2008 Yanks vs Sox
Head to Head 

By Frank Solares

      The 2008 Yanks team will be in my opinion one the best teams in baseball. A combination of Veteran presence and youth will make this team a force in Baseball.

 Position by position this Yankee team can be better than the Sox 2008 team. Now the argument from the Yankee haters is that no one wins titles on paper, and that highest payroll does not guarantee a ring. We can all agree on that fact. Now that spring training is here all we can do until the beginning of the regular season is compare, and since everyone will have a prediction I will give you one as well.

 Position by Position the 08 Yanks are simply better, and after you see the results you might just lean my way.

 Starting in the Outfield –

 Left Field – Johnny Damon vs Manny Ramirez = Manny Ramirez the hitting is two important to overlook. Defense aside, Manny is a better overall player than Johnny Damon.

 Result = Manny

 Centerfield – I know that the sox will have a platoon in Center. So for the sake of argument lets do Melky Cabrera vs Coco Crisp / Jacoby Ellsbury.

Call me crazy but I take two solid years of Melky over 33 games and a magical postseason by Ellsbury. He is the future Centerfielder of the Sox. But the future is not now, so despite the fact that everyone has anointed him the greatest centerfielder in history I need to see him do it over the long haul, is he Jim Rice, or Mike Greenwell?

 Result = Melky

 Right Field – Bobby Abreu vs J.D Drew. This one was difficult pick for me who would I pick if I had one fantasy pick left. So instead of picking with my heart I let the stats do the talking for me. J.D had .270 Bat Avg, 11 HR, 64 RBI, 126 hits in 140 games. With 3 defensive assists. Bobby had .283 Bat Avg. 16 HR, 101 RBI, 171 hits in 158 games played. With 6 outfield assists, and by the way he had an off year.

 Result = Abreu not that close if you ask me.

1B – Platoon Part II Morgan Ensberg / Wilson Betemit vs Sean Casey / Kevin Youkilis –

 Result = Casey / Youkilis duo.

2B – Robinson Cano vs Dustin Pedroia- This match-up will be the argument for the next 10 years, in this great rivalry.  My money is in Robby anytime a hall of fame second baseman compares you to Rod Carew. You win the argument hands down. But since I need to build a case for it so that the Sox fan don’t have Cow. Here are the numbers head to head. Pedroia .317 Bat Avg. 8 HR 50 RBI 165 hits 86 Runs scored (for you non baseball geeks) 139 games played.

Cano .306 Bat Avg. 19 HR 97 RBI 189 hits 93 Runs 160 games played.

But you say. “Not Feahh Pah-Doia needs to be judged by Baseball Cano first Year”.

Ok. Robby first full season in Majors- .297 Bat Avg 14HR 62 RBI 155 hits 78 runs in 132 games played. 

Result = Cano by a landslide

SS – Derek Jeter vs Julio Lugo – To borrow a phrase from one of the best sports minds in the business. “Are you kidding me People?”

Result = Derek Jeter

3B - Arod vs Mike Lowell – Arod!! The best player in Baseball plays 3^rd for one of the greatest teams in sports history, as he embarks on a new contract this TRUE YANKEE! And fan Favorite (we will stick with AROD through thick and thin) will have an MVP season. NO CONTEST WHO IS BETTER!

 Result = Arod 

 Catcher – Jorge Posada vs Jason Varitek -  The Sox Captain calls a great game and anchored one of the best pitching staff in Baseball last year. Despite that fact, the comparisons end at the defensive side of the ball. Hitting is another story. If you take the last 3 years in these players, Posada is the superior hitter.

Veritek- 2005 .281 Avg. 22 HR 70 RBI 132 hits

              2006 .238 Avg. 12 HR 55 RBI   87 hits

              2007 .255 Avg. 17 HR 68 RBI 111 hits

 Posada- 2005 .262 Avg. 19 HR 71 RBI 124 hits

             2006 .277 Avg. 23 HR 93 RBI 129 hits

             2007 .338 Avg. 20 HR 90 RBI 171 hits

He told reporters he was in the greatest shape of his life, and he is looking forward to catch the Youth and to have a great 2008.

 Result = Posada

DH – Jason Giambi vs David Ortiz - No contest!

Result = Ortiz

Pitching head to head

 Josh Beckett vs Andy Pettitte – Beckett has position him self as one of the best pitchers in baseball, if not the best right handed pitcher in the majors.

 Results = Advantage Josh Beckett

 Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Chien-Ming Wang – Wang has won 38 games in two years, no matter what type of pitcher you think he is, if you can pencil him for 19 wins this year he might just be the difference in this East race.

 Results = Advantage Chien-Ming Wang

 Tim Wakefield vs Mike Mussina - Where would the Sox be without Wakefield these last six years? Mussina has heard the whispers of his demise.  

 Results = Push (Look for Mussina to have a great year)

 Jon Lester vs Phil Hughes-   A year older, tougher and smarter, Hughes will be a key puzzle to the Yanks success. He is the Franchise, and if you look at the his minor league stats and innings pitched 25-8 with a 2.13 ERA in 237 innings. If he posted those numbers this years in 200 innings it would look like so. 19-5 with a 1.99 ERA. My prediction Lester in his career will fall a little short of the Franchise.

 Result = Advantage Phil Hughes

Clay Buchholz vs Joba Chamberlain / Ian Kennedy - Buchholz should turn into one of the best pitchers in baseball. Yet this fan believes he might be a little too frail to rely on his arm to give you 30 plus starts. I give the advantage to the Chamberlain Kennedy duo. Kennedy has Mussina like stuff, and Chamberlain can be a power pitcher both starting or in the bullpen.     

Result = Advantage Joba Chamberlain/Kennedy

No matter who you cheer for, this year will be one of the best in recent memories.

Look for the Yankees to win the East!