With spring training approaching and the Red Sox heralded as the the team to beat in the American League, Yankee fans have to be a little apprehensive about the upcoming season. With superstar additions Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford augmenting the already potent Boston lineup, the Red Sox have already been predicted to win the American League East Division. The Yankees, on the other hand, have had a poor off-season, and with the recent announcement that pitcher Andy Pettitte will in fact retire, the Yankees are now seen as the underdogs. But how do they really compare with the Red Sox? In a position for position comparison between infielders, I will analyze both teams, and find out which team is actually better:
First Base:
Yankees: Mark Teixeira
Red Sox: Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Teixeira, by his standards, is coming off a poor season where his season average dipped well below his career average (.256 in 2010, .286 career). Despite this, he is still one of the premier first basemen in baseball. He is a perennial 30 home run, 100 RBI hitter, and his immaculate fielding has given him the moniker of "best defensive first basemen in baseball". Gonzalez, another superstar first basemen, is coming off an exceptional year. In 2010, he managed to hit 31 homers in the cavernous Petco Park in San Diego. This, coupled with the fact that he drove in 101 runs and managed to bat .298 (with an OBP of .393), makes the past gold glover a huge asset to the Red Sox. Deep right field in Fenway Park shouldn't be too much of a hassle for Gonzalez.
EDGE: Adrian Gonzalez
Gonzalez has the edge by a very slim margin only due to the fact that Teixeira is coming off one of his worst seasons while Gonzalez had one of his best in 2010.
Second Base:
Yankees: Robinson Cano
Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
Robinson Cano has flourished into arguably the most dynamic second basemen in the MLB. The 28 year old had an MVP season in 2010, where the All-Star batted .319, hit a career high 29 home runs and also drove in a career high 109 RBI's. He is also a phenomenal defensive second basemen, and earned his first gold glove in 2010 as a result. In fact, his former manager, Joe Torre, sees Cano as the second coming of Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Pedroia, like Cano, is another superstar second basemen. The MVP of the 2008 season, Pedroia, had his season cut short due to injury in 2010. Despite this, Pedroia should be healthy for 2011. He is the catalyst for the Red Sox lineup, and is the heart and soul of the team (along with Youkillis), making him a key component for Boston success.
EDGE: Cano
Cano has a slight edge over Pedroia. His statistics are better and he has much more raw potential. Despite this, Pedroia is still a great player with a winner's mentality who is a top-tier second basemen regardless.
Third Basemen:
Yankees: Alex Rodriguez
Red Sox: Kevin Youkillis
Despite an injury plagued 2010 season, Alex Rodriguez still managed to extend his incredible streak of consecutive 30 home runs, 100 RBI seasons to 13 (30 home runs, 125 RBI's). Despite this, critics saw 2010 as a down season for A-Rod, as his batting average and OBP dipped below his career numbers (.270 average, .341 OBP). The future Hall of Famer looks to improve upon his 2010 season, and will chase Barry Bonds for the All-Time Home Run record (A-Rod broke the 600 home run mark last year). Kevin Youkillis missed the last two months of the 2010 season after he was forced to undergo surgery to repair torn muscles in his thumb. Youkillis, like A-Rod, looks to improve upon 2010. Youkillis, like A-Rod, is another premier player who has fabulous career numbers (.294 average, .394 OBP).
EDGE: A-ROD
Although Youkillis is a great player, this comparison is a simple one to decipher. A-Rod is one of the greatest players of all time. His streak of 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons is astounding. If he stays healthy, his average and OBP will also return to his excellent career numbers in those categories as well, spelling doom for American League pitchers.
Shortstop:
Yankees: Derek Jeter
Red Sox: Marco Scutaro
Yankee fans were aghast after 2010. Beloved Derek Jeter was coming off his worst statistical season and critics were calling the shortstop "old and past his prime". His 2010 average of .270 was 44 points below his career average, and his clutch statistics were far lower than normal. Despite this, he still managed to make the All-Star team and win a gold glove (critics knock Jeter's range, but that's for another story). Look for Jeter to bounce back in 2011, as the soon to be 37 year old still has plenty of swagger in his swing. Scutaro, surprisingly, is the first non-superstar player mentioned (which proves how dangerous both teams' lineups are). Scutaro had a solid season in 2010, posting a .275 average and a .333 OBP. Scutaro, although not a star player, is nevertheless a key component to the Boston team.
EDGE: Derek Jeter
Jeter is still the clear favorite despite the down year. Critics failed to realize that in 2009, Jeter posted MVP type numbers, and one of the best seasons of his career, after people said he was degrading the year earlier (he batted .334 in 2009). This might be pure speculation, but I believe he'll rebound and bat around .300.
Catchers:
Yankees: Russel Martin
Red Sox: Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Rusell Martin, after succeeding iconic Jorge Posada as Yankee backstop, looks to recover from an injury plagued 2010 season and return to his old ways. Martin posted the best numbers of his short career in 2007 and 2008, and for his efforts, was named to the All-Star team in both years. He has somewhat deteriorated since then, however, leaving some to wonder whether he should be replaced with up and coming phenom prospect Jesus Montero. Saltalamacchia, on the other hand, is replacing All-Star Victor Martinez. Boston is taking quite a gamble with this transaction, as Saltalamacchia was reportedly suffering from mental lapses in the minors last year when he was unable to accurately throw the ball back to the pitcher from behind the dish. Saltamacchia has never played a full season either, which might not bode well for Red Sox Nation.
EDGE: Russel Martin
While neither catchers inspire much confidence, Russel Martin has at least proven he can play at the caliber of an All-Star. This, in addition to Saltamacchia's inexperience, makes him the clear favorite.
After comparing both infields, it seems that the Yankees actually are ahead of the alleged Boston powerhouse. We'll see who has the better outfield and DH next week...
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