First impressions mean a lot. So do opening games of a three-game series. The Red Sox have an opportunity tonight to stick it to
The Evil Empire in Game One—since they're facing the
worst pitcher (record-wise) in the American League. That's right,
formerly-good CC Sabathia is 0-4 with a 5.96 ERA. In 25 2/3 innings so far, he's coughed up 31 hits—including four HRs. Offensively, only
Jacoby Ellsbury,
Brett Gardner, and
Chris Young are hitting over .300. For all the hype surrounding
Alex Rodriguez, he's hitting a robust .232. While
The Pinstriped Posers are in first place, Boston has a chance to knock them well out of the top spot with a sweep.