For the first time in the past ten years, the Boston Red Sox begin the 2008 Baseball Season as the AL East Champions.
They begin this year as World Champions. As for their hated rivals down 1-95 South, the Yankees begin the year in unfamiliar territory—chasing.
Finishing second in the East in 2007 has put the Yankees in the position of underdog. This effect will only add to the intrigue that Yankees-Red Sox affairs involve.
Here's a look at the new faces to this rivalry.
In Joe Girardi, NY now has a manager who is fiery and will not allow the Sox pitchers to throw at Yankees batters whenever they feel like it. Can any Yankee fan remember Joe Torre kicking dirt over home plate and spitting in an umpires face? I doubt it, but come this year, that won't be so unusual.
Girardi is a hands-on, in-game type of manager. A complete turn around from the laid back style that Torre used.
Now to the faces of this rivalry.
The Yankees will have Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy in big roles while the Red Sox counter with young guns Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz. And don't forget Jacoby Ellsbury in center.
These young kids will spark the rivalry and add new life to it. Gone are the days of the "Roid Rager" throwing at Manny, Sheffield throwing at a fan in RF, and Pedro throwing down Zimmer but here are the days of the young guns. Expect a whole new bunch of antics and fireworks to blossom this spring as the Yanks and Sox revive their rivalry with new blood.
While the faces are changing, the rivalry is certainly not fading.
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