The Boston Red Sox have gotten to work early and found their footing for a surprising start to the 2024 season. After an opening day win against the Seattle Mariners, a 3-0 series shutout against the Oakland Athletics and most recently a 2-1 series triumph over the Los Angeles Angels, the Bostonians have created newfound momentum.
While the trials and tribulations of the past several years have pervaded the Red Sox’ media to occasionally overshadow their muted successes, the team has quickly clawed their way out of the American League basement where they’ve resided for several seasons.
After falling to the bottom of the league two years in a row, the Bostonians trail just behind their long-time rival, the Yankees. Perhaps this season will be the year the true rivalry returns as the groups have quickly found their way to the top of the league.
While the iconic New York-Boston history has been littered with fierce competition, the occasional brawl and passionate fans, the rivalry has seemed to quiet in recent years.
The last time the duo saw the most significant difference in competition was in 2022 when the teams appeared on opposite ends of the league with New York (99-63) rising to the top spot and Boston (78-84) hitting the lowest spot. After New York shut out the Red Sox 6-0 in the 2022 season, there wasn’t massive competition nor the historic nail-biting rivalry.
While the following year wasn’t much better for the Red Sox, their opponent joined them at the bottom but still managed to score just slightly higher. Although the Yankees finished just slightly better off than the Sox, which may have been the twist of the knife for fans, the year still lacked a certain level of competitiveness. While the rivalry was still there, neither group was hitting anywhere near the top spot.
Although the teams went 3-3 against each other in the 2023 season, the occasional win didn’t appear to be competitively satisfying enough.
The 2018 season may have been the last time the fire was truly burning in the rivalry. In an April evening game, benches cleared twice for an unusual brawl as tempers flared and the teams went tail-spinning.
The bench cleared for the first time in the third as New Yorker Tyler Austin slid hard into second and unintentionally spiked Boston’s Brock Holt. In the seventh, Boston’s Joe Kelly nailed Austin with a pitch to send him slamming his bat to the ground and charging the mound. With tensions at an all-time high, dugouts emptied, punches were thrown and several athletes were ejected.
Despite the longstanding rivalry between the two, the competitive nature has usually remained within the bounds of the contest and fights have remained relatively uncommon.
That year, the duo faced off in the American League Division Series where the Bostonians came out on top 3-1 and went on to claim the World Series title.
Although it’s barely two weeks in, the two may be giving each other a run for their money this season and while the team is a collective, the individual talent has shined through from both benches.
From Boston, right fielder Tyler O’Neill has been the standout. With a .357 batting average and 12 runs just 10 games in, all signs are pointing to success from the Canadian native. On the mound, the pitching lineup has performed exceptionally well, and many are crediting the new pitching coach, Andrew Bailey, for the early dominance. With fewer fastballs and more breaking balls, many are already applauding his lead.
From New York, shortstop Anthony Volpe, in his second year with the team, has been exceptional. With a .424 batting average, nine runs and three stolen bases, he’s been offensively dominant. On defense, the collective .977 fielding percentage certainly appears to be a force to be reckoned with.
While the season is still in its early stages, the restoration of an old rivalry could be brewing on the East Coast to relight a flame that once burned bright between Boston and New York. The duo will meet for the first time this season in mid-July, but until then the two must focus on the matches at hand to keep their record in good standing.