My entire life as a baseball fan, the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry has been presented to me as “baseball’s greatest rivalry”.
Without coincidence every time that the two teams play each other on a weekend, every major network that has TV rights to televise an MLB national game of the week, televises a game in the series. This means that the Friday game of the series ends up on MLB TV, that the Saturday game of the series will be the FOX game of the week, and that the Sunday game will be either the TBS or ESPN game of the week.
To make sure this happens as much as possible, MLB goes out of its way to schedule the series on weekends.
The Yankees – Red Sox Rivalry Is Dead
Sure, the rivalry has plenty of history and bad blood. It’s also located in the Northeastern part of the United States, which many east coast biased sports fans and major sports media outlets imply is the center of the American sports world.
There have been countless historic moments in the series, including the ALCS in 2004, when the Red Sox overcame the Yankees down three games to zero to win the series, which ultimately led to the Red Sox breaking the “Curse of The Bambino”.
Let’s not forget that moment in 2003 when Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer charged Boston’s Pedro Martinez on the mound, in what has to be the pinnacle highlight of the rivalry as far as comedy is concerned.
Naturally the series is a ratings grab. Of course MLB wants to make sure it’s showcased nationally.
There is one problem, though. The Yankees and Red Sox rivalry hasn’t been relevant since 2010. In fact, it could be argued that the Yankees Red Sox Rivalry Is Dead.
Since 2010, if the Red Sox were having a good season, the Yankees have had a terrible season and vice versa. The last time both teams made the playoffs at the same time was 2009. The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was 2004.
Do you know what rivalry is relevant, though?
The Dodgers and the Giants.
Even though the Giants have had the best of the Dodgers this year, the teams are only 5 1/2 games apart in the standings with the Dodgers in first place.
In 2012 and 2014, the Giants and the Dodgers split the NL West divisional race, with each race coming down to the final meeting of the two teams in each season. Unfortunately, with the exception of a game or two on ESPN, no one saw it outside of the Los Angeles and San Francisco viewing territories.
In 2014, the networks insistence on showing Yankees-Red Sox games allowed for the national televising of the non-playoff contention second place Yankees playing a last place Red Sox team, all to see the ending of Derek Jeter’s farewell tour.
Let’s not forget, one of baseball’s other greatest rivalries, the Cardinals and the Cubs. If you haven’t noticed, it’s the healthiest it has ever been.
Earlier this week the Cubs and Cardinals split a four game series. Tuesday’s game was a double header in which the Cubs swept both games. In Cardinals fashion, the Cardinals forced the series split in Wednesday’s series finale with a two run HR that was hit by Jhonny Peralta in the ninth inning with two outs.
The Cubs and the Cardinals rivalry revival is just getting started, and while the Cubs are nine games back from the first place Cardinals, there are two more series between the teams in September.
However, you probably won’t hear about it too much. Instead, the sports media will keep you informed about the recent spat that the Yankees had with Alex Rodriguez, or how Hanley Ramirez is causing a clubhouse distraction for the last place Red Sox, all while MLB makes sure that you have every opportunity to watch the two teams play each other in August and September.
On behalf of all Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, and Giants fans, as well as fans of any other pair of teams that has a rivalry neglected by MLB and the major sports media, it’s time for MLB to give the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry a rest.
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