Boston Red Sox (0-0)
Vs. New York Yankees (0-0)
Game time: 8pm,
Fenway Park TV: NESN, ESPN2 Radio: WEEI (850) SBN (1150)
2009 Team Leaders
Batting Average
Bos: Kevin Youkilis-
.305
Yankees: Derek Jeter- .334
Home Runs
Bos: Jason Bay- 36
Yankees:
Mark Teixeira- 39
Runs Batted In
Bos: Jason
Bay- 119 Yankees:
Mark Teixeira- 122
Wins
Bos: Josh Beckett- 17
Yankees: CC
Sabathia- 19
Strikeouts
Bos: Jon
Lester-225 Yankees: CC Sabathia- 197
Who'll go off: Victor
Martinez has had an incredible spring, batting 321 with 3 homers and 13 RBI in
just 59 at-bats. Expect him to keep to keep going strong. While the current Sox lineup hasn’t fared
well against CC Sabathia, Mike Cameron has been one of the most successful. He’s
6 for 13 lifetime against CC, 5 of them being for extra bases.
Who needs to be
stopped: Robinson Cano. Before you laugh
the young 2nd basemen has always played well at Fenway (.346/8/38 in
43 games), owns Josh Beckett (.341/3/10 in 44 AB), and comes into the regular
season scorching (.377 BA in 53 Spring Training AB’s). He’s probably going to
be batting 5th so if the Sox pitch conservative against A-Rod and
Teixeira, he’s going to have some chances with men on base tonight. All signs
are pointing to a monster game at the plate for him.
The Sox will lose if... they
don't work the count against CC Sabathia. Don’t expect any long balls against
the massive lefty as David Ortiz and Jason Varitek are the only ones who have
taken him deep in their careers. Patience is key. Let Sabathia rack up the
pitches so he can be gone by the 7th and then take our chances
against the middle relievers (Damaso Marte, Sergio Mitre, Joba Chamberlin)
which is the Achilles heel of the Yankees,
Miscellany: The season series was split 9-9 last year. This is the 30th
time the Sox and Yanks have met on Opening day, with the Yankees holding an
18-10-1 lead. Beckett is the 5th
different Opening Day Starter this decade for the Sox (Pedro, David Wells,
Schilling, and Dice-K are the other 4).
Prediction: Sox 6, Yankees 4.
