The Knucklehaed Has New York's Number

David Ortiz gets all the attention as the great Yankee killer on Boston’s twenty-five man roster but perhaps it is time to start recognizing the guy who really has the Yankees number. Of course I am talking about Tim Wakefield who has been absolutely lights out against the Yankees since the 2003 ALCS. Here are the numbers in case you need a little refresher. In the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield would have been series MVP had Grady Little not crapped the bed in the eighth inning of game 7. Lest you forget, Wakefield won two games in that series, each over Mike Mussina, and had given up only three earned runs in 14 innings before Arron Boone won the lottery in the 11th inning of game 7. Since that inglorious moment, it has been all Wakefield. In 2004, Wakes was 1-0 in three starts against the Yanks with an era of 1.82. He then absolutely shut them down for three critical innings in game five of the ALCS when the Sox had absolutely exhausted their pen. And this year, Wakes has pitched great in two starts against the Yanks, winning yesterday's game and befuddling the Yanks over six and change last Wednesday. When it is all pieced together, Wakefield’s record against the Yanks is nothing short of outstanding. For some reason or another, they just can’t figure him out. Jeter hangs in tough against Wakefield, but guys like Matsui, Giambi, Arod and Bernie are helpless against the old man. He has the Yankees number and so long as he does, the Sox have a very important advantage in a head-to-head matchup with the Yanks. If this Knucklehead could pitch half as well against the rest of the league as he does New York, the Sox would have the makings of a decent staff.