I agree with your analysis - except for Manny being better than Matsui. Puhlease.

My theory about why the Sawx have won more games is because they act more like a TEAM than a collection of individuals. As you noted, individually the Yanks are superior - but as a team? Apparently not. Hopefully we can turn that around.

I am sure you knew I'd respond back being the one Sox fan who reads and enjoys your stuff.

I agree with most of your analysis with two exceptions.

As far as the Posada/Varitek goes I think if you look at it Varitek is better behind the plate as far as calling a game. Posada is a better hitter.

I wholeheartedly disagree with Melky being a better CF. Have you seen Coco's defense? Plus he is hitting now.

But overall I think you're spot on with everything else.

The answer is: Pitching. And if the Yankees were not the superior team otherwise, the Boston would have them buried.

A note on Farnsworth. Yes, he's Farnsworth. Yes, he still carries all the baggage which comes with being Farnsworth. That being said, he's piching well of late and if he can continue to do so, Joe can put him into games that aren't long over and he can be a big factor in the W column for the next month and a half. And beyond.

What Mark said. And you've got it right there on your chart -- pitching, both starting and the pen. But the Yanks have moved within striking distance, and we've got six games left with the Evil Sox before the season ends. Should be fun...

Baseball is a team effort.. granted its over loaded with individual stats... good pitching means squat if the bats aren't swinging. Same with the reverse. Sawx may be the lesser in the stats, but when the bats and pitching are in sync the team wins.

Your picks are pretty accurate.. and if the yanks could start playing team baseball it be better... (by team ball I mean more RBI's then homers)

The reasons are simple, and it has nothing to do with intangible bullshit, which is just that: bullshit.

1) As you said, the Yankees have run half the universe out onto the pitching mound to start a game. The rotation still hasn't settled down.

2) The bench you list has only been true for about a month. Earlier in the year, the bench was Cairo, Nieves, Phelps, and whichever AAA player Torre was ignoring this week.

3) Giambi is the DH now, but for a long time it was Damon.

4) The bullpen remains a work in progress.

Ultimately, yes, it's the injuries, combined with too much time spent on such failed experiments as Miguel Cairo, Starting First Baseman; Kei Igawa, Starting Pitcher; Kyle Farnsworth, Eighth-Inning Pitcher; Wil Nieves, Backup Catcher; and, my personal favorite, Carl Pavano, Opening-Day Pitcher.

I can go with some of those - but you can't say "NO" competion for the catching spot. But yes, Jorge is having a damn fine year. And I disagree on center. Coco is having a very, very good year and defensively he's one of the best in the game. And I'd call Cano/Pedroia a push, with a slight edge to Dustin. Both teams are evenly matched, EXCEPT WHERE IT MATTERS - PITCHING!!

it think it definitely comes down to pitching. our offense is finally looking up and hitting like they should be, but the bosox starting pitching and bullpen is ridiculously strong. ours... is not :(

Gotta go with Godzilla over Manny.

Porn king vs teammate fondler, no contest.

I agree with your analysis on position players (except Matsui over Manny this year) and with everybody who is pointing out that pitching is what makes the difference. I will only add that Boston ISN'T playing better, or even particularly well, since mid-June. The lead is the legacy of a great start, and the difference-maker - pitching - is shifting our way. Schilling is less effective since coming back, and Boston went out and bought their own Farnsworthless, while ours is somehow less worthless and more Farns lately. Things look up.

Ian, you aren't the only Sox fan who reads the site. It's always good to know your enemy after all.

Going 20-8 in May has saved the Sox' season up to this point. They're still a few games under their Projected Wins record, but the Yanks are SEVEN games below their Pwins level. That's more from their staggering offensive (in more ways than one) output than anything else.

And for some inexplicable reason, the Red Sox are 47-23 with Lugo hitting leadoff, 26-26 when he doesn't.

So....anyone got the pitching matchups for the LAA series? please share. thanks!

So....anyone got the pitching matchups for the LAA series?

Monday: Phil Hughes vs. Dustin Moseley
Tuesday: Mike Mussina vs. Kelvim Escobar
Wednesday: Andy Pettitte vs. John Lackey

Jeez. Not the L.A. "Yankee killing" Angels. Let's hope we turn it around vs. them!

Errr... regarding the pitching on the Saux being superior... have you been watching the two teams lately?

4 games back after being over 14 game back is big. The Saux are playing .500 ball right now. The Yankees are playing .700.

Okijima is a great pitcher this year. Papelbon, while effective is tough to have as a closer because he doesn't get used two games in a row. That is a liability.

If you are talking about the Yankee team that started this season, then the RS have the edge, but not if you are talking about the rebuilt team.

Hughes should take a win tonight. Mussina will probably give it to the Angels, then Lackey will tank as he did to the Saux. A series win. Again.

Thanks for the matchups. Speaking of pitching, have you seen who Tampa's marching out there? Kazmir vs Wakefield is likely to go in our favor (though who knows with those Devil Rays), but other than that, two no-namers are starting the other 2 games. The scrub facing Matsuzaka is 3-12 or something close to that. Sigh.

thanks to the soothsayers who stated that Hughes should win and Wake should lose. Way to nail 'em. And, you know, Wake's past record against TB should have had ZERO impact on that prediction. hahaha.

I agree with Dale, come on, Matsui loses to Manny? Manny could phone it in from home and still play just as well.

Matsui:
AVG .293 HR 23 RBI 91 OPS .870

Ramirez:
AVG .292 HR 20 RBI 86 OPS .880

Very similar numbers but Matsui was injured early in the year let still has more hr and rbi.

Because the yankees have a good head to head matchup with that line up with that lineup they have dominated the sox head to head.