This Red Sox-Yankees rivalry now needs some good old mutual hate
The Red Sox have made the postseason six times since all of the good things finally happened for them, and you, in October 2004. The Yankees have actually made the postseason more often in the 13-year span from when history turned against them until now, earning eight playoff berths. The Red Sox have three titles since then, ’04 included. The Yankees own one, in ’09, which if I’m not mistaken was the first championship of any kind in their long history. I’ll double-check on that.
The last decade and a half has been the good old days for the Red Sox, but it’s not as if it has coincided with a Yankees collapse. The Yankees have had their scattered autumn moments, too, though not as many as they were used to in the dynastic ’90s when — yes, I am aware — they actually did win four of their 27 World Series titles. Yet remarkably, through all of those relatively recent October visits between the two franchises and all of the talent they have accumulated and cash spent, they have not collided for a single playoff game since Johnny Damon and the Red Sox vanquished all ghosts in Game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship Series.
The rivalry still exists, of course. It’s too entrenched in our sports culture to ever truly fade. It’s just that in some seasons it is more latent than others, dependent wholly on the state of both teams. It’s not just that the teams both need to be contenders, though that is of course a huge factor. For the rivalry to reach maximum contentiousness and appeal, charismatic characters are required as well, which is why that blandly corporate ’09 Yankees team (and the loaded but business-like ’07 Red Sox, to some degree) aren’t remembered quite as fondly as some of the dynamic late ’90s and early 2000s teams for both franchises. I’m convinced part of the reason even good Red Sox teams are portrayed as boring nowadays is because nothing will ever match having the can’t-look-away star power of Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz on the same roster.
Lately these Red Sox-Yankees matchups have had the least amount of buzz since, oh, the early ’90s, when the Yankees surrounded Don Mattingly with a revolving cast of hapless Oscar Azocar-types. They were barely on the periphery of relevance then, but their farm system was percolating with their next generation of superstars — Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. I’m sure Yankees fans still long for their collective heyday, even with their burgeoning success now.
But there may be a new heyday on the way, at least as far as the rivalry is concerned. This very well may be the season they are finally reunited in the playoffs. But first, there’s the matter of an actual pennant race. The Yankees are a half-game behind the Red Sox in the American League East after a New York loss and a dramatic Red Sox win Tuesday night. This matters. Winning the division is crucial since the wild-card teams are at a disadvantage, with a one-game playoff determining which one moves on and which goes home.
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This isn’t how it was supposed to be this year. The Red Sox, with new arrival Chris Sale fronting the rotation and a lineup of presumably ascending young stars, were the heavy favorites to win the division. The Yankees, meanwhile, were supposedly in a deep and prolonged rebuilding mode. But a funny thing has happened — and not funny ha-ha if you’re the Red Sox, I suppose: The Yankees’ young talent has broken through in bulk this year, while virtually every hitter in the Red Sox lineup has regressed or underperformed in a post-Ortiz world.
Given that two of the more notable story lines this baseball season are Aaron Judge’s knack for clobbering baseballs to distances even peak Mark McGwire couldn’t reach and the Red Sox lineup’s collective power outage, it comes as little surprise that the Yankees slugger has as many homers (34) as the Red Sox’
two long-ball leaders combined (Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, 17 each). What does come as a surprise is that Brett Gardner (19 homers) would lead the Red Sox.
Red Sox fans thought their team was the one with the young core that would be set for a half-dozen years. And they are deep in young, elite talent, despite the unexpected frustrations in the performances of Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, and even Betts. But the Yankees suddenly have talent to envy, too, with Judge, Gary Sanchez (who already is an accomplished Red Sox killer), and Clint Frazier at the forefront.
Brett Gardner was mobbed by teammates Aaron Judge, Tyler Wade, and Gary Sanchez after he hit a walk off home run in the 11th inning.
Monday’s trading deadline only emphasized that the temperature is about to rise again on the rivalry. The Yankees got the starting pitcher they needed when they acquired Sonny Gray from Oakland, adding him to previously acquired reinforcements Jaime Garcia, David Robertson, and Tommy Kahnle. (Forget third baseman Todd Frazier. He’s an all-or-nothing nonfactor, and had the Red Sox acquired him rather than the Yankees, we probably wouldn’t yet know the joy that is Rafael Devers.)
Even begrudgingly, you have to admire Yankees general manager Brian Cashman’s accelerated rebuild and his savvy knack for adding reinforcements. But the Red Sox bolstered their roster before the deadline as well, adding third baseman Eduardo Nunez, who already has aided the cause more than Pablo Sandoval ever did, and reliever Addison Reed, the dependable eighth-inning arm they desperately needed.
If the Red Sox are to win the division, they need a few ifs to go their way. If David Price is healthy and focused more on pitching than petty misguided media feuds . . . if Dustin Pedroia’s knee holds up . . . if established hitters begin performing to their capability . . . if Devers and Nunez can make third base something more than a sinkhole . . . if a few breaks go their way, the AL East can go their way, too.
But know this, too: The Yankees aren’t going away. The teams play 10 more times, all between Aug. 11 and Sept. 3. Seven of those games are in New York. It’s not going to be an easy road. The division title matters, and it is going to be earned, just as it should be.
And then, once that is settled, perhaps they’ll renew acquaintances in October, too. Let’s hope so. It’s been too long.
Yankees fans should respectfully loathe Mookie Betts. Red Sox fans should respectfully loathe Aaron Judge. The rivalry is on the way back. Now all it needs is a little bit of that good old mutual hatred.
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