Let's Get Ready To Rrrrrumble!

Lineups and a few links before the series starts tonight. First lineups via Peter Abraham:

 

YANKEES (65-42)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (7-2, 3.58).

RED SOX (62-44)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis LF
Ortiz DH
Drew RF
Lowell 3B
Kotchman 1B
Lowrie SS

Pitching: RHP John Smoltz (2-4, 7.12).

TIME/TV: 7:05, 7:05 / My9, MLB.

Quick note: Casey Kotchman KILLS the Yankees in the Bronx. For his career he's hitting .406/.457/.563 in the Old Stadium (according to Baseball-Reference). Nice pickup by the Red Sox just for this purpose. But Youkilis in left? The Yankees need to try to take advantage of that tonight.

Links:

• Joel Sherman says that he's been immune to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry in recent years but that it may be amped up again. Though he does mentioned that the Yankees (and Joba especially) will be very happy not to see Jason Bay, at least for the first two games
• Wallace Matthews of Newsday says that it doesn't matter that the Yankees can't beat the Red Sox
• Tyler Kepner says that as the Red Sox arrive in the Bronx, everything has been lining up for the Yankees
• Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News says that the Yankees got themselves ready to Sox it to Boston after their 8-4 win last night
• Baseball Tonight says that the Yankees have been trending up, the Red Sox have been trending down and now they'll meet
• Mark Feinsand points out Joba's impressive run
• Buster Olney on why this series is pivotal for both teams including an interesting point on Joba rules maybe limiting Joba to 6-inning starts
• Peter Abraham points out that Joba is 10-3 with a 3.27 ERA as a starter, 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA since the All-Star break and 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA against Boston.
• For those who think that Joba's fastball is a problem, Inside Edge (via ESPN) says that his fastball gets better as his pitch count rises, especially when facing right-handed batters
• David Pinto points out that although there is a supposed feud between Joba Chamberlain and Kevin Youkilis, Joba has never added him to the list of guys he's plunked
• Josh Q. Public agrees with me about the power of Joba's fist pump (picture is from them) and points out that since divisional play, only Dave Righetti, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain have thrown at least 8 innings and allowed 3 or less hits before turning 24.
• Rob Neyer says this all proves that maybe Joba teaches us all something about young starters and patience
• Jason @ IIATMS says in an open letter to Joba that he shouldn't go plunking guys. I have to disagree with Jason. Whatever it takes to get Joba's mojo working, he should do it. Don't be afraid to pitch inside, Joba.
• Peter Abraham breaks down the two teams position-by-position
• Mike Lupica says that pressure is on the Yankees
• Baseball Prospectus takes a statistical look at Yanks vs. Sox and has some more here for ESPN
• This doesn't have to do with this weekend, but one of the reasons the Yankees have been successful the past dozen years is definitely their interleague record as shown by Flip Flop Fly Ball
• FanGraphs has some great stats about Derek Jeter returning again to his old form
• If you hadn't heard, Donnie Baseball has some more problems in his family
• The Scranton Times on Shelly Duncan (H/T Peter Abraham)
• Zell's Prinstripe Blog says this trade deadline went better than you think
• SHOCK: Page Six says Derek Jeter and A-Rod aren't bffae
• CNNSI and the New York Daily News report on more problems for Joba's mom
• Tyler Kepner points out that there's no way to count on a cycle like Melky had this past week
• Lastly, I did not give the Yankees enough credit for this, but their HOPE Week was tremendous and a great job by all. Sweeny Murti recaps it.

Prediction: Yankees win two and retain 2.5 game lead. The Red Sox are in their head, but one win will turn everything around. It will be exciting, though. Get ready to rrrrrrrumble!