Yankee Talk: Rivalry Edition – No Manny is No Problem for Sawx

Boston still potent without Ramirez

BOSTON – Maybe the Yankees still think and feel Manny Ramirez is still playing for the Red Sox.

There was a time not so long ago when Ramirez was the one player the Yankees pitching staff never seemed to get out. It was as if he was playing softball every time a pitch came to the plate. With him and David Ortiz in the middle of the lineup, they created endless fits. Sometimes it appeared as if they were up every single inning.

Last July though when Ramirez was traded by Boston to Los Angeles, it was supposed to lessen the quality of a lineup that had been one of baseball’s most potent over the last five seasons.

Replacing the bat of Ramirez and playing left field was Jason Bay, who they acquired in the three-team trade. It was supposed to be a dramatic drop. Ortiz was on the decline due to age and injury and it appeared that the Boston was not going to be the same team offensively.
Unfortunately, it has not been the case.

Even with the ascension/transition from Ortiz and Ramirez to Dustin Pedroia (last year’s MVP) and Kevin Youkilis (third in MVP voting), the offense of the Red Sox is still patient, efficient, and has not lost its ability to score runs. Considering the 16 they put up against AJ Burnett and the collection of bullpen people the Yankees chose to throw out there Saturday at Fenway Park, many Boston fans are saying “Manny Who?”

They may have not have the OPS hounds from one through nine anymore, but their success is no longer reliant on two guys. Instead, the composition of their lineup that still poses a threat. All are capable of getting a big hit at any given moment.

With Jacoby Ellsbury leading off and showing a far greater improvement from the down season he had a year ago, he appears to be built in the same pest mode that Johnny Damon was when he was a young player with the Kansas City Royals. The combination of speed and sneaky power makes him a threat to get an extra base hit or as he did on Saturday, show power and take one deep.

Pedroia and Youkilis are the faces of the offense now. They grind out every at bat always seem to get two hits a game. Pedroia has been the moniker of “little runt” by me because he is just annoying. Of course, this is given with the highest level of respect because he is a very good player. For as hard as he swings, it is incredible that he does not strike out very much and always seems to make contact.

Ortiz complained about not having the protection of having Ramirez behind him, but Youkilis has been one of baseball’s best hitters over the last two years. If you have a gameplan to get this guy out, please alert the rest of the league. No one has been able to do it effectively. Going into Saturday, Mr. Goatee was hitting a cool .444 over his first 63 at bats. Every plate appearance seems to go a 3-2 count and he sprays the ball all over the plate.

What is scary is that he may be getting better.

Bay has done a good job of filling the hole left by Ramirez. No one expected him to hit in the same fashion because no one can outside of a few premium players. The change of scenery from Pittsburgh to Boston has only seemed to help him, as he has been able to come through in numerous clutch situations.

In Game 1 of the Division Series last year against the Los Angeles Angels, his two-run blast paved the way to a victory. He had a number of big hits in the AL Championship Series against Tampa Bay. Perhaps teams’ lack of fear of him allows Bay to receive better pitches to hit. On Friday night, he deposited Mariano Rivera’s inside cutter over the Green Monster in left center to tie the game at four when it appeared the Yankees had a sure victory.

JD Drew will always give you a professional at bat as long as he can find his way on the field. The problem is that he so injury prone that he can never be counted on for a full season. Mike Lowell injured his hip late last year and was rendered ineffective for the playoffs. But in 2007 and as he is showing right now, when he is healthy and in the lineup, he is a tremendous asset to the Red Sox.

His pull dead pull swing is perfect for Fenway Park as he is able to yank homeruns in that direction. Yesterday, trailing 10-9 the Yankees elected to pitch to him and pulled a three-run homer into the Monster Seats to give Boston the lead.

Theo Epstein was going to replace him with Mark Teixeira during the winter and was very close to signing him (or so he thought) before he spurned them to sign with the Yankees. The move would have shifted Youkilis to third base and with Lowell unable to have a position to play, would have found another home.

It was thought that Jason Varitek was completely finished as a hitter. Somehow, he was found some stroke in his bat and has hit four homeruns to start the season including a grand slam of Burnett on Saturday in their 16-11 victory.

Though he hit .216 last year, you never know when he is going to come up with that big hit. Last year, despite not hitting a lick, I had the belief as the Red Sox were attempting to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to the Rays that he would invariably come up with a big hit at some point to help the offense. In Game 6, he did just that, hitting a two-run homer that was the catalyst in a win to force Game 7 the next night despite going on to lose the series.

It is a balanced club from top to bottom. Add in their pitching staff and bullpen and there is a reason why many prognosticators are picking them to make another return trip to the World Series.

Sorry Manny, but the Red Sox are still just as good even without you.

Much to the chagrin of the Yankees.