Yankees v. Red Sox...Version 2008

As you guys all know from the silly comments of Hank Steinbrenner, and the stern retaliation from Red Sox owner John Henry, its obvious that baseball is back, and since spring training really doesn't carry any meaningful weight, the sportswriters need something to write about.

We all know a good way to start is with the Yankees and the Red Sox, so I will now break it down position by position.

Catcher: Jason Varitek vs. Jorge Posada
It is really tough to draw a distinct difference between Posada and Varitek. Oh wait... I am lying. Posada is still an all-star catcher. He hit .338 last season with 20 homeruns and 90 RBIs. Varitek's hitting has decreased dramatically over the past few years to the point where he is no longer counted on to provide any offense at all.
Both of these catchers still are held in extremely high regard by their managers and their pitching staffs for their intelligence in both calling the games, and working with young pitchers to improve. Just ask Josh Beckett, who went from from an ERA of over 5 and 36 home runs given up, to the AL Cy Young runner up and most dominant post season pitcher in just one additional year with Varitek.
The real reason why Posada wins is because his advantage with the bat in his hands far outweighs the minimal advantage Varitek has behind the plate.
Keep in mind though, Varitek does wear the mythical "C", and thats just sweet!
Winner: Posada because frankly, most people's practice swings with a doughnut on their bat are faster than Jason Varitek's swing.

1st Base: Jason Giambi vs. Kevin Youkilis
I really don't think there is any doubt in anyone's mind, yankees fan or red sox fan, about who wins this battle.
Kevin Youkilis was the Red Sox MVP and was even honored by ESPN's contrived awards as one of the 5 Unsung Heroes of sports. Also keep in mind that he drove in 83 runs while his OBP hovered around .400 and he scored just as many runs. He also is a fantastic defensive first baseman, where he played over 1000 innings of baseball last year without committing an error.
On the other hand, Giambi might not even be the right name to face off against Youk. Giambi spent a good portion of last year recuperating from all of his steroid related injuries, and managed to hit just .236. Shelley Duncan is a likely candidate to get some playing time at first base given the type of performance Duncan had in a September call-up, and if Giambi, who says he is in the best shape of his life, doesn't perform during spring training, this former all-star may find himself platooning at both the designated hitter position and 1st base.
Winner: Youk just barely edges out the other two Yankee candidates, Shelley Duncan and Juan Miranda, who gained fame from his famous case against the state of Arizona years ago.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia v. Robinson Cano
Did you know that Dustin Pedroia played the entire playoffs with a broken hand???
Red Sox fans all around the country are still sporting wood from the performance that Pedroia put on during the playoffs, and his emergence last season was a revelation that counter-acted the colossal disappointment that Julio Lugo was. The Rookie of the Year in the American League last season carried a spiffy .317 batting average, and, in a most veteranesque category, Pedroia walked 47 times while striking out only 42 times, a great indicator that his batting average was not a fluke.
On the other side of the coin is Robinson Cano, someone Hank Steinbrenner wouldn't give up in the Johan Santana deal because he covets Cano the same way he covets the last pack of Marlboro Reds in the carton. In Steinbrenner's defense, Cano is on his way to becoming one of the better young players in the league, as he also eclipsed the .300 mark last season, and was a bases-clearing double away from 100 Rbis. While he doesn't walk a lot, and his patience at the plate is less than desirable. He makes up for it with a smooth swing, good speed, and power that is uncommon for second basemen outside of Jeff Kent (who took steroids, why do you think Bonds and Kent had so much beef?).
While Cano has rapidly improved on defense, he still had 13 errors, which was good for 4th in the American League. Pedroia, while playing in 200 less innings, only had 6 errors, and frankly is just a better defensive player than Cano.
Winner: Push, while Cano was the obvious choice for most people, I think Dustin Pedroia catches him because of his defensive prowess and the fact that he hit .283 with 2 home runs and 10 Rbis in the playoffs with a broken hand. This should be the most interesting battle of the year.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter v. Julio Lugo
Some never though they would see the day where there could be a more one-sided matchup than Youkilis vs. the Three headed monster, Duncamirambi, who sounds like the next Japanese superstar.
Well folks, welcome to Red Sox fans worst nightmare. The only statistical categories Lugo won were Rbi's, and he had a huge head start after the April he had, stolen bases, and of course crotch-grabs (yes I stole that joke from Simmons).
Derek Jeter is one of the faces of the MLB, and he reminds us every year with another season of clutch performances and timely hitting. As much as I dislike Derek Jeter, ask any real baseball fan, including sox fans, and they will tell you that they would probably have traded Nomar Garciaparra for Derek Jeter straight up, he is just that clutch.
Winner: Jeter by the hair on his chinny chin chin. Is there any play that will forever define the Yankees captain more than his backhanded flip to get Jeremy Giambi out at home? Every baseball fan with a pulse still gets chills watching that play.

3rd Base: Alex Rodriguez v. Mike Lowell
This is a little closer than it seems at first glance. While A-Rod had a statistical monstrosity of a season, and deserved the MVP award after the ridiculous season he put up. Mike Lowell was the most important part of the Red Sox playoff run, and the weight he carried considering he didn't have the same protection in the lineup, and that he did have JD Drew on his team, cannot be measured by statistics.
Upon further review, A-Rod statistics dwarfed Lowell's except for doubles, a category Mike Lowell magically cleans up in every year, and even had better defensive statistics than Lowell, who had his worst season defensively. But, how can I possibly vote Alex Rodriguez over Mike Lowell when the Yankees were pretty much ready to move on without A-Rod during the off-season and go after Mike Lowell?
Winner: Push again and people may think I am just being biased. But really, A-Rod only evens this matchup because he hit the ball really hard, a lot, and because he is significantly younger than the aging Lowell.
I will concede this position if Lowell flounders this season after receiving a new contract and A-Rod continues to hit. But until A-Rod makes a difference in the playoffs the way he does in the regular season, and the way Lowell did all season, this category is pushed.

Part 2 Later...