The rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees is arguably the most heated and historic in all of sports. When thinking about it, images of Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez brawling or Pedro Martinez tossing Don Zimmer probably race through your head. Is it possible to fit Ichiro into the equation? The former Mariners outfielder says he is looking forward to it.
“When I watched those games on TV they looked like fighting, not in a real sense, but physically,” he said according to the NY Post. “It was more like a fighting atmosphere is what I felt watching TV. I know there is a lot of tradition. I have just been here a few days. I don’t know what to expect.”
If he’s not looking for actual fighting, Ichiro probably joined the rivalry at the right time. However, he may not get a battle between two AL East powerhouses either. The Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball and the Red Sox continue to struggle to remain above .500. They are 10.5 games out of first place and tied for last in the AL East. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that Ichiro’s Yankees-Red Sox rivalry experience will involve a lot of pinstripe success and very little spark from the Boston side.
