We seek out and embrace new wrinkles in The Rivalry, because Yankees-Red Sox requires both novelty and tradition in order to self-sustain. But — please don’t tell anyone — some of these storylines can be manufactured, played out or both.
For instance: Is anyone really that excited over how the Fenway Park fans will treat Jacoby Ellsbury Tuesday night when he makes his first appearance here in the Yankees’ road grays? Given how corporate the crowds are nowadays, and that Ellsbury never became a Red Sox Nation favorite, I’ll bet on a vanilla blend of mild boos and mild cheers.
Thanks to such oversaturation and overhype, we easily can lose sight of when a genuinely exciting development comes along. Let’s make sure not to do so when Masahiro Tanaka makes his Rivalry debut Tuesday — earlier than the Yankees originally planned — against Boston and Jon Lester.
“From the television monitor back in Japan, I have seen the two teams play, and I understand there is a rivalry between the two teams,” the Yankees’ rookie right-hander said, through his interpreter, Sunday at Tropicana Field. “Going into the game, I am sure the fans will be heated, and it should be a good experience going up on the mound. And [I’m] very much looking forward to it.’’
In spring training, the Yankees laid out Tanaka’s schedule so that he would get as much rest as possible — a nod to the once-a-week routine to which he adhered in Japan — while also avoiding the Red Sox — why not let him ease his way into the American League East? — during the first two Rivalry series.
However, when rain wiped out the Yankees’ April 15 home game against the Cubs last week, Tanaka gained a day off and lost his no-Red Sox protection. Because he waited until April 16 to face (and dominate) the Cubs, he benefited from Monday’s off day to give him a fifth day of rest. And his opponent shifted from the Rays to the Sawx.
At the moment, the Red Sox (10-10) don’t represent the huge threat they appeared to be when the Yankees tried to keep this matchup from happening; remember, Tanaka didn’t face the Red Sox during Grapefruit League action, either. With 76 runs scored in its 20 games, Boston ranks ninth in the AL.
And Tanaka has displayed no growing pains whatsoever. He placed himself among the American League leaders in walks per nine innings (his .818 ranked as the fewest, entering Monday’s action), strikeouts per nine innings (second, with 11.455) and WHIP (third, with .773). He has done so while facing two teams, Toronto and Baltimore, that each has scored 78 runs, edging the Red Sox, as well as the awful Cubs (58 entering its Monday game).
Nevertheless, we look forward to this one, because while Tanaka has performed under extreme scrutiny since he signed with the Yankees, it’s still something different to perform for the Yankees at Fenway.
“I didn’t feel too much when they came to Yankee Stadium for those three games,” Tanaka said, referring to the Red Sox’s April 10-13 visit to The Bronx.
He’ll probably feel more when he’s actually pitching. Taking on David Ortiz in a critical moment. Working with the Green Monster over his right shoulder.
“I understand if you give up fly balls it might be dangerous,” said Tanaka, who didn’t have much to say about Ortiz. “So I think the best thing to do is try and get as many ground balls as possible.”
In his first three starts, Tanaka recorded a groundballs-to-flyballs ratio of 1.56. So that hasn’t been a problem, either.
Will Tanaka deal with early-game adversity Tuesday as well as he did against the Orioles and Blue Jays? How will Ortiz react to his splitter and Mike Napoli to his slider?
We merely tolerate many of the twists and turns to the Rivalry. But Tanaka’s introduction to this stage is an event we eagerly anticipate.