The Red Sox and Yankees are technically only three games into a season that, for all intents and purposes, is highlighted by their 19 meetings a year, plus those other 143 superfluous ones. And today we go to Round Two in Boston. So what did we learn from last week's series in Yankee Stadium? That David Wells laid a gigantic egg on the mound, while Randy Johnson started off his Cy Young campaign in high fashion; that fans are already shouting for Edgar Renteria to be traded; that Matt Clement can not, and will not, handle the pressure of playing for Boston; that Blaine Neal ... existed?
Besides that last one, the series taught us very little about how this season is going to develop. Renteria will settle down, eventually. Clement won't fail with the likes of Jason Varitek and Curt Shilling behind him. But, Wells? I'm not sure; and he's not the only veteran we need to worry about stumbling.
I'm not going to lie: when David Wells was announced as Pedro Martinez's replacement, the first thing that went through my mind was, "Awesome prank, Farva," But now that I realize that Boomer isn't the soap bar in Stupid Rookie's coffee, and is actually a legit member of the defending World Champions, I'm getting a little nervous. Is this going to turn out to be the next great move in Theo Epstein's master plan, or another clunker like Byung-Hyun Kim? The odds are against him, that's for sure, but he's got a chance to make it work.
Wells is moving from the National League to the American League, which will undoubtedly raise his numbers, as well his turning 42 in May. But without sounding like every other pundit, commentator or writer, the man is a big game pitcher. He's thrown 52 complete games in his career, and owns a 212-137 record, not to mention the fact that he pitched a perfect game in 1998 for the Yankees. While he looked just like an overweight 42-year-old pitcher on Opening Day should look like, he showed signs of the old ace against Toronto over the weekend. If he stays healthy he's a virtual lock for at least a 10-win season. But staying healthy will be one of the bigger obstacles that Boomer, and the Sox, will have to get over this year.
Matt Mantei, Wade Miller, Bill Mueller and Trot Nixon all have chances to have banner years this season - that is, if they don't collapse under shoulder, knee or back injuries. The Sox are built upon a solid foundation of veterans, but a trip to the retirement home might come sooner than a trip to the post-season. Right now the youngest starter on the pitching staff is Bronson Arroyo, who's 28. The youngest player on the active roster (besides Blaine Neal) is Kevin Youkilis at 26. This "Experience versus Youth" phenomenon hasn't just been typical of the Sox this year, though. The Atlanta Braves are putting the ball back into John Smoltz' 37-year-young hand as a starter (ERA after his first start: 32.40). The Yankees are putting all their chips upon the shoulders (not to mention the cartilage-free knees) of 41-year-old Randy Johnson. And the Sox have to contend not only with Boomer's bad back, but Curt Schilling's once-miraculous ankle.
All this could culminate in the ultimate geriatric convention for the Red Sox if the rumors of a Roger Clemens trade that would bring him full circle to Boston come true. Why don't we bring Rod Beck and Jose Offerman back to the squad while we're at it? The truth is, the Sox got burned over the winter. Unlike the stunning moves that brought Keith Foulke and Schilling to Beantown last year, the acquisitions of Wells and Clement looked pretty shabby compared to the Yanks picking up Johnson, the Minnesota Twins re-signing Brad Radke, or even the New York Mets acquiring Pedro. Possibly the best move the Sox made all season was working out a new contract with Varitek and making him only the third captain in the team's history, along with Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. But unlike with the A-Rod Affair, even Tek can't punch out the team's biggest enemy this year: old age.
Unless the Sox-and for that matter the Yanks-make some key trades before July, both can look forward to a long off-season. While the two teams have dominated the A.L. East and most of baseball the last few seasons, they're in for some real competition this year. The Angels, the Twins, the Braves, the Marlins and the Cardinals are all looking like contenders, and while the Sox and Yanks are leaning on legacy, they'll be faced with power pitching and hitting, and most importantly, youth. The next generation of Big League players is on its way up this season, and guys like Johan Santana, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson are looking to make a name for themselves. Time may be running out, and if Jack Daniels was the good luck charm last season, they'd better start stocking up on some prune juice this year.
