The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry lacks the same fire that defined it

Jon Heyman

MLB

By Jon Heyman

BOSTON — Here in this city of recent champions — certainly compared to New York — the so-called greatest rivalry in sports is becoming an afterthought. It’s sad, really.

The Yankees and their supposed nemesis, the Red Sox, were scheduled to meet for the first time in 2024 — more than 70 games into the season — and the game is so low-regarded that it was moved out of prime time to accommodate to the hopes of the old city. yet another tag team title. The Celtics are clearly at the center of the moment, and here where standards are high, the Yankees-Red Sox game was pushed into lobster roll time with a rare 6:30 a.m. start before being delayed by rain.

(Actually, it’s better for deadline, so thanks, and it’s the only newspaper that sent a columnist and a beaten man here to cover.)

Manager Aaron Boone, who hit the home run that sent the Yankees to the World Series and the Red Sox home in 2003, which may be the rivalry’s last great year, says it’s “still bubbling” and that he can come back. We’ll see about that.

There’s no debate that this isn’t the case anymore, and here are three reasons:

1. Through 2003, the Yankees led the Red Sox to championships 26-0. Which constitutes total domination and gave rise to a slogan – “The Curse of the Bambino” – as well as a book.

“That’s part of it – the inferiority complex – New England and New York. It’s not the same,” legendary Boston-based baseball writer Peter Gammons told me.

2. There’s a new friendliness that didn’t exist when Graig Nettles broke Bill Lee’s arm, when Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez argued on the base path or when Pedro Martinez threw Don Zimmer to the turf.

“There’s no guy on the Yankees that the Red Sox can hate,” Gammons said. “Who could even hate Aaron Judge? The first baseman (Anthony Rizzo) was (originally) a Red Sox. They love him.

3. And it’s the obvious. The Red Sox are not at the level of the Yankees at the moment.

Given their surprising youth, the Red Sox are actually having a pretty good season. But that doesn’t compare to the once-hated Yankees, who were the best team in baseball with a 49-22 record entering play.

The Red Sox are actually not bad, especially for rebuilders, and that’s what they are right now. They’re just not good enough to pose a threat after a winter when once again they didn’t do much beyond Zoom calls with stars (Jordan Montgomery was one of them).

“They still don’t have the top guys,” Gammons said. “They’re not going to go out and recruit the guys who have a lot of money.”

If there’s one thing the current Red Sox ownership is known for — beyond breaking the 86-year curse and winning three more titles — it’s remaking its baseball management team. Yes, their owners are more like the Boss than Steinbrenner’s own son, Hal, who runs the most stable franchise in sports.

Meanwhile, Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner named the fourth head of their baseball operations department this decade. This differs from the Brian Cashman-led Yankees since, oh, forever.

Damn if Red Sox ownership isn’t consistent. For the third time in four, it was a Yalie, former pitcher Craig Breslow, following Chaim Bloom and the legendary Theo Epstein (a friend of Breslow’s conveniently brought back as a consultant). They definitely have a type.

Breslow shows promise, building a pitching staff that has performed at a surprisingly high level (they were sixth with a 3.43 ERA through Thursday). But since this is the Red Sox, this win-one, lose-one trend isn’t going to cut it, and everyone here is preparing for the club to sell at the deadline.

In their last big trade, they sent starting outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Yankees, which is proof A of the unwanted camaraderie that now exists. Of course, it’s the even bigger trade involving Verdugo — the one where local superstar Mookie Betts was sent to the Dodgers — that Boston still isn’t done with (and probably never will be).

Verdugo is a big plus for the Yankees, and while he’s one of the best quotes in baseball (no clichés here!), he continues to not want to destroy the Red Sox even after it was revealed that Boston manager Alex Cora had had enough of him. True to the state of these teams, Verdugo once again told us Friday how much he respects Cora and even how well their families get along.

Now, that kind of talk won’t help the rivalry at all!

Verdugo is a big plus in Yankeeland, and even if he helps the Yankees break their 15-year title streak, the Red Sox shouldn’t worry too much about him. Verdugo won’t win the MVP award – that will most likely go to one of his two outfield companions, Juan Soto or the incomparably great Judge – but the Red Sox’ astonishing willingness to help the Yankees signaled their disinterest in pursuing the hatred that drives them. a great rivalry.