The first Yankee-BoSox battle of 2007

There's not much I'm going to add before the first game of the Yankees-BoSox series that hasn't been added by others.

Yes, the Yankees are coming in with their pitching rotation somewhat in tatters.

Yes, the Pettitte - Schilling match-up is pretty much the best one for the Yankees.

Yes, it's not advisable to go into Fenway with 2 rookies.

Yes, it would have been nice to have all of the Yankee relievers rested for this series.

Yes, Pettitte better pitch long today, so the pen gets some rest.

But you know what?

IT'S APRIL!!!

Assuming every Yankee and Red Sox player leaves this series healthy, this is just a 3 game series, being played at a good time for Boston. But in April.

Let's not make it into something more important than it is.

In any case, as I posted on Pete Abraham's blog: a) If the Yanks get swept, it will be a mild disappointment;

b) If the Yanks win 1 out of 3, it will be an acceptable result for the Yanks;

c) If the Yanks win 2 out of 3, it will be seen as a very good result for the Yanks;

d) If the Yanks sweep the Red Sox, yikes, that would definitely be an upset (and a heck of a great result for the Yanks).

Other than that, play ball.

JRVJ

P.S. I get the feeling that if there were a rematch of the A-Rod - Varitek fight this weekend, A-Rod would lift Varitek with his pinky finger and throw him all the way to second base without flinching.

That's the kind of roll the man is in right now.