Boston Red Sox: New Wild-Card Rule Will Refuel Rivalry with Yankees

Since the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and again in 2007, it seems as though the rivalry with the New York Yankees has cooled off a bit. 

With the way the playoff system was set up there was no real sense of urgency to win the division, as the Red Sox won the World Series as a Wild Card both years, which seemed to deflate the rivalry a bit. 

But with Major League Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement, a second wild-card team could be added to the mix as soon as next season. The second wild-card team would create a one-game, sudden death playoff between the two wild-card teams to see who has the right to play in the divisional round.

The second wild-card team adds a whole new element to baseball as it once again means a great deal to win your division. It will no longer be as easy to win the World Series coming out of the Wild Card, as you could play one bad game and be out of the playoffs.

It is often argued that the 162-game baseball season is far too long and that games in April and May do not mean anything, but that is no longer the case. Every single division game matters now. When the Yankees and Red Sox meet up in April, the games will be just as meaningful as when they meet up in August and September.

When a team takes the mindset that one game is more important than another, that team finds itself in trouble at the end of the year. With the division title much more important, every division game needs to be taken just as seriously as the next.

The simple fact that every division game is more important should heat up the rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees. It should also add some fire to the games between the Red Sox and Rays, as Tampa Bay has established itself as a legitimate contender in the AL East.

Hopefully we get to see some more moments like when Pedro tossed Don Zimmer by his big head to the ground, or when Jason Varitek gave A-Rod's face some nice leather on the first base line. 

It certainly would help fuel the rivalry as well if the Red Sox end up hiring Bobby Valentine to be their next manager, as he managed opposite Joe Torre on New York's other team, the Mets, and is not afraid to stir the pot.