MLB Network analyst and former Boston outfielder Kevin Millar talks about how the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry has changed through the years with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: How does the rivalry compare to when you played in Boston from 2003-05?
A: The rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees got a little softer, a little friendlier. I think you see more of a rivalry with the Rays (and Red Sox). The one with the Yankees seems to be a little marshmallow-ish. You saw that kind of with (Mariano) Rivera last year, and now you’ve got (Derek) Jeter’s going-away tour. When’s the last time we’ve seen a good squabble between the Red Sox and Yankees?
Q: Well, what about Ryan Dempster beaning Alex Rodriguez last year?
A: That was just part of the A-Rod traveling circus, not a Red Sox-Yankees thing. When I was playing, it seemed like it was every series there’d be something. If you are looking at the rivalry, I don’t think we’ve seen it in a few years. But it is better when both teams are good, and I do think both teams are good this year.
Q: What are some of the hurdles the Red Sox face in trying to repeat?
A: A lot of people talk about the hangover effect, there’s no such thing, but you do become a marked team. Any time a team is trying to repeat a lot of things have to go right, and a lot of things went right for the Red Sox last year. Last season seemed like a Cinderella season with John Farrell changing the whole identity of his clubhouse in the first year. Now, you don’t have Jacoby Ellsbury. That’s a big gap.
Q: Do you think Ellsbury can have another big home run year (he hit 32 in 2011) playing with the short porch at Yankee Stadium?
A: He’s more of a guy that’s going to hit 15-20 home runs. In this game we have career years and his track record is not 30 home runs. The short porch might add a few more, but overall he’s a solid leadoff-type guy.
Q: What would be your biggest concern about this Yankees team?
A: I like David (Robertson) and he’s a tremendous pitcher, but they had Mariano Rivera for 20 years and that’ll be an adjustment for Joe Girardi. And now Robertson’s already on the DL. So, they have to define these roles, and find their identity in the bullpen.