeles is a possible opponent for New York in the first round this year.

If the Yankees won that series, they would likely be up against Boston, the team that ended their 2004 season in as heartbreaking a fashion as humanly possible. A rematch would be a chance to avenge that loss as well as a chance to get even with Josh Beckett, Boston’s ace. Beckett ended New York’s World Series dreams in 2003 with a complete game shutout to clinch the championship for the Marlins.

A win there would put the Yankees back in the Fall Classic. It would only be fitting if the Yankees faced Arizona, the team that sent them into this spiral with a stunning Game 7 win in the 2001 World Series. A new dynasty could be born at the expense of the team that ended the old one.

This is clearly all speculation. However, there remains the possibility that the Yankees can return to baseball’s pinnacle and obtain revenge on all of those who have kept them from reaching that summit in the process.

Yankees 4 Red Sox 3: Shades of Game 7

The Yankees beat the Red Sox last night at Fenway Park by a score of 4-3. As a result, New York won their weekend series in Boston 2-1 and took the season series from their archrivals from Beantown 10-8. The Yankees held their 2.5 game Wild Card lead over Detroit as well. This game pitted Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling for the first time since the epic Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The two games were so similar that it is almost frightening.

Just as he did on that November night six years ago, Clemens pitched a great game. The Rocket again left in the 7th inning after giving up 1 run. The score was 1-1 when he departed just like it was at Bank One Ballpark. Back in 2001, Clemens was looking to prove that he could come up big in big games. In this start, he was looking to prove that he was over his elbow ailment and could still deliver a good outing. He did just that. Roger was clearly aided by the long layoff as he cruised after a rocky 1st inning. The Rocket wanted to make sure that what could be his final start in Fenway Park was memorable. Holding a lineup like that to 2 hits in 6 innings certainly did the job. With Mike Mussina’s velocity back, the Yankees might consider a six man rotation at least for a turn. Clemens seems to thrive on long rest. Prior to this, his best start of the season came against Detroit after he had skipped a start. His aging body can use as much time off as it can get. The Yankees can afford to give it to him in the short term with all of their pitching depth.

Clemens got great support by his defense once again. In Bank One Ballpark, that came on a Derek Jeter relay throw. Last night it was the work of Doug Mientkiewicz at first. Making his first start since coming off the DL, Mientkiewicz made several brilliant plays at first base, none better than a diving stop in the 1st inning that saved 2 runs and ended the inning. Had the ball gotten by him, Boston would have been ahead 3-0, and Clemens would have started doubting his ability to pitch through this elbow problem, potentially leading to a short night and real questions of whether he should stay in the rotation. Instead, the inning came to an abrupt close, and Roger got stronger as the game progressed. Mientkiewicz also had a pair of hits off Schilling, including a single in the 8th that helped the 3 run inning along. Doug should get the next few starts at first to see whether he can springboard from this multihit game to get on a roll with the bat. Even if he can hit a little bit, his defense justifies a spot in this strong lineup. Playing Mientkiewicz also will allow Joe Torre to use Jason Giambi off the bench for a weak hitter at the bottom of the lineup as he did last night. Had Giambi started, Torre might have had to stick with Jose Molina in a key 8th inning at bat instead of sending Jason to the plate. Giambi responded with a key double. By using him as a pinch hitter, the Yankees will get less at bats from him, but they can make sure that the at bats he does get will be critical ones that otherwise would have gone to weak hitters.

Yankees middle relief had to pitch out of trouble just as it did against Arizona. This time it was Joba Chamberlain, not Mike Stanton on the mound. He had to deal with a runner on third with one out in the 7th, not a man on first with one out. The results were ultimately the same. Chamberlain struck out Julio Lugo and then got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out to end the inning and win a battle between touted Native American prospects. Chamberlain gave up his first earned run the next inning on a Mike Lowell homer, but impressively shook that and a raucous Fenway Park off by striking J.D. Drew, the next hitter, out. In doing so, Joba passed the final and most difficult test of becoming a successful Major Leaguer, responding to failure.

Just as he was in Game 7, Curt Schilling was at the top of his game early. The only run he gave up in the first 7 innings was on a homerun he surrendered to a free-swinging second baseman. On Sunday night, that second baseman was Robinson Cano, not Alfonso Soriano. Cano is starting to demonstrate a mastery of Schilling. He now has 3 homers in his past 2 games against Gehrig38. Like he did in Phoenix, Schilling ran out of gas in the 8th inning. He was one pitch away from escaping trouble when Derek Jeter launched a game-winning 3 run homer against Schilling, coming through in the clutch as he has so many times before. Derek’s 11th homer of 2007 gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead and knocked Boston’s starter from the game just as Soriano’s 8th inning homer finished Schilling six years ago. Jeter’s homer proved the winning margin just as his homer in Game 4 of that 2001 World Series, which was started by Schilling, did for the Yankees.

Just as he did in the desert, Joe Torre turned to Mariano Rivera to protect the lead. Mariano showed as little command as he did on that fateful night. After beginning the inning ahead 4-2, Mo gave up a hit, hit a batter, and walked a pair. Boston had closed within 4-3, and the game would be decided by the best hitter on the opposing team, just as it was in Game 7. This time, though, Mariano had something left in the tank. He pulled back and got David Ortiz to pop up to shortstop to end the game. It turns out the game was not an exact replica of the last time Schilling and Clemens squared off. This time the ending was happy.

The Yankees now head home. They are in the driver’s seat for the Wild Card with only games against the bottom of the East remaining. Tonight Baltimore pays a visit to the Bronx. Some might fret this, given how tough the Orioles have played the Yankees this season. However, that was before the Orioles decided to mail in their season. The Baltimore team that comes to the Bronx this week is officially playing out the string. In one of many parallels to the 2005 season, fans can take heart in remembering how New York fared against the Devil Rays that year. Tampa Bay owned the Bronx Bombers all year until the Yanks swept a critical late September series. A similar result would not be shocking at all.

Red Sox 10 Yankees 1: Beckett Wins Battle of Aces

The Red Sox crushed the Yankees 10-1 yesterday at Fenway Park. Boston’s win evens the weekend series and sets up a rubber match tonight in front of a national audience. After sparring early, the Red Sox delivered knockout blow after knockout blow for which the Yanks had no answer.

Chien-Ming Wang was awful. The righty made it 5.2 innings but gave up 5 runs on 9 hits. Wang was not sharp at all and had trouble keeping his sinker down in the zone all game. He still found a way to minimize the damage, giving up only 1 run through 4 frames. He was also on the verge of escaping the 5th and 6th innings but allowed 3 hits with 2 outs that scored 4 runs. Wang has been a master of minimizing the damage even when he does not have good command this season. In this start, he had the opportunity to give his club a fighting chance. An ace is supposed to rise to the occasion in key games. Wang still could have held Boston down had he gotten key outs. Instead, he got chased from the game with the Yanks in a 4 run hole by making mistakes. The Yankees might have a split, but it is disappointing to say the least that their two most reliable starters have pitched very poorly in a huge series.

Josh Beckett delivered an outing that probably guaranteed the Red Sox the division title. By doing so, he probably clinched the American League Cy Young. Beckett was dominant after a 1st inning homer by Derek Jeter. It would be the only time that the Yanks got to the 2003 World Series MVP, who gave up just that run on 3 hits in 7 innings. The Yankees can only tip their caps. Beckett is almost impossible to hit when he is on like that. He is about the one starter in that Boston rotation who pitches at a high level consistently enough to put some kind of doubt into the minds of New York’s hitters. We know that he is not afraid of the Yankees. Unlike Curt Schilling, he has the natural ability to back up that mental state. The Yanks have not seen that Josh Beckett on the mound all season long. New York is going to need to go back to its old Pedro Martinez formula to beat him if the teams meet again in October. A starter is going to have to take the ball and pitch a dominant game to match him. Wang is certainly capable of doing so, even though one would not be able to tell by Saturday’s start.

Kevin Youkilis left the game after being hit by a pitch in the 5th. Youkilis dove into the pitch, but it still send Fenway Park into a frenzy, given how often pitches have come inside on him this season against the Yanks. Even though anybody could tell that Wang was not trying to plunk Youkilis, Beckett retaliated later in the game by hitting Jason Giambi. Beckett can “protect” his teammates all that he wants. It is his prerogative. However, needlessly escalating a beanball war the day before Roger Clemens starts against one’s team is not necessarily a great idea. Red Sox hitters can thank their ace if they take one in the back tonight.

Jason Giambi butchered an easy ball at first base yesterday, almost turning a routine grounder into an error before recovering and recording the out. It is officially time to give serious consideration to repossessing his glove. After playing passable defense for a few weeks, Giambi is back to being a liability in the field. The best defensive team that the Yankees can put out involves Johnny Damon playing leftfield. That leaves Hideki Matsui, who is a better hitter despite his slump, at designated hitter. This means that Giambi will have to stay on the bench. It would be one thing if Jason was still the cleanup hitter. It would be one thing if the Yankees did not have much offensive firepower. It would be one thing if Giambi was still hitting like an elite offensive performer. However, the Yankees offense is loaded with talent, Giambi is hitting seventh, and he has been inconsistent. Wilson Betemit can provide adequate offensive production while playing the position much better. Giambi would be an excellent threat to bring off the bench as a pinch hitter.

Edwar Ramirez and Ross Ohlendorf both got into the game. Even though the blowout was not what the Yanks were hoping for, it was still good to get these kids some action. Both men figure to play prominent roles in the bullpen in the near future. Getting a taste of Yankees-Red Sox at Fenway Park at this time of year will be invaluable for their development.

The season series between the teams ends tonight as Roger Clemens will battle Curt Schilling. It is the Rocket versus Ketchup Sock Boy. Boston probably put the division out of reach with their win yesterday. Even if the Yanks win tonight, 4.5 games is going to be very tough to make up in two weeks. There are still bigger fish to fry. Clemens needs to show that he is either over or can pitch through this elbow ailment. We probably will not know the full extent of Roger’s injury until after the season. He might well be pitching through a severe injury. Roger is too old to go through a long rehab. If he is seriously hurt, he might not care about injuring himself more because he knows it will be the end of his career. He is going to gut through it and try to win a final World Series ring. This is only speculation on my part, but it is a realistic possibility, not that the Yankees would ever confirm it at this point. This is also a critical game from the psychological perspective. The Yankees have owned the Red Sox since April. If New York can take the series at Fenway Park, more doubt might creep into the minds of Boston players and fans over how well their team matches up with the Yanks. A win would give the Yanks a 10-8 win in the season series, giving them bragging rights in the rivalry. Finally, the Yankees need a win to keep Detroit at arm’s length in the Wild Card chase. The division might be out of reach, but this game is still huge.

Yankees 8 Red Sox 7: Stunning Comeback Silences Fenway

After years of watching baseball, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly a game and emotions can turn. Last night’s game was another reminder. The Yankees defeated Boston by an 8-7 score at Fenway Park due to a stunning 6 run 8th inning that wiped out a 7-2 hole. New York’s attack was like lightning. All 6 runs were scored before the team recorded an out in the inning against Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.

Jason Giambi ignited the rally with a leadoff homer against Okajima. Jason was one of the posterboys for perspectives changing in a hurry. He was set to go down as one of the goats and to be blasted in this space despite the pair of walks he drew at the plate. Giambi’s play in the field was atrocious. He cost the team 3 combined runs by failing to field a routine grounder and dropping a throw by Bobby Abreu that would have resulted in a 9-3 double play. Both gaffes extended innings. His teammates picked him up, though, and made sure that everybody would remember what he did with the bat to help turn the tide. Even when Robinson Cano followed with another home to make the score 7-4, it was tough to believe the Yankees could come back. Okajima clearly had nothing. Anybody could see that after he gave up the first pair of homers to lefties in his Major League career. Still, Boston had the game well in hand. Nobody was on base, and Okajima essentially had a blank slate.

Melky Cabrera was up next. Even with an outfield assist on the night to nail David Ortiz at the plate on a horrible send by Boston’s third base coach, Melky’s most memorable moment had come on a baserunning gaffe. He had grounded into a double play in the 4th with men on the corners, 1 out, and his team trailing 2-1. Even worse was that he would have beaten the throw to first and let the tying run score had he run through the bag. However, he inexplicably slid feet first, slowing himself down. Somebody needs to teach Melky that slides slow the runner down. They are only good to make when one is trying to avoid a tag or disrupt somebody throwing after a force at second. When one is going to first base, one needs to run through it. However, nobody will remember because of what transpired after he worked a walk.

Johnny Damon was one of the few Yankees having a good night. He had a pair of infield hits and an RBI. It was going to be a footnote, though. Nobody would care about the leadoff hitter’s good game. The team suffering a critical loss was most important. Damon knocked Okajima out of the game with a double to left. Men were on second and third with no outs. The score was still 7-4, and Jonathan Papelbon was coming into the game.

Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate. Perhaps nobody stood out as a bigger goat entering the at bat. Derek had made an error in the 1st. He bobbled a ball later in the game, costing his team a double play. He failed to hold his tag as Jacoby Ellsbury overslid second base in the 4th inning, keeping the door open for Boston to break the game open with 3 runs. He also struck out on a full count pitch out of the zone with the bases loaded to end the 5th and Boston in front 5-2. Derek was the game’s key hitter. If Papelbon could keep both runners on base from scoring, he would have an easy 9th inning with a multi-run lead. Jeter made sure that would not happen right off the bat by serving a 2 run single into right. The Yankees maintained their momentum against one of the game’s best relievers. Bobby Abreu fed off this with a game-tying triple, and Alex Rodriguez singled him home for a stunning 8-7 lead.

Andy Pettitte’s rough night instantly became a footnote. The lefty had no command, only lasting 4 innings while giving up 5 runs. The Red Sox made him work all night. They grinded him by taking pitch after pitch outside the strike zone. When a pitcher is off, he needs some luck. Unfortunately for Andy, he could not have had worse luck. Jeter and Giambi were awful behind him defensively. He was being squeezed at the plate as well. Boston also had some bloop hits and another that was deflected by Pettitte’s reflexes away from defenders. Now nobody cares about Andy showing that he is in fact human in a big game just how people now view Brian Bruney’s 1.1 shutout innings for a win as critical when they would have viewed it as meaningless. Luis Vizcaino and Mariano Rivera would have never gotten the chance to combine for 2 shutout innings without the comeback either to close out the game.

This was more than just a win. It was a sign that this team can realistically win a championship this season. The Yankees can carry this with them for the rest of the year. They can call on this experience when things look bleak in October. If they can overcome a 5 run deficit off a pair of the game’s best relievers without recording an out, they will have confidence in any situation. This was a complete team effort. Guys were picking others up. Jeter, Giambi, and Cabrera helped avenge themselves, but if the other guys did not follow suit, none of it would have mattered. Those three would have been goats. Looking into that dugout, one could see guys who desperately wanted each other to succeed and had fun playing together. They were playing not only for themselves but they had that extra edge because they wanted to help their teammates succeed. Games like these build that camaraderie. This sent a message that even if the Red Sox win the division, it is a one year loan. It also sent a message that the Yankees are not just a collection of talent unlike in years past. This is an elite team.

The Yanks now will look to build on this by sending Chien-Ming Wang to the mound against Boston’s ace, Josh Beckett. The Yanks have a golden opportunity to send Boston into a spiral of doubt. Last night was a devastating loss for the Sox, regardless of what the standings suggest. If that game was not important, Terry Francona would have never rushed Papelbon into the game for a 6 out save. The Red Sox were desperate for a win, and they failed to get one. Losing to the Yanks was a dagger. Wang can help stick that dagger a little bit deeper.

Yankees Fans Sing Sweet Caroline

Here is a little YouTube clip to get people into the spirit for this weekend’s series against Boston. For those of you who do not know, one of the traditions at Fenway Park is for Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond to play over the stadium loudspeaker during the middle of the 8th inning. A few Yankees fans sung their own version during last season’s epic five game sweep.

Perry: Red Sox Are Baseball’s Best Because I Said So

Dayn Perry of FoxSports.com recently wrote an article on the website proclaiming the Red Sox as the best organization in baseball. This seems like a valid enough position. There is no question that the guys up in Boston have done a great job in building that franchise. Even the most diehard Yankees fan can admit that. The problem comes with his criteria. There is absolutely no discernible way that the Red Sox beat the Yankees in a number of his arguments.

Dedicated ownership

Since a consortium led by John Henry, Tom Werner and the New York Times Company purchased the Red Sox from the Yawkey Trust in 2002, the team has consistently ranked near the top of the league in payroll. This season, they’re second only to the New York Yankees with a payroll of more than $143 million.

Henry and company have shown a terminal willingness to invest in their product. That means locking up veteran performers, being active on the free-agent market and taking on salary at the deadline and also plowing money into the scouting and development budgets. With skinflint owners like Jeffrey Loria and Carl Pohlad too much with us, it’s nice to see a “sporting gentleman” type like Henry who sees the value of putting a good product on the field.

All of this is true. Henry and company are much better than greedy misers like Loria and Pohlad. He does a great job investing in his product, and the fans have to appreciate that. The problems start with Perry’s payroll argument. Everybody knows that the Yankees have the game’s highest payroll. If that is a reflection of having an owner who spends, the Yanks do not lose in this category. The Red Sox may lock up some veteran performers, but they also refused to spend the money to keep the heart and soul of their team, Johnny Damon, from going to their hated rivals. The difference in salaries was reportedly $3 million annually. That is a drop in the bucket for a team with Boston’s money. Sox ownership also claimed poverty in refusing to pick up Bobby Abreu from the Phillies even though they showed in the offseason that the money was there. That shoots a hole in the taking on salary at the deadline better than the Yankees argument.

A gifted and varied front office

Boston’s many-tentacled front office is of course led by wunderkind Theo Epstein. Despite his youth, Epstein has proved himself to be a gifted operator, but he owes much to his impressive support staff. You’ve got seasoned baseball men like Allard Baird and Craig Shipley, new-school types like Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer and, of course, the wisdom of Bill James. It’s up to Epstein to build a consensus and evaluate all those inputs. Needless to say, he does that exceptionally well.

Brian Cashman won three World Series rings with smaller payrolls than Epstein was working with when he won his one. Look at the way his moves rebuilt the 2000 World Champions on the fly. Look at the scrap heap pickups he made in 2005 that propelled the Yanks to the postseason. Look at the way he has taken one of the game’s worst farm systems and turned it into one of the best in the two years he has gained full autonomy. Look at how his relentless calls to the Rangers convinced Texas to trade Alex Rodriguez to New York. Cashman certainly has had help, primarily from Damon Oppenheimer, a man whose firing I called for back in 2005. Oppenheimer was responsible for the drafting of Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain last year. Gene Michael is one of the most innovative minds in baseball. He had the Yankees focusing on on base percentage a decade before Moneyball popularized the statistic. Mark Newman is a highly-respected baseball man. The Yankees own a formidable front office.

Rebuilding while contending

Here’s perhaps what’s most impressive. Remaining in contention while improving the farm system is one of the most challenging things for an organization — most often, teams focus on one to the neglect of the other. Under Epstein, however, the Sox have pulled it off, and this season provides the perfect example. As mentioned, the Red Sox are the best team in baseball in 2007, and much of that success is attributable to rookie bestowals. For instance, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia, Hideki Okajima, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Kason Gabbard (since traded to Texas) have all made vital contributions this season. Much like the great Braves teams of the 1990s, the current Red Sox aren’t afraid to plug in young talent in the midst of a pennant drive.

It’s also impressive that the Sox have been able to improve their young talent base to such an extent despite not having high picks in the June draft. In the Henry era, the Sox have picked 55th, 27th, 23rd, 65th, 17th and 57th in the drafts. Those are low picks, but the Sox have still been able to dig up useful talents like Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester, Matt Murton (now with the Cubs), Cla Meredith (now with the Padres), Buchholz and Brian Bannister (unsigned and redrafted by the Mets a year later), among others. Indeed, the Sox have cultivated a keen eye for digging up talents in the draft.

This is just ridiculous. Matsuzaka and Okajima were free agent acquisitions. Gabbard did help, but he is gone now in exchange for Eric Gagne, which has not looked like a great trade to this point. Perry does name a few valid players for his argument. Pedroia has been great. Ellsbury and Bucholz have been good so far. So has Papelbon. Lester has a ton of potential. However, if we are going to praise Theo for finding Cla Meredith, why not criticize for trading him for a below average backup catcher, Doug Mirabelli? Why does he get credit for Bannister but none for failing to sign him? Murton he gets a pass on since that was part of the Orlando Cabrera deal that helped them win the 2004 World Series.

The main point is that there is no way Perry can argue these guys have had more of an impact than the Yankees’ young talent has. Chien-Ming Wang and Robinson Cano filled gaping holes in the 2005 team. Melky Cabrera did in 2006. Joba Chamberlain solidified a shaky bullpen in 2007. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have held down rotation spots that were question marks. Outside of Papelbon and Pedroia, no homegrown talent has had much of impact since the Red Sox jumped out to a seemingly insurmountable lead in the East this season. One could include Okajima, who was a legitimate steal on the free agent market, but Daisuke Matsuzaka has been up and down all season and is fading. That signing has not justified the money so far.

Becoming players in the Pacific Rim

The Sox shelled out a lot of bucks to sign Matsuzaka, and the results have been mixed at this point. However, he’s only going to get better. On another level, inking Matsuzaka and Okajima was a coup for Boston, and it now establishes them alongside the Mariners and Yankees as the destinations for high-profile Asian talents. The influx of Asian ballplayers is only going to increase, so Boston’s strong presence in the Pacific Rim is a valuable thing.

Let us ignore the question of why there is no outcome for Matsuzaka possible aside from getting better. The trend for Japanese starters has been that they get hit harder once the league sees them, but that discussion is for another time. The Yankees have by far the most popular player in Japanese baseball. Perry even admits that the Red Sox are not distinguishably better than the Yankees in this area.

Building the brand

This season, the Red Sox lead the majors in road attendance, which speaks to the prominence and far-flung popularity of Red Sox Nation. According to Forbes, the Red Sox have increased their franchise valuation from $230 million in 1998 to $617 million in 2006. Suffice it to say, that’s strong growth, and it’s made even more impressive by the fact that the Red Sox toil in a media market that’s smaller than New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the Bay Area.

Finally, Perry can demonstrate an area where Boston beats New York. The Red Sox lead in road attendance. How valid are his findings, though? Is the sample size too small? This is the first time since 2001 that the Yankees have not led that category (The Yanks finished ahead of the Red Sox in 2001 also). For some reason, Perry uses out of date Forbes franchise values. The Red Sox are worth $724 million in 2007. The Yankees finish ahead again.

Sticking to the plan

Of course, all of it would be for naught if the Sox were burdened with leaders who can’t adhere to the prevailing vision. Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and Epstein all buy into the mission, and they all pursue it with relentless consistency. Recently, we’ve seen this quality borne out in the deployment of Buchholz. How many organizations, in the throes of a pennant race, would be willing to dispatch a popular young pitcher back to the bullpen immediately after he throws a no-hitter? Credit Epstein and manager Terry Francona for not bowing to pressure and keeping their minds and eyes on the ultimate goal. The Buchholz affair is but one example of this.

The Yankees have been steadfast in their refusal to deal top prospects like Cano, Wang, Cabrera, Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain, Alan Horne, and others. That is sticking to a vision. The jury is still out on what the Red Sox did. They are having starting pitchingissues, and they sent an extremely talented pitching coming off a no-hitter out of the rotation. There is no conceivable way to make a final assessment of any merit on that move at this point. It might work out, but it is in no way a slam dunk.

On the whole, you’ve got an organization that should be the envy of all others in baseball. The Boston Red Sox in 2007 are the best team on the field, and they’re the best team in the front office. So don’t be surprised if they’re hoisting a few more trophies in the years to come.

The Red Sox have won the most games this season. That is why they are the envy of baseball. This is not to say that they do not have the best organization in baseball. It is not to say that they do either. It is simply a critique of a poorly written and researched article. Perry did not successfully argue one area where the Red Sox have a clear advantage over the Yankees. The Yankees were discernibly better in many of his talking points. Boston may run the best organization in baseball, but Perry did nothing to prove that the Red Sox trump the Yankees.

NY Post: New Postseason Rules Could Hurt Yanks

The New York Post has an article by Larry Brooks expanding on the new postseason format.

The Post has learned, the AL regular-season champion will be given the choice of whether to play Division Series A, in which the if-necessary five games are scheduled to be played in seven days beginning on Thurs, Oct. 4; or in Division Series B, in which the five games are scheduled to be played in eight days.

Is it such a stretch to think that the Red Sox, who went into last night leading the Angels by 2½ and the Indians by 3½ for the league’s best record, wouldn’t jump at the chance to play the eight-day series if for no other reason than to require the Yankees to play the seven-day series so Joba Chamberlain would only be available for three games, instead of the four in which he’d be allowed to pitch in the extended version?

All of these off days are ridiculous. They are going to completely throw teams out of the rhythms they developed playing every day for six months, which is only going to lead to sloppy play. However, if baseball insists on doing things this way, this is a fair rule. There should be an advantage to being the best team in the regular season. This does give the Yankees more incentive to keep pushing in their longshot quest to recapture the division title.

Yanks move up 1/2 game – Boston loses to Tampa Bay tonight…

The Boston Red Sox lost to Tampa Bay tonight, by the score of 1-0. Scott Kazmir was outstanding for the Rays – he is certainly one that has stiffled the Yankees this season as well…..

The Sox now lead the Yankees by only 5 games, and with a series of 3 in Boston next week, it certainly does make things in the AL East very, very interesting…. what an exciting September!