If you were to name rivalries in baseball, the Yankees vs Red Sox surely is at the top of the list. After all, it is the most classic rivalry in not just baseball but in all of sports. The rivalry bonds both New York City and Boston together as it goes back to 1901 when the teams first faced each other. Classic moments like the fights, “Bucky’s Blast”, “Boone’s Blast”, Boston ending the “Curse of the Bambino”, and more are what make this rivalry special. One could argue that the most recent pinnacle years of 2003-2005 were when the rivalry was at its best. However, I believe the Yankees vs Red Sox rivalry has lost its luster in recent years.
The State of the Boston Red Sox
After winning the World Series in 2018, the years succeeding that championship haven’t been as kind to Boston. Aside from a surprise appearance in the ALCS in 2021, the Red Sox have missed the postseason in three of the past four seasons. This includes finishing in last place in two of those seasons. Given the current state of the Sox, it’s possible they might finish in last place for the second year in a row in 2023.
During this time, the Red Sox have shipped away key contributors like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Renfroe, and more. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the trades of those players haven’t produced quality returns. Out of all the players they have gotten back from those trades, only Alex Verdugo has been a serviceable starter. They’ve also lost other key players like Xander Bogaerts, Kyle Schwarber, Michael Wacha, Nathan Eovaldi, and more. It also hasn’t helped that free-agent signings like Trevor Story and James Paxton have looked like big mistakes. It seems as though in recent years when the Red Sox make a mistake they follow it up with another.
The State of the New York Yankees
Meanwhile after missing the postseason in 2013, 2014, and 2016; the Yankees have gone to the playoffs for six straight years. This includes winning two division titles and clinching three wild card berths. They’ve also advanced to the ALCS three times during that span. The Yankees always seem to be able to reload with free agents like Gerrit Cole, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Rodon, DJ LeMahieu, and more. They’ve also been able to trade for the likes of Giancarlo Stanton to keep them in the hunt. Unlike Boston, the Yankees have been better able to deal with their mistakes in trading and free agency. Despite the struggles of Josh Donaldson, Aaron Hicks, Joey Gallo, and more; New York has still been able to compete despite those guys.
The Yankees Newest Rival
With the Red Sox not really in the playoff picture, a new rival in the Houston Astros has emerged for the Yankees. New York has faced Houston in the ALCS three times, losing all three series. The Astros sign stealing scandal has only intensified the Yankees’ rivalry with Houston even more. Since the Astros and Yankees have both been consistently competitive in recent years; a lot less emphasis has been placed on the Yankees’ rivalry with Boston.
Media Overhype
ESPN and other major news outlets often get accused of overhyping the Yankees or Red Sox. It’s hard to turn on the TV without constantly hearing something about both teams. In 2022, the Yankees and Red Sox played each other 19 times. Out of those 19 games, 18 of them were featured on ESPN, Apple TV, MLB Network, or Fox Sports One. All four of those channels can be accessed by people outside the northeast. It’s almost as if the national TV networks are begging for a bench-clearing brawl to happen between both teams. At one point, these two teams used to play each other fewer times making the games a little more meaningful. Given how often they play each other now, the number of games creates oversaturation, and it becomes the “same old thing.”
The Players Don’t Hate Each Other Anymore
At various times during this rivalry the players genuinely detested one another. Nobody can forget the Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk feud. Heck, even though a batter missed a bunt, Munson stole home anyway just to run into Fisk. Munson even once complained about being behind Fisk in defensive assists that he dropped the ball on purpose just to pass him. In 1976, Lou Piniella and Graig Nettles caused fights to happen twice in the same game. In the 2003 ALCS, then 72-year-old Don Zimmer attempted to attack Pedro Martinez and got thrown to the ground. Despite retiring, Jorge Posada and Pedro Martinez still won’t speak to each other. These days, the players no longer feud with each other and are friends off the field. An example of this was evident when Derek Jeter was honored at Fenway Park during his final season. This was almost unheard of for a Yankee player to get honored in Boston no matter how great they were. Now it also seems the Yankees vs Red Sox rivalry just exists between the two fan bases.
Both Teams Aren’t Relevant at the Same Time
The problem we’re experiencing right now with the rivalry is both teams aren’t relevant at the same time. The Yankees have consistently been contending while Boston is seemingly rebuilding or whatever Chaim Bloom is doing with the Sox. When two teams who are rivals aren’t contending for championships at the same time; it makes it hard for the games to mean something. The times that they do face each other lose significance because of where each team is at currently. It’s almost as if they are just becoming an average regular-season game.
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