Condition critical for Red Sox as Yankees come to town
Article By cbahr.tsn on 7th May, 2010
Despite several banged-up players and a few slumping All-Stars, the Yankees appear primed to defend their World Series championship. The Red Sox, however, have struggled to stay near .500.
Boston, which got a fundamental makeover this past offseason with an emphasis on pitching and defense, has struggled to find its identity. Its 4.79 rotation ERA ranks 21st in the majors, and its 4.68 team ERA ranks 23rd. Defensively, the Red Sox are 15th with a .982 fielding percentage. Last season, Boston committed 18 errors through May 6 (in 28 games); this season, it has 20 errors in 29 games.
The Red Sox have recovered from a 4-9 start, but given the hole they dug in a division that features the teams with the majors' best two records, hovering around .500 won't cut it.
Why this weekend's series against New York is vital to Boston:
Are things turning around for Big Papi's bat? Division dominance: The Rays (21-7) and Yankees (19-8) have been superb, and the Red Sox are a combined 1-6 against the AL East front-runners. Even more alarming, all seven of those games have come at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay's biggest weakness last season is now a strength. The Rays went 32-49 on the road in 2009, but they are 12-1 away from Tropicana Field this season. They have scored the most runs in the majors, and their starters' 2.51 ERA and 17 wins are both best in the majors.
Despite slow starts from Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson, the Yankees are second in the AL in runs scored and first in the majors in OPS. Their starting pitchers not named Javier Vazquez are 15-1 with a 2.14 ERA, and they have survived the past week without Mariano Rivera.
The Red Sox can't expect the Rays and Yankees to suddenly come back to the pack, so they must get some head-to-head wins.
Fenway factor: Boston's 56 home wins last season were second to the Yankees' 57. But the home-field advantage has been lackin...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Boston, which got a fundamental makeover this past offseason with an emphasis on pitching and defense, has struggled to find its identity. Its 4.79 rotation ERA ranks 21st in the majors, and its 4.68 team ERA ranks 23rd. Defensively, the Red Sox are 15th with a .982 fielding percentage. Last season, Boston committed 18 errors through May 6 (in 28 games); this season, it has 20 errors in 29 games.
The Red Sox have recovered from a 4-9 start, but given the hole they dug in a division that features the teams with the majors' best two records, hovering around .500 won't cut it.
Why this weekend's series against New York is vital to Boston:
Are things turning around for Big Papi's bat? Division dominance: The Rays (21-7) and Yankees (19-8) have been superb, and the Red Sox are a combined 1-6 against the AL East front-runners. Even more alarming, all seven of those games have come at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay's biggest weakness last season is now a strength. The Rays went 32-49 on the road in 2009, but they are 12-1 away from Tropicana Field this season. They have scored the most runs in the majors, and their starters' 2.51 ERA and 17 wins are both best in the majors.
Despite slow starts from Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson, the Yankees are second in the AL in runs scored and first in the majors in OPS. Their starting pitchers not named Javier Vazquez are 15-1 with a 2.14 ERA, and they have survived the past week without Mariano Rivera.
The Red Sox can't expect the Rays and Yankees to suddenly come back to the pack, so they must get some head-to-head wins.
Fenway factor: Boston's 56 home wins last season were second to the Yankees' 57. But the home-field advantage has been lackin...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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