State of the Rivalry

Here we are in the first weekend of June. June people!

The Yankees are currently 13.5 games back behind the division leader. They also have one game at that particular leaders' home and then go on the road to play the Chicago White Sox for a four game stretch without new free agent signing Roger Clemens (who will be out for the series with a minor groin pull).

Let me declare this series is still very relevant, the Yankees have the best line-up in baseball, pitching throughout the league will continue to get banged-up. However they also have a bullpen that is getting more and more banged up as the year progresses. You really can take the effort to blame coach Joe Torre for this infraction against his arms.

Calling for his job is another matter, this is a guy who has coached the Yankees to 6 W.S. appearances! Give him a shitty bullpen and you have exposed his weakness, he overuses his bullpen every year. He has an uncanny knack for knowing when a guy is toast and when to start warming up a xouple relievers, give him bad pitching all- around and you are setting him up for disaster. Still Joe should be untouchable.

The Sox meanwhile continue to be the team that just wins the majoity of its' games. I have always been a believer in the theory that if you take 2/3 in every series you will win your division very easily and although it sounds like common sense, nobody really goes all out for that stat like they should....until now.

Francona is flying under the radar like a U-2 plane in China these days. if he wins a W.S. again he might go down as the 3rd most popular coach in Boston history. (1. Red Auerbach, 2. Bill Belichiek, 3. Tito Francona) and this Sox team doesn't look close to done, especially compared to the Yankees team of 2007:

Clemens, Pettite: I would be shocked if these guys play another season
Damon: Looks like a 12 year old when he throws the ball.
A-Rod: Soooooo gone after this year, really, do think he likes N.Y.?
Giambi: 'Nuff said. They might just make him disappear altogether (he's a 10/5 guy)
Matsui: hey, I love the guy but he ain't gettin' any younger
Jeter: ditto
Moose: ditto
Posada: ditto
Mo Rivera: ditto
Abreu, M-witz, Proctor, Pavano, etc.: Ships passing in the night

That leaves:
Cano, Wang, Melky, Hughes, Nieves as the basis of your next Yankees dynasty.

This message with self destruct in 5 seconds.

P.S. if your 20 games out by the all-star break Roger ain't stickin' around. Neither is A-Rod. Ouch. But that's what happens when you base a relationship on money.