Peter Gammons and Jason Stark are both predicting the Yankees will win it all this year. Looking at their pitching I can't really see how they feel they have more arms than Boston, or even Toronto. Pitching is what gets you into October and it's what keeps you there, playing when everyone else has gone home for the winter and booked their tee times. Yes, they have Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina. But Jaret Wright? Carl Pavano, who blew up in every aspect last season? Do they think Chien-Ming Wang will have as good as a season this year as he ended last season?
Actually they do. They're counting on it.
They do have guys like Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon waiting in the wings in case one of them blows up. Their bullpen is a lot better than it was last year, signing Mike Myers, Octavio Dotel, Ron Villone, and keep Kyle Farnsworth under their hat.
Their hitting has improved just by signing Johnny Damon. No one would argue that, but don't forget: he'll be playing 81 games in Yankees Stadium, which isn't the friendly confines of Fenway. His average will most certainly drop, as some of his numbers will increase but don't expect hir HRs and RBIs to shoot through the roof because he's wearing pinstripes.
Damon seems to have shed his Yankee hating persona a lot quicker than expected. Obviously he is proud of where he plays, but to go from Far Left to Far Right in one offseason? Pretty hard to wonder if his heart was ever in Boston.
“ This is the greatest franchise on this planet. Everyone knows what the New York Yankees are. You either love 'em or you hate 'em. And it's my turn to love 'em. ”
Well, Johnny, here in Boston, we feel quite the opposite of you. We hate the Yankees and we hate you.
And for those two reasons, this will be an even more memorable year for us Sox fans.
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