Red Sox vs Yankees

Time to take a look at how the biggest rivals in sports stack up against each other. Join me as I take a position by position look at both teams:

C - Advantage Red Sox. Varitek is better than Posada and the Red Sox also have much better back-up depth with Josh Bard plus Flaherty and Huckaby. If Posada goes down then the Yankees will have to rely on 36-year old Kelly Stinnett - career OPS of .711 (if you are going to have a weak hitting older-guy as back-up why not keep John Flaherty who Randy Johnson is already comfortable with?).

1st - Advantage Red Sox. I think the more than passable offense from Kevin Youkilis and JT Snow coupled with their well above average defense more than beats Jason Giambi's good offense and awful defense. Andy Phillips as a late inning defensive replacement? Good luck with all that.

2nd - Advantage Red Sox. Some Yankee fans are really high on Robinson Cano and he may blossom into an All-Star but Mark Loretta is already an All-Star. I have to give the edge to the proven commodity here - pus the Sox have Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora to back up while the Yankees counter with Miguel Cairo. Advantage Red Sox (although I would not be surprised if Graffanino was traded to a team where he can be a starter).

SS - Advantage Yankees. Derek Jeter vs Alex Gonzalez? Is there any need to spend any time on this match-up? (Of course Gonzalez's defense is much better - just sayin'.)

3rd - Advantage Yankees. I think Mike Lowell will have a bounce back year but the Yanks have A-Rod (or as I like to call him - Super Femme). The Yankees have the advantage at third. Too bad no team with A-Rod on it will ever win a championship.

LF - Advantage Red Sox. Over the past three years Manny has averaged 41 HR and 126 RBI while Matsui has averaged 23 HR and 110 RBI.

CF - Advantage Yankees. I gave the Red Sox 2nd because it was a proven commodity vs potential so I have to give CF to the Yankees for the same reason (even though I think Coco Crisp will have a better year than Johnny Damon).

RF - Advantage Yankees. Sheffield is better than Trot Nixon. No agrument (question is can either player stay healthy?).

DH - Advantage Red Sox. Big Poppy vs Bernie Williams? Please.

Tomorrow I'll tackle the pitching staffs.