Stud after Red Sox Stud Shut Down by Yankee Rookie

Here is the one down side of sending your entire every day lineup out in a meaningless Spring Training game against your biggest rival and their top pitching prospect: said prospect could very well own your biggest hitters and wish list of future Hall of Famers.

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Spring Training Lineups 3-14-11

What started out early this morning as a routine spring exhibition gets the rivalry treatment on national television tonight between the Yankees and Red Sox as, Manny Banuelos, one of the young studs of the Yankee farm system gets the last minute nod from manager Joe Girardi to replace injured Sergio Mitre.  The game will be on ESPN 2 at 7:05 pm

Mariano Rivera himself called the twenty-year old the greatest pitching prospect he has ever seen.

Heart of Red Sox Order Shows What’s to Come

It’s only March 12^th but we just had our first view of the heart of the Red Sox lineup with the insertion of Adrian Gonzalez today and the AL East needs to sit up and pay attention.

Jacoby Elsbury hit for the Holy Trinity today when he went a perfect 3 for 3, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI.  His Spring average is an astounding .440.  Elsbury launched a barrage by the first five batters, with a double and a Home Run.  Everyone but Youkilis did some damage against the ace of the Marlins staff, Josh Johnson.

Boston Red Sox vs Florida Marlins Spring Training 3-12-11

Halfway through Spring Training and across baseball we are starting to see line up cards looking more like a regular season game.  The Sox are trotting out what might be the most potent 1-5 hitters in the game today.  It’s a great mix of speed, average and power which should now be anchored for years by Adrian Gonzalez.

Defensively they’re loaded in the outfield but with a handful of question marks in the infield.  Youkilis is a good 3^rd baseman who makes all of the plays but doesn’t have that special quality needed to be that lock down corner.  And Marco Scutaro is also solid, but lacks the flashiness of a Troy Tulowitzki.