Four months ago, I would not have thought that this late-season meeting between the Red Sox and Yankees would be that big a deal, boy was I wrong:
They have two of the oldest and most experienced rosters in baseball. One team has three regular position players under the age of 30; the other has just one.
But where would the Red Sox and Yankees be this fall without the help of their late-season call-ups? In New York, Joba Chamberlain has stabilized the back end of the Yankees’ bullpen, providing a critical link to closer Mariano Rivera. Starters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have stepped in for the ineffective Mike Mussina and the sidelined Roger Clemens, helping the Yanks virtually clinch the American League wild card.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, have benefited from the energy and play of outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, whose playing time has increased with the loss of Manny Ramirez (strained oblique). Earlier this month, when the Sox needed an extra starter thanks to an injury to Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz stepped in and tossed a no-hitter in his second major league start. As the Red Sox and Yankees prepare to meet for their final series of the 2007 season, they are changed — for the better — by the introduction of their rookies. “Obviously, they’ve helped and brought some energy,” said an AL executive with another club. “But what they’ve done more than most [call-ups] is they’ve stepped in and done the job. They’ve come up and made an immediate impact. There’s been a seamless transition. When they come up and contribute, it’s like a breath of fresh air.” Not long ago, when rosters expanded in September, only teams far out of contention counted on their rookie call-ups. The final month was an opportunity to evaluate young players, introduce them to the major league culture and provide a head start for the following year. But now, teams — and times — have changed, even for big payroll teams like the Red Sox and Yankees.
The fun starts tonight at 7:05.
