The reverent bias towards the NY Yankees has become automatic and fairly universal. The announcers on ESPN and especially Fox…
Pettitte has been the Yankees' best starter today; will he be the stopper for them that he's been so long? He didn't give up a walk or a strikeout in his last outing (seven innings) so that may not bode well for him. On Masterson's side, he'll likely struggle with Yankee players laying off his sinker. If he can stay in the zone, he'll go long. Otherwise, it'll be a short outing.
Burnett has gotten off to a great start and has a good chance of snapping Boston's eight-game winning streak due to his career 5-0, 2.56 ERA record against the Sox. Meanwhile, Beckett returns from suspension and takes his turn on five days rest. He hasn't given up a homer on the year yet. One winning streak has to come to an end today.
And so it begins....video after the jump.
For Red Sox fans, there is a "second Opening Day" to the season; the first time their familiar foes from New York line up across the diamond. The first series of the season against the New York Yankees takes on a heightened feeling as if New England takes a collective breath and bears down saying, "Baseball season is officially in full swing."
The rest of the nation may be sick of the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry, but the beauty of it for New Englanders is, that through all the hype, these games still matter and more often than not, live up to the anticipation that proceeds them.
Big Papi, David Ortiz, issued a stark warning to Joba Chamberlain to watch his step, reported the New York Post.
Chamberlain seems to have an issue with Kevin Youkilis, having thrown the ball at or near his head four times in the last two years -- which is a rather striking number. The 2007 incidents earned him a suspension while one of the 2008 pitches almost sparked a brawl.
"None of that, man -- just play the game the way it's supposed to be, and that's about it. This is a guy, as good as he is, the next step for him will be to earn respect from everybody in the league. He's not a bad guy, but when things like that happen, people get the wrong idea."
In advance of the Yankees coming to town tomorrow for a three-game set in what will be the unofficial start of baseball season around here, I figure we should get caught up with what's going on in Yankeeland.
After the jump we bring you up to speed on CC Sabathia's struggles, the injury report plus a breakdown of the pitcher's the Sox will face this weekend.