Yankees Sox to Start the Season

April 1, 2010. By Nick Stuart

On April 5^th the MLB will start again for another arduous year and the World Series winners will be taking on their old rivals the Boston Red Sox in a fantastic curtain raiser. Fenway Park will be alive at the prospect of the Red Sox getting one over the Yankees as CC Sabathia looks to start against Josh Beckett.

The future of starting pitcher Beckett is still in doubt with sources close to the Boston outfit stating that a four year deal in the $65m-$70m bracket is on the table. Beckett is looking to hold out for a five year deal similar to the one Lackey received last winter whilst the Red Sox are concerned over his conditioning after suffering from rotator cuff injuries in his right shoulder since he was young.

Sabathia on the other hand is looking strong and stable in pre-season even if he did go for five runs in 4 and 2/3 innings in his last outing in Florida. He believes he has made some improvements to control his change-up and two seam fastballs which were a little wayward at times in his first season in New York.

The Yankees have been fairly quite in pre-season trading only bringing in outfielder Curtis Granderson and right handed starter Javier Vazquez to their settled line up. The Sox have added John Lackey to bolster their starting options. Lackey will be joining regulars Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

The AL East is likely to be as competitive as ever with the Yankees and Sox expected to finish first and second with the sportsbooks already showing strong favouritism to the big two. The Tampa Bay Rays having for so long been a losing franchise know they are up against it again but there are some good signs coming out of the camp that this year may offer them a chance at a post-season.

The World Series runners up the Philadelphia Phillies again look strong this year and are favourites to win the National League ahead of the Rockies, the Cardinals and a dangerous looking Dodgers team.

Share this article: