THE RAYS ARE THE NEW RED SOX

Source: NJ.com

Well, maybe that is a bit dramatic. I mean the Red Sox have had players over the years that have taken on the role of nemesis to the Yankees.  These players pushed the Bombers' buttons and sometimes their heads. But over the last two years, the Yankees have had a harder time besting the Rays than the Red Sox. And that is just frustrating for fans and players alike.

"We have a special group and a group that is willing to do kind of whatever is asked of them in whatever role. When you have flexibility like that, it puts all of us in a better situation to mix and match to get the most advantages possible throughout the season and in individual games in series," said Rays Manager Kevin Cash regarding his club's bull pen. According to ESPN, the Rays and Yankees bull pens could inevitably end up in a chess match in the post season.  This is because of the talent of arms the two teams have among them but as of late, check mate goes to Tampa.

Source: Robert Sabo

"When the Rays and Yankees met in St. Petersburg earlier this month they chirped at each other. The Yankees didn’t appreciate the Rays pitchers working up and in to their hitters and the Rays chirped back," reported The New York Post. Last night Blake Snell bested Masahiro Tanaka and the Rays bull pen held the Yankees from battling back in their first loss in six games. 

According to the Post, "The Yankees were 37-13 in their last 50 games against the Rays in The Bronx entering the game. Conversely, they have had one winning season at The Trop in the last 11 years." 

With two more games in the three game series, the Yankees need to figure out how to win against the Rays. It is just that simple. If not, we are going to fall short to potentially our new modern day nemesis. The Rays are the new Red Sox and I can't stand it!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof