ANAHEIM – This postseason really is different for the Red Sox. There’s no Manny and no Yankees in the battle.
“It’s definitely strange not having the Yankees in the playoffs,” Kevin Youkilis said yesterday at Angel Stadium as the Red Sox and Angels prepared for tonight’s Game 1 of the ALDS. “I think it’s good for the game, though. It shows you where baseball is going. There’s parity.”
Youkilis, sounding a bit like Hank Steinbrenner, added that with their 89 wins, “the Yankees could have won two divisions.”
Those would be the AL Central and the NL West, but that doesn’t get you anything in the AL East. The Yankees are back home preparing for their future while the Red Sox are preparing for postseason Life Without Manny.
It remains to be seen if it’s good for the Red Sox that there is no Ramirez in their lineup, but they are convinced they are a better team after having dealt him to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
The Red Sox have won the last nine postseason games against the Angels, but these Angels are much better with Mark Teixeira and Torii Hunter. This will be a terrific test. Dustin Pedroia said the Red Sox were not heading in the right direction before the deal.
“Now,” Pedroia said, “all 25 guys are heading in the right direction. The ultimate goal is to win a championship.”
Captain Jason Varitek added, “People need to understand, Manny wasn’t hurtful in our clubhouse as much as it was a situation that needed to come to an end, and I think it was going to either way at the end of that trade deadline . . . we’ve added a few (players) that are good baseball players and good teammates.”
Translation: The Red Sox couldn’t wait to get rid of Manny.
Without Manny, the Red Sox are more like the Angels. They can kill softly. Jason Bay offers all-around ability, but his swing has some holes. Ramirez always had the ability to hit great pitching, and that’s what it takes to win in October.
Noted Hunter, “Manny is deep.” Take him out of the Red Sox lineup and “it weakens it.” But Hunter said Bay is dangerous in his own way. “Don’t make a mistake to him,” Hunter said.In the end, these teams are more alike than ever.
“Small ball is the best part of postseason baseball,” Hunter said. “If you’re waiting for the three-run home run, that’s not happening.”
Manny produced three-run homers. Mike Lowell admitted it’s a different world “when Manny is in the on-deck circle.”
David Ortiz is convinced that he is going to get fewer pitches to hit in these playoffs. In the end, though, the Red Sox say the Manny trade had to be made for the good of the team.