New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox Matchup for 2009...Looking at the Numbers!

So let’s look at the numbers here. This is turning out to be quite an interesting offseason. To quote Biggie Smalls - "#$%! done changed."

The Yanks and the Sox are not who they used to be in recent times. In some ways, I think they may more resemble the period where the Sox chase the Yanks...Which historically speaking has been 95 percent of the time.

Let’s say they don’t use Swisher in center and use Gardner instead...I don't think Gardner will bat as badly as last year. He must learn to adjust to MLB pitching. He has a quick bat so I believe he will adjust.

I think they might shop Swisher because they haven’t assigned him a number yet. Swisher has played Center and is a Switch hitting Swisher as well. He is a good defensive outfielder and I'd play him there or at least try him there. You watching this, Joe? This is how I would bat them and pitch them.

Hitting

Name                       Bats                       Lifetime AVG

1.     Damon           L                                  .289

2.     Jeter               R                                  .316

3.     Teixiera         L/R                               .290

4.     Arod               R                                  .303

5.     Posada           L/R                               .277

6.     Matsui            L                                  .295

7.     Nady               R                                 .280

8.     Gardner          L                                  .228

9.     Cano               L                                  .303    

Pitching

     Pitcher              Throws      Lifetime ERA

1. CC Sabathia       L           3.66

2. AJ Burnett         R           3.81

3. Wang                R           3.79

4. Joba                 R           2.17

5. Aceves              R           2.40

There are six pitchers on the Active Roster right now who don’t even have numbers, none with MLB exp. Look for moves and a real competitive spring training where all these kids, Melky and Gardner and Ransom and Hughes, Kennedy, Miranda will have to battle it out.

Who says the Yankees Bench is weak? They also have Austin Jackson and pitcher Andrew Brackman coming back waiting in the wings. Sooner or later, a bunch of good kids are going to come out the Yankees farm system because Cashman is holding onto guys...It is a matter of time and the law of averages.

So, let's look at the Dreaded “Dude lost my razor” Red SaWx:

Name                  Bats                                   Life AVG

1.     Pedroia         R                           .313

2.     Youkless      R                           .289

3.     Lowell          R                            .279

4.     Big Sloppi    L                              .287

5.     Drew            L                            .284

6.     Bay               R                           .282

7.     Elsbury         L                             .293

8.     Lugo             R                            .271

9.     Bard             L/R                          .265

Pitching

Name                     Throws                  Lifetime ERA

1.     Beckett           R                3.78

2.     Dice K            R                 3.72

3.     Lester              L               3.81

4.     Penny              R               4.06

5.     Smoltz             R               3.26

Now, what I see here is a pretty close match with some slight differences. The Red Sox's lineup is skewed to the right-handed guys and they completely lack a lefty power pitcher.

The Yankees have three lifetime above .300 hitters. The Sox have Pedroia. Beckett Smoltz and Penny all have arm problems. I drank a beer once with an old relief pitcher for the Mariners and he told me that even way back when, Beckett was a slow healer and cannot pitch on short rest.

He is getting older and look for problems with him. The catcher I put in for the Red Sox—Bard—was the best of their four picks...Two have no MLB experience at all and the other sports a walloping .200 lifetime batting avg.

Yanks Have the edge across the Board. Red Sox still have no razor endorsements.