4 new faces who could save the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry
Forgive fans of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees for not knowing who to hate these days. There's been plenty of turnover.
David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Teixeira retired last season. Jorge Posada, Jason Varitek, Andy Pettite, Pedro Martinez, and Derek *bleeping* Jeter have all hung up their cleats.
A rivalry gone stale and in need of a makeover, there could be a perfect storm brewing on the East Coast that could see this series become must-see TV again. The youth movement happening in both cities, the introduction of some fresh faces eager to win, and both clubs getting off to strong starts provide the necessary ingredients needed to kick-start the rivalry again.
With the two sides set to meet Tuesday for the first time this season, here's a list of four players relatively new to the rivalry who members of the rival fan base can learn to hate:
Chris Sale. After years of trying - and hundreds of millions of dollars spent - the Red Sox finally found their modern-day version of Pedro. A fierce competitor with a no-nonsense demeanor, the lanky left-hander has fit in quite well in Boston. He's allowed just three runs while striking out 42 over 29 2/3 innings, challenging hitters with his dominate arsenal of pitches. It's likely the Yankees are already tired of seeing Sale in a Red Sox uniform, but they'll have to tolerate it for at least the next three years before he hits free agency. Sale has longed for a shot at pitching for a contender, and when he hits the mound for the first Yankees-Red Sox game of his career Wednesday, it may be the Bronx Bombers calling Sale their daddy.
Aaron Judge. An absolute monster of a man, Judge looks like a comic-book version of a character who would hail from the Evil Empire. The 6-foot-7 slugger owns a thunderous swing from the right side of the plate, and is primed to wreak havoc on the Green Monster. The 24-year-old has already belted six home runs this season and owns a .983 OPS through 17 games. Jacoby Ellsbury can only hope Judge distracts some of the fans in the outfield seats at Fenway Park who usually hurl insults his way.
Mookie Betts. Armed with a stiff upper lip and an ability to spray the ball all over the field, Betts is the next star of the Red Sox. While his five-tool talents make him one of the game's most exciting young players to watch, you can excuse Yankees fans for not caring for him. Betts is hitting .290/.317/.497 with six home runs and 15 doubles in 41 career games against New York, after all.
Gary Sanchez. The first home run of Sanchez's career that catapulted a remarkable rookie season was blasted into the seats overlooking center field at Fenway Park last August. It would be the first of 20 over a 53-game span that saw the Yankees catcher eventually place second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. With a violent swing and a cannon for an arm, Sanchez appears to be in line to be the next great Yankee catcher, and a thorn in the Red Sox's side. Luckily for the Red Sox, he'll miss the first series with an injury.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)