Yankees vs. Boston Preview

3 Game Series

The Red Sox will be sending out their 3 guns, while the Yankees have their old reliable rifle and 2 starter pistols. But you never know.


Friday - Andy Pettitte vs. Curt Schilling

Saturday - Jeff Karstens vs. Josh Beckett

Sunday - Chase Wright vs. Dice-K


It took 14 games before Manny Ramirez finally hit one out of the park. Ramirez's HR tied the Jays up in the 8th yesterday, and the Sox went on to win in the 9th. Manny being Manny meant admiring his home run for a good 10 seconds or more before his walk broke out into a trot. Why doesn't anyone ever put one in this guy's ear? Manny has just reached the .200 level.

The Sox are getting solid starting pitcher so far, but their bats have been asleep. Hopefully they stay that way this weekend.

David Ortiz got off to a slow start, but Big Papi now has 5 HR and 13 RBI to go along with a .288 average.

Kevin Youkillis (.235), Jason Varitek (.189), Dustin Pedroia (.167), and Coco Crisp (.167) are all off to horrendous starts. On the other hand, J.D. Drew, who meaning talking heads feel will melt in the NY-Boston spotlight, has been hitting a torrid .341 with 8 walks.

The Sox bullpen has been a big worry to the team and understandably so. After failing to find a closer in spring training, the Sox restored Jon Papelbon to that role. That also meant, for the moment, moving Julian Tavarez, into the starting rotation. Mike Timlin has just returned from a strained oblique muscle, and is still struggling to find his way.

~~~

This little news item was barely noticeable yesterday. Humberto Sanchez underwent Tommy John surgery and is out for the rest of the year and part of next year. I happened to see a blurb about this on Rotoworld yesterday. But no mention during the radio broadcast of the game, or on any local radio sports updates.

Brian Cashman claims that no evidence of the ligament issue showed up on any scans, but became quite clear when Dr. James Andrews opened Sanchez's elbow up.

Mr. MRI himself, Carl Pavano, was found to have inflammation in his elbow and won't be back any time soon.