Five leftover thoughts from the Red Sox-Yankees series

NEW YORK -- As the Red Sox readied for their trip to Toronto late Thursday night, the equipment bags belonging to the Oakland A's sat piled up outside the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, a reminder that the game does indeed go on, even after the last out had been made in the Red Sox-Yankee series.

When the two teams next meet -- seven weeks from Friday -- the All-Star break will be around the corner, and shortly after, the trade deadline.

But until then, a few looks back and thoughts on what took place this week:

 

1. The two teams couldn't be more evenly matched.

The Red Sox and Yankees have played two series, with each team taking two of three at home. Through 37 games, they have the exact same record, with the Yankees sporting a run differential of +65, and the Red Sox at +64. Boston has its 17-2 run out of the game; the Yankees are in the midst of their 16-2 streak currently.

All three of the games this week had a playoff-like feel, with two settled by a single run and the third determined in the home team's final at-bat.

It would surprise few if the teams jockeyed for position for the remainder of the season, taking turns laying claim to first place, without much daylight between the two in the American League East standings.

That final meeting of the year, on the final weekend of the season, could be something.

2.  The rivalry is in full bloom again.

Although nothing carried over on the field from the first series -- when benches emptied and suspensions were handed out -- the games hardly were disappointing.

Since it opened a decade ago, the new Yankee Stadium has gained a reputation for being too corporate and lacking the atmosphere of the old place. But this past week, the Stadium rocked and the noise was at times deafening.

Joe Kelly got a hostile welcome each time he came out of the bullpen, and J.D. Martinez, making his first visit to New York as a member of the Red Sox, took note.

"Being in right field, I've been chirped at a little bit before here,'' said Martinez after the Red d Sox had held off the Yanks, 5-4. "But it was a little bit extra this time around. It was fun, man. Anytime the fans get into it the way they do, even when you're in New York and they're saying bad stuff to you, it's fun. It makes the game exciting and it gets you into it. It's a long season and there are a lot of games and when the fans get into it and are the way they are for a series, it definitely motivates you. It gets you up and makes you feel different.''

3. The series highlighted the need for the Red Sox to improve their bullpen.

All three games spotlighted the deficiencies the Sox have in the late innings. For now, it's hard to say that the Sox have a trustworthy eight-inning option. Kelly had a rough go of it in two outings, allowing the go-ahead run to score in one game-- inheriting an admittedly difficult bases-loaded, no-out jam Tuesday -- and the tying run to score in another. And Kelly had been the best high-leverage reliever the Sox had before the series began.

The series was a reminder -- as if one were needed -- of just how powerful the New York lineup can be, and while it's dangerous to over-react to a few games, or, for that matter, to address an aspect of the roster based on how it performs against one opponent, the series did the Red Sox a favor of putting the bullpen's previous success in perspective.

It's one thing to navigate through the Toronto or Oakland batting orders in the late innings, and another altogether when it's the Yankees.

4. The rosters will have a different look when the teams meet again.

Dustin Pedroia should be back around June 1, and in the coming weeks, both Steven Wright and Tyler Thornburg will be added to the bullpen. Pedroia's return will tighten up the infield defense, while the two pitchers provide length (Wright) and a potential solution to the club's eighth-inning woes (Thornburg).

On the other side, Greg Bird should be back at first, giving the Yankees yet another power bat, further deepening what is already the game's most fearsome lineup. It's likely that Jordan Montgomery will also be back in the New York rotation, and Brandon Drury should provide additional infield depth and protection.

Who knows? Perhaps by then, even Jacoby Ellsbury will be healthy.

Just kidding...

5. While the Yankees have the better offense, the Red Sox' lineup is vastly improved.

Last season, the Sox seemed incapable of comebacks like the one the Red Sox demonstrated Thursday night. Mookie Betts is a force at the top, Hanley Ramirez is healthy again and Martinez has made the hitters around him better. After finishing last in homers a season ago. the Sox are again capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

Through 37 games, the Red Sox are tied for fourth in the A.L. in homers with -- whom else? -- the Yankees, and in the just-completed series, the Sox actually out-homered the Yanks, 5-3.