Not Afraid of these Yankees

    This years New York Yankee team is in first place as of August 6th, one game ahead our Boston Red Sox. I got to admit, I didn't think there would have been a chance in hell these Yanks would overtake the Sox for first place after we had a three game lead a few weeks ago. One things for sure though, I am not afraid of playing this Yankee team.
    We all know the Sox and Yanks are on a collision course to meet in yet another ALCS this year with both of them practically locking up the Wild Card weeks ago. The thing is, there is a very slim chance this Yankee team can beat us in a 7 game series.
    Sure, they both have potent offenses that work up the pitch counts on opposing pitchers. However, the big difference between the two teams is we have two solid aces in Lester and Beckett to their one, C.C. Sabathia.  There is no way as a Yankee fan you can honestly believe Bartolo, A.J. or Freddy can lead the way behind C.C. for your team in the playoffs.
    The winner of the AL East will seem to have an easier road to the ALCS taking on Detroit or Cleveland rather than Texas in the ALDS. That's why I believe this division race is going to go down right until the end of September. One things for sure though, the 2011 Boston Red Sox are more of a well rounded team. These two teams will inevitability meet in the ALCS and the Red Sox win in no more than six games, take that to the bank.

Red Sox Trade Deadline Review

One of the most exciting times in baseball has come and gone this past week our beloved Boston Redsox (and yes I say our because anyone who isn't a Boston fan can go elsewhere and read a shitty blog about a team no one cares about) have made two trades over the weekend during baseball's annual trade deadline every July 31.

The first move the Sox made was trading a younger shortstop in Yamaico Navarro to Kansas City for shortstop Mike Aviles. This move will help give the Sox more depth and I see Aviles being used as a great utility guy. He can play any position in the infield and has a lot more experience and pop in his bat than Navarro. Also, the way Jed Lowrie is always hurt and Marco Scutaro getting up there in age the Red Sox need to find a solid shortstop to compete for the starting spot for the 2012 season. Up and comer Jose Inglesis may still need another full year in AAA Pawtucket to help get his bat going. Aviles started out in 2008 and was one of the top rookies in the league finishing the year batting .325 in 102 games. An injury riddled 2009 season set Mike back, but came back strong in 2010 batting .304 in 110 games. He's had a bit of a down year batting only .222 in 53 games with Kansas City, but maybe the change in scenery can help turn things around. None the less, he's a great guy to have as a backup utility infielder and will get a chance to show if he can handle the Boston spotlight.

The second move the Boston Red Sox made is one that could and should have a lot more of an impact on the team. Minutes leading up to the 4 pm deadline the Sox struck a deal trading for LHP Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners in a 3 way trade that also involved the disaster of a franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the news of Bucholtz's back problems the Red Sox knew they had to add another SP to sure up the rotation. Bedard no doubt has the stuff to pitch in the AL East, as he showed pitching for Baltimore from 2004-2007. Ever since he left there and was traded to Seattle he hasn't pitched more than 15 starts a season until this years 16 due to numerous injuries throughout the years. Bedard came off the DL Friday in his last start for Seattle and got shelled by Tampa, but that didn't stop Red Sox GM Theo Epstein from striking a deal with Seattle for the talented lefty. "Were really glad not just to get any starting pitcher but to get somebody who's capable of shutting down any lineup in the league when he's right." said Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. "He's certainly capable of pitching big games for us down the stretch and somebody with enough talent to take the mound in the middle of a pennant race or in a playoff game, if that opportunity presents itself." Well Theo we all know these Red Sox are playoff bound so this move better work out if Clay is out for the rest of the year as rumored. Between Bedard and John Lackey, one of them need to step up these last two months and show they are a solid #3 starter. If one of them don't step up that could hurt the Sox big time when we get to October because we all know when it gets to the playoffs its all about PITCHING.

If Bedard can some how get back to pitching like he was before he went to the DL this year or like any of the four years he was in Baltimore the Red Sox got a guy they can call a solid #3 starter. Behind Beckett and Lester and a healthy Bedard I would feel comfortable going against any team in the playoffs, especially the way our offense has been tearing the cover off the ball. That being said I think the Red Sox made the right moves at the trade deadline. Were coming off one of the best months in franchise history so we didn't need to make a huge acquisition. If Clay is out for the rest of the year the season may just come down to another move Theo Epstein made minutes before the deadline. We all know how that worked out in 2004, lets hope he can do it again.

TMerc's RedSox trade deadline grade B+