Red Sox vs. Yankees

It's time to take a look at how the Red Sox and Yankees stack up against each other. I'm a Red Sox fan but I'll try to be objective.

Catcher - as well as Jason Varitek handles the pitching staff and is a clubhouse leader - the edge here has to go to Jorge Posada for his offense. Edge Yankees

1st Base - Jason Giambi is the likely starter at 1st for the Pinstripes but the once feared slugger is now just another guy fighting for a job. For the Red Sox - Kevin Youkilis has the obvious edge in defense as the reigning Gold Glove winner in the AL and is just as good as Giambi at this point with the bat (Youkilis' OPS was almost 50 points higher than Giambi last season). Edge Red Sox

2nd Base - My voice is among the chorus who has predicted that Robinson Cano will someday win a batting title. I'm going to give the edge to the Yankees here but I'm weary of selling Dustin Pedroia short. Edge Yankees

3rd Base - Mike Lowell is a great player and against almost any other team he'd be the clear winner head's up against the opposition's starter. Not the case here against A-Rod though. Edge Yankees

Short - Derek Jeter's Gold Glove is a joke but he does have a clear edge over Julio Lugo. Having said that - I'd look for Lugo to make it close this year by hitting about .280 and matching Jeter in HR. Edge Yankees

Left Field - I'd look for both players to have a bounce back year at the plate but you want Manny Ramirez at the wall, you need Manny Ramirez at that wall. Edge Red Sox

Center Field - Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp give the Red Sox a clear edge over Melky Cabrera who is not as good as his supporters believe. Melky may not even be as good overall as Coco - never mind Ellsbury who could be a real special player. Edge Red Sox

Right Field - JD Drew has a clear edge in defense over Bobby Abreu and if the .618 Drew slugged in September and October is any indication that he's settled into Boston - then Drew could be the clear winner over Abreu this season. However, I'm not gaging this on wishful thinking. Edge - Tie

DH - Hideki Matsui vs. David Ortiz? Come on. Edge Red Sox

Starter 1 - Josh Beckett vs. Andy Pettitte or Chien-Ming Wang? Come on. Edge Red Sox

Starter 2 - Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Andy Pettitte or Cien-Ming Wang? I'm going to call this one a tie. Edge - Tie

Starter 3 - Time Wakefield vs. Phil Hughes? Wakefield has the edge in expected number of IP but Hughes could be a special player. Edge - Yankees

Starter 4 - Jon Lester vs. Mike Mussina? I really don't expect Mussina to be in the starting rotation after the All-Star game unless the Yankees have injury problems. Edge Red Sox

Starter 5 - Clay Buchholz vs. Joba Chamberlain? Either one of these guys could be future Cy Young winners. Edge - Tie

Bullpen - the bullpen for the Yankees was their real Achilles heel while the Red Sox may have had the best bullpen in baseball. Not that much has changed. Edge Red Sox

Closer - Mariano Rivera is a Hall of Fame pitcher but his days as the dominant closer in the AL are over. That status now belongs to Jonathan Papelbon. Edge Red Sox

The totals come up Red Sox 8-5-3 and the numbers don't lie.