The Wager

As I write this, the Sox and Yankees are playing the rubber match, in their first series of 2008. I read today that since division play was begun in 1969, the Yankees have beaten the Sox 293 times, and the Sox have prevailed 286 times. Before 2004, despite this parity in regular season play, the rivalry would have seemed lop-sided, mainly by reason of the Yankees’ post-season success. But now, 1978 and 2003 are balanced by 2004, and we’re just focused on baseball, without the specter of the curse.

Last night’s game had its signature moment, one that Sox fans will relish all year – Papelbon striking out A-Rod on three pitches. It was in the eighth inning, with two men on base, the moment for which Pap was most needed. For years, Sox fans were haunted by Rivera, and the thought that if the shoe were on the other foot, no one stood much of a chance in the ninth inning. Of course, that changed in 2004, thanks in large part to Bill Mueller, but also thanks, in some measure to A-Rod, who instigated the famous brawl of July 2004, which gave way to a furious Sox comeback that afternoon, and Mueller’s walk-off into the right field stands. Many people said that the brawl ignited the whole Sox resurgence that year. But then in 2005, John and I were sitting in Fenway when Schilling came out of the bullpen to an enormous roar from the fans, filling in for an injured Foulke, and before the arrival of Pap, only to surrender a ninth-inning two run homer to A-Rod, with Rivera then getting the save. A-Rod on both ends of the rivalry it seems.

So whether you take a long look at the rivalry, over the span of 40 years, or whether you look for the little details, the matchups, the hits that dropped among three fielders, the fact that Dave Roberts was safe by about six inches, the rivalry has been, of late, about as close, and as intense as any in sports.

Which brings me to the subject of this year’s wager. The terms of the wager were negotiated here in Rochester, back in early December, on the night that G-Man met Danny at Max. I think we need to memorialize it, before the season progresses any further, and in fact, while the two teams are essentially tied, both in the standings, and in the head-to-head play. Best regular season record wins the wager. And this year, the losers buy dinner for four – the four being John and me representing the Nation, and G-Man and Danny on behalf of the Yankees, -- at Keens Chophouse. Now we left open the possibility that we could go three and three, the other two being Mike and Tunic, but I think we need commitments all around if we are going to take that additional step. All parties can indicate their interest or consent in a comment. As G-Man likes to say, let the games begin. Actually though, the games have begun, so how about, let the games continue.