Long time Boston Radio personality, Eddie Andelman coined the term “Yankee Elimination Party” back in 2002 when it looked like a hot, Manny Ramirez-led Boston Red Sox were off to the type of start that might have the New York Yankees on their heels and while 2004 celebrated the Elimination Party to end all Yankee Elimination Parties, a regular season elimination hasn’t happened in the Bronx since 1993.
The post-Aaron Boone Red Sox have clearly held the upper hand in the once lopsided rivalry, winning two World Series titles and wrestling the American League East crown from the Yankees mantle where it had sat under a decade of dust. But to the Yankees credit, post-strike baseball has yet to see a season pass without pinstripes in the post-season.
Enter 2008.
Nine and a half games separate the Yankees from the Rays atop the American League East leaving them with a 1.1% chance reclaiming their crown. But more troubling for the Yankees aspirations of continuing their post-season appearance run to fourteen straight seasons is the five games they trail the Red Sox in the Wild Card race. The Yankees Wild Card chances have slipped into single digits (6.5%).
Could a true September Yankee Elimination Party be right around the corner?
Of course before you count the Yankees out entirely, remember this; one year ago today, the Boston Red Sox held a eight game lead over the New York Yankees in the division. A lead they would see whittled away to five games following a 8/28 – 8/30 three game sweep in Yankee Stadium. A lead that would eventually fall to a mere game and a half only three weeks later.
Flash forward to tonight and the upcoming three game set that will likely see the last Boston Red Sox/New York Yankee game in the “House That Ruth Built”.
The Red Sox have been handed an opportunity that quite frankly just doesn’t come along often; put ring the death knell on the Yankees regular season.
These games are the Red Sox opportunity to control a modicum of their own fate in September. Should they push the five game deficit to eight, the would not only shutter Yankee Stadium locking Mystique and Aura away for good but also take one looming presence out of the rear view mirror.
However, if last year proves anything, when the Yankees are given an open door they usually find a way to storm through it. You don’t make it to thirteen straight post-seasons without that ability to seize the moment.
One thing is certain, the final series between these two rivals at Yankee Stadium couldn’t not produce at least a little drama along the way.
Loading ...
I find absolutely no reason to be cocky right now. The Yanks have this uncanny way of refusing to stay down even with the euthanizing drugs administered. Hell even Fat Fuck Hanky is claiming there’s still a chance after clamming on about 2009.
This one is seriously for all the marbles. We cannot fuck up and I’m so glad we got Buchholz out in time. I see some that are still willing to cut him some slack but not me. Wake also has to be on his game because he’s been 0-5 his last several starts against NY so run support is essential.
As for Byrd and Lester, well the only game I remember with Byrd pitching against the Yanks was in the last game of the 2007 ALDS, so he’s a toss up. Lester on the other hand I hope has taken the ass whooping he got from Toronto in stride and will pitch effectively once more against the Yanks. Also for the record no one say he’s an automatic win because we know what happened last time. Our bats need to click and when I say click I don’t mean get a hit or two every inning, I mean click like there’s two hits and then an HR or two hits and then an RBI single/double. Ellsbury stop your poor batting judgment. AOs, keep that weird reverse mojo you’ve got going on. Lowrie and Pedroia, keep being awesome.
If we can nail the Yanks this series then my reluctance to completely chase after the AL East will be eased.
The Yanks are in bad shape, but they are by no means out of it, not yet. Crazier things have happened in baseball, crazier things have happened in the AL East, and crazier things have happened between these two teams. These are the two teams in baseball that you never count out completely until it’s a mathematical impossibility.
I’d put my money on the Sox, but I wouldn’t bet more than I could stand to lose.
It shouldn’t be our last series in Yankee Stadium, because it shouldn’t be torn down. The new park is an embarrassment to the city and to baseball as a whole, and shows New York’s total disregard for architecture.
There a little more dangerous now that Melky is not in the line-up and the sony manufactured left fielder has been raking since coming of the dl. I would be more then happy with two out of three. If we just gain a game the three lost games remaining are almost more of a detriment to the Yanks then falling one more back.
I just posted in another dying thread (Ross)…I did not realize Varitek filed for a divorce a few weeks back. Kind of surprising.
Winning the first game tonight is key. Pettite is solid, but he’s not 1999 Pedro, if the Sox can get to him early and let wake pitch with the lead it would be huge. The middle game is one the Sox should win, but it might be a slugfest. Paul Byrd is a below average starter, but it really baffles me that Sidney Ponson is still pitching in the majors. The last game is going to be the toughest, Mussina has been good this year and Lester was real shaky last time out. Of course if the first two games don’t work out Lester can just go into stopper mode where he thrives.
I’ve found it amusing to watch the meida attempt to hype this series, despite the obvious fact that both teams are barely scraping by while the Rays refuse to let up… I will say this, both teams are desperate for wins right now, so if the frustration sets in early, we could see some fireworks…
All right, I’m for hyperbole as much as the next guy, but 14-7 in August (thus far) is hardly “scraping by”. They’ve dealt well with injury and Byrd’s done what he’s supposed to do.
And, Devine, winning on the road with key starters on the DL. This continues to be a good balanced team with surprises and big plays coming throughout the lineup, including more from Coco, Cash, Bailey, Ells, Cora.
sounds good having the yankees not in. red sox in the season isnt over till its over power 2 the red sox nation
Great point, Frank. Yankees could end up playing spoiler.
Sean, you are right again. Yankee Stadium is the House that Ruth Built, not the new one. The new park is simply not Yankee Stadium, it is simply the new stadium.
I can’t believe all the happy marketing hooplah about how great it is to replace the field of legends with a new stadium, tearing down one of the most important sports arenas in the world, for profit. Talk about NY Spin. I suggest NYY fans booo the FO, not their own players.
Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Ford, Jackson, etc. walked, talked, cussed and played all those historic games in the old House, which will soon be history. It’s a shame, and I suspect the Babe won’t be too happy about losing his House. Remember what happened the last time he got mad.
What an overblown article. This series means nothing. The Yankees have been in trouble this season for a long, long while. This isn’t 2007.
But, of course, it’s the RED SOX who will put an end to this season, right? Whatever makes you happy, I guess. The Yankees have struggled for an entire season…. but no…. it’s three games against the RED SOX that will decide it. Comical. The Yankees have bigger problems than the Red Sox, believe me. And we’re all looking forward to next season in what was always a transition year.
“…the final series between these two rivals at Yankee Stadium COULDN’T NOT produce at least a little drama along the way.”
Even though that double negative is embarrassing, the assertion is worse. This series will not produce ANY drama. It’s just another series between the Yankees and the mighty franchise-crushing, season-ending RED SOX! I wish it would, for old times sake, but it won’t.
Now that I think about it, the series with the most drama should be the last one at Fenway.
It’s there that the Yankees, with their season all but over, just might have the opportunity to knock the Red Sox out of the wild card.
It could happen.