Rumble in the Bronx

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that the title to this entry has been used countless times since the Jackie Chan movie by the same name was released, maybe even before that. This of course is presupposing that anyone still watches Jackie Chan movies. Tonight in New York, the Red Sox come to town for the second to last regular season showdown between these major league behemoths. How will Boston fair after the dust settles on Thursday afternoon? I’m expecting for the Sox to come away with one victory and hoping for two.

With the most likely of scenarios playing out, the Sox will go back up to Boston with a seven game lead over the Yanks. After the shellacking the Yankees took over the weekend in Detroit, particularly last night losing 16-0 in what was the Yankees worst shut-out loss since 1905 when they lost to the Chicago White Sox 15-0. I’m hard pressed to believe that after that crushing blow the Yankees will bounce back and sweep the Sox. Stranger things have happened though.

I’m guessing that the lineup the Sox will bring to the Bronx will not make quite the same impact against the Yankees as it did against the White Sox, however I’m guessing that at least one of the games they should be able to manage to score five or more runs and if timing permits, it should come on the day Beckett pitches. The one the thing I’m looking for (and praying for) in this series is that the Sox need to give Dice-K a little more run support. Some random act of God is preventing the Sox potent lineup from driving in runs when he takes the mound. I’m convinced Dice-K should have 17 or 18 wins right now, and if he did, the question of rookie of the year in the AL would be over. Even though the idea of giving the Rookie of Year award to veteran Japanese player is a little dicey, and I’m a huge fan of my team and Dice-K.

Joe Torre and company will throw Pettitte, Clemens and Wang in that order. The idea of a potential future Boston ace (Beckett) pitching against arguably the most legendary former ace (Clemens) of the modern Boston era is an intriguing side story for tomorrow night’s game. If Beckett can hold the Yankees to three or even four runs that should be the best shot at a W in New York. Schilling versus Wang is more than likely the Yankee’s best shot and most probable win. Tonight is the toss up game in my opinion. All the Sox need to do is score some damn runs against Pettitte, which has been done this season, and Dice-K can minimize his mistakes which he has been improving upon the past few weeks.

Despite my personal excitement and rooting interests, this series will more than likely take a backseat to the National League Central’s showdown between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, which makes sense considering their race, is much tighter, albeit in the most mediocre division in baseball. I swear to God, if another team from this division wins the World Series again, I many come completely unglued come October.