sorry. computer trouble.
Of course they should sweat the Sox. The Yanks will prob will the division, and the two teams will mostly likely meet in the post season. Not definite, but likely.
The Sox have a heck of a team. Their pitching is better, their lineup is resilient, and they don’t fear us. Games in Fenway are bizzarre; a six run 9th inning lead can turn into 2 runs awfully quickly.
I think Lester is the key. He is essentially a young Pettitte. The former has great stuff and can shut us down if his control is on; the latter is surviving on guile.
Sabathia will be fine. AJ? No faith in him. Joba? Even less faith in him. I could easily see the Yanks losing. Then again, I’ve been wrong all year, so my predictions are meaningless.

To answer your question, of COURSE

I always sweat the Sox. They’re a damm good team.

On the other hand, I think it’s unlikely the Yanks will blow the division. Possible, but very unlikely. I give the Sox about 1 chance in 10 of pulling it off, and if they don’t sweep the last series at the Stadium, 1 chance in 20 or less.

Steve Lombardi wrote:

losing the lead to the Sox would just be another feather in the cap for RSN along with 2004…because of the blown lead record being smashed.

Regardless, it’ll take them a long time to “balance the books.”

Just to ditto what Ken said…

No Yankees club has ever blown a lead of more than six games in the division, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

And, these Yankees were up 9 games on 9/7.

So, while the Yanks would still make the post-season, losing the lead to the Sox would just be another feather in the cap for RSN along with 2004…because of the blown lead record being smashed.

YankCrank wrote:

My God guys, what is everybody so afraid of? If we make it to the ALCS and the Sox beat us, than they’re the better team.

The pain of ’04 is not far under the surface. Losing to them this year would be adding to the hurt.

ken wrote:

I’m not worried about holding on to the division but I’m very worried about the outcome of a NY/BOS ACLS.

My God guys, what is everybody so afraid of? If we make it to the ALCS and the Sox beat us, than they’re the better team. As Yankee fans, maybe the last four years should serve as an indicator that we should worry more about getting out of the first round than if we have to play the big, bad, scary, unbeatable, gritty, gutty, underdog, blue-collar Red Sox.

butchie22 wrote:

I really don’t think Francona cares if he wins the division or not. Especially when he has to possibly face the Angels(who they own) and the Yankees(who they don’t fear anymore).

That’s the essence of the matter. BOS does not fear the Yankees. They believe that can beat us even if they are behind in a game/series. For this group of Yankees, that sense of certainty does not exist.

I’m not worried about holding on to the division but I’m very worried about the outcome of a NY/BOS ACLS.

@ OnceIWasAYankeeFan:
Thanks. I deleted that comment with the link back.

shaked wrote:

OnceIWasAYankeeFan wrote:

The Yankees, on the other hand, have been a little flat and inconsistent, which is only to be expected given how well they have played. Worms turn eventually, and you lose those games you were pulling out before.

Last 10
Yanks: 6-4
Sox: 8-2
Last 20
Yanks: 14-6
Sox: 14-6
Last 30
Yanks: 20-10
Sox: 21-9

Thanks for backing up my assertion. The Yankees lost twice as often in the latest 10 games than in the previous ten games.