Yankees Daily

As most of us know, John Lackey has signed on with the Boston Red Sox. That gives them a pretty formidable one-three punch against any team in baseball. I’m going to scout this as if the Yankees and Red Sox are playing in a playoff series. That’s what’s important when it comes to these two teams, winning in the playoffs. I expect the Yankees and Red Sox to meet in the playoffs in 2010.

Yankees
C.C. Sabathia:

Positives:
Has a devastating slider and ability to change speeds effectively. Stands 6-7, weighs 290 pounds and is an intimidating presence on the mound. Has great control and can work himself out of jams.

Flaws:
Sometimes he’ll give into batters and surrender the home run ball. Has trouble maintaining a good weight.

Conclusion: One of the best lefties in the game.

Red Sox
Josh Beckett:

Posititves:
Has three strike out pitches that include mid-90′s heat, a knee-buckling curve and good change-up. He’s a warrior on the mound and doesn’t give up many walks.

Flaws :
Is not a huge innings eater because of injuries and can lose his cool on the mound. Will give up his share of home runs.

Conclusion: The best pitcher on the Red Sox and a Cy Young award candidate every year.

Yankees
A.J. Burnett:

Positives:
He throws three pitches effectively which are a mid-90′s fastball, change-up and a knee buckling curve. Strikes out a lot of batters.

Flaws:
There are games where he’ll just lose his command and concentration and every thing falls apart. Tends to get injured.

Conclusion:
The perfect number two starter for the Yankees.

Red Sox
John Lester:

Positives:
Has a nice fastball, good slider and a good change up. Has composure on the mound and makes in game adjustments.

Flaws:
Does not over power batters and gives up too many walks. Does not have a deceptive delivery.

Conclusion:
He’s only 25 years old and will be 26 when the season starts. Could be a top of the line starter if he improves.

Yankees
Andy Pettitte:
Has a cutter that moves in on right-handed batters and has great movement on all of his pitches. Uses all of his pitches throughout the game. Has the best pick-off move in the history of baseball.

Flaws: Has a lot of runners on base and averages a hit per inning allowed.

Conclusion: One of the best big game pitchers I’ve ever seen.

Red Sox
John Lackey:

Positives:
Has an above-average fastball, a decent slider and change up and great curve ball. Has good control of all of his pitches. He’s consistently around the plate.

Flaws: His asset is sometimes his biggest flaw because he’ll leave his breaking stuff out over the plate too much and he’ll get bombed.

Conclusion: A work horse that pitches big in the big games.

Playoff series, Yankees vs. Boston 2010:
I’m not sure who would win a series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in 2010. The Yankees have a better hitting team. Great pitching always beats great hitting and I’m sure that the Red Sox “can” shut the Yankees down like they’ve done against great Yankee hitting teams in the not so distant past.

The Red Sox got a lot better after adding Lackey. If they didn’t add him, I don’t think they would stand a chance against the Yankees in 2010 but they did add him. It would come down to who gets the breaks and who happens to “not” have a bad pitching day.

Tags: A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, boston red sox, CC Sabathia, john lackey, john lester, josh beckett, new york yankees, Red Sox, scouting yankees vs red sox top three starting pitchers, Yankees, yankeesdaily

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