Smoltz Starts Sox Series Showdown

As the date indicates, it is time for the Yankees to “86” the outcome of the head-to-head meetings with the Boston Red Sox. Redemption time is here and the Bombers are about to settle the score. New York and Boston have plenty on the line as they collide in a classic AL East battle tonight in the bandbox Bronx ballpark. This late season four game series could determine which team wins the division. Tempers are sure to flare whenever the greatest rivalry in baseball occurs. It should be interesting to see if the Yankees can come out of this series on the winning end.
A stabilized Joba Chamberlain is the starting pitcher for the home team in Game 1 tonight. The Bombers’ hurler is 3-0 with a .83 ERA since the All-star break. The right-hander hasn’t been very successful against the division rival Red Sox, however. He will face a young and deep Red Sox lineup, which has defeated the Bombers eight times already this year. New York has yet to beat the pesky Red Sox in 2009 and will have another opportunity against their old tomahawk foe, John Smoltz. Smoltz is not the same fastball pitcher he once was and the Yankees have not seen him in a while. Most of the 2009 men in pinstripes have not faced Smoltz often. Boston skipper, Terry Francona, is integrating Casey Kotchman and Victor Martinez into the order tonight. Kotchman will handle first base for the visitors, and Martinez will be the backstop. The switch-hitting former Cleveland Indian Martinez adds a vicious bat and flexibility to the lineup. Victor will be without some protection in the first two games. Jason Bay is expected to sit those out for Boston. How the Red Sox and Yankees respond to the importance of this series tonight will be indicative of how the four games will play out. No matter what they players say, this series is huge.
The Yankees are 14-5 since the All-Star break and aren’t the only team with resourceful sluggers. New York has some versatility and usefulness in Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston, Jr. Hairston is a patient hitter with pop. He has eight homeruns this year. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira are red hot and surging as of late. The bullpen has done a great job and the starters have been eating up innings. The team is clicking on all cylinders and is assertive in making the small plays that don’t show up in the box score. The Yankees finished a two game sweep of the Toronto Bluejays and are riding a three game winning streak to boost their confidence heading into the Boston series.
Chamberlain and the Yankees begin the series as the better team. Boston has the upper hand in the season series, but the Bombers hold the division’s best record and can only gain more ground by adding wins this weekend. It is time to “86” the Sox. Boston has scored first in six of the eight games this season against New York. The Bombers have committed ten errors to Boston’s three. The Yankees have their best chance to win the series this time around because their bullpen is much stronger than it was earlier in the year. And, the Red Sox have more question marks in their starting rotation. Here’s to a terrific performance by the Yankees on Thursday night and an outstanding homestand.
Parting points: Good decision by Lou Holtz not to run for Congress. I like Lou and all, but anyone with a lisp should not be in politics.