Red Sox Remind Bronx Bombers Who Defending Champs Are

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Red Sox Win Series 3-1

I - BOS 19; NYY 3

II - BOS 10; NYY 5

III - BOS 9; NYY 5

IV - NYY 9; BOS 6

If the defending champion Red Sox proved anything over the weekend, it is that they are alive and very well.  You might even call this most recent series a reverse Boston Massacre of forty-some years ago at Fenway Park.  Only this time it was the Red Sox inflicting the great majority of damage.  Make no mistake, underestimating or overlooking Boston at this stage would be folly considering they've closed to within one game of the second wild card spot.  It's been a slow climb but they're now eleven games over .500 and 10-7 since the break.

The Yankees did well in salvaging the series finale at Fenway Park on Sunday.  It was the least they could do after getting doubled-up by a 44-22 run disparity through four games.  In fact, this was exactly the kind of wake up call Bronx County needed.  Sure the Yankees still own a nine game lead over Boston, whom still must leapfrog the Rays.  But sometimes it can get pretty lonely and somewhat boring when you're alone at the top as the Yankees have been.  When the Red Sox were winning last year's division race they at least had the Yankees hot on their heels and keeping them on their toes.  Desperation was in the house on a nightly basis.  Not so with this year's Yankees, who have efficiently cruised this entire season.  Tampa posed an early threat, until the two teams met head-to-head, that is.

This week the Red Sox host a pivotal series against Tampa while the Yankees engage the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium.  After which August will have arrived.  The Yankees and Red Sox then usher in the dog days of summer with a four game series this upcoming weekend at Yankee Stadium.

After last weekend, the Red Sox now lead the American League in runs scored.  The Yankees are a close second.  The Yankees are second in home runs, while the Sox rate sixth.  However, the Sox are second in total bases and team OPS, while the Yankees rank fourth respectively.  The disparity in strikeouts is not as stark as last season.

On the mound however, the Red Sox are second in strikeouts while the Yankees are fifth.  The Yankees are sixth in team ERA and the Sox are a close seventh.  They're neck and neck in batting average against.  But the Yankees lead the league with 35 team saves which has been Boston's Achilles heal this season but are much improved of late.

The trade deadline will have come and gone by the time these teams meet again.  We'll see if either general manager makes any season altering transactions then.