The psychological operations do not end when one goes to the sports sections of the mainstream media. A “sportswriter” who covers the Yankees begins by stating “On the eve of a colossal series in Boston that will make or break their season….” Another article is headlined, “Collision Course: Yanks, Bosox Set to Brawl for it All.” What are they talking about?
Merely Interesting Thanks to the WIld Card
The Yankees open up a three game series in Boston tonight that is important, but barring a miracle or two, both the Yankees and the Red Sox will be in the playoffs. The wild card has made a potentially great series involving the second greatest sports rivalry (see Brooklyn Dodgers v. New York Giants) merely an interesting set of games. The Red Sox are virtually certain to make the playoffs and the Yankees are virtually certain to be the wild card, which means that the teams are more concerned about winning the games that begin in about two weeks than in winning the three games that begin tonight.
Boston Ahead of the Yankees and the Yankees Ahead of Detroit
The Yankees lost a game last night that didn’t matter. It might have mattered a few years ago, but not last night because with 16 remaining games, the Yankees trail the Red Sox by 5 ½ games. Their magic number for elimination is 11. Philadelphia Phillies’ fans, Brooklyn Dodgers’ fans, Boston Red Sox’ fans, and Chicago Cubs’ fans realize that a 5 ½ game lead is not a sure thing. Even recognizing the fact that teams collapse, the Yankees’ chances of winning the Eastern Division are not good, but the Tigers’ chances of being the wild card are not good. The Yankees’ lead the Tigers by 3 ½ games with an elimination number of 13.
Tension Will Be Missing
No one can doubt that the Yankees and the Red Sox will try to win, but the tension that exists in vital games will be missing. It might have been another in the series of great series between the rivals. The Red Sox would have pulled out all stops, knowing that they could finish off Yankees’ hopes of a World Championship. They still might have that opportunity, but not in these three games, and that is the crux of the matter. The Yankees could have put fantastic pressure on the Red Sox by sweeping the games, giving themselves a chance to win and eliminate the Red Sox, but that also can’t happen in these games.
Create Room Between Themselves and the TIgers
A former player who used to broadcast Yankees’ games expressed the opinion that the 10th consecutive division crown is not foremost on the Yankees’ minds. “It is certainly a possibility that this is a prelude to another American League Championship Series. I am sure the Yankees’ first concern is getting some room between them and the Tigers. I think that is imperative.” Perhaps Johnny Damon unwittingly put things in the proper perspective. "We know we have something at stake in Boston. We know we have play well. We don't have a playoff spot yet." Not exactly what players on the 1949 Yankees or 1949 Red Sox said on October 2, 1949.
References:
New York Post. 14 September 2007.
