Things seem a little strange in Boston this April.
The Yankees arrive Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Red Sox, a showdown that normally brings the city to a stop. But this particular April has the Sox-Yankees rivalry as much on the backburner as it has been in the past five to 10 years. The Bruins and Celtics are both in the middle of playoff runs, and the New England Patriots will grab their bundle of players in the annual NFL Draft this weekend as well. Perhaps Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira won't receive the lusty boos that many expected after choosing New York over Boston during free agency this winter, but that might be taking it to a bit of an extreme. It would be shocking if he doesn't get the same reaction he received in his hometown of Baltimore during New York's season-opening series at Camden Yards.
Either way, the teams are tied for second place in the AL East entering the three-game set, and the Sox still get geared up against the Yankees.
"Yeah it's going to be fun. Obviously, they have a great team, and we feel we do, too," second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "Anytime you play those guys, they're going to be long games and exciting games, and we're looking forward to it."
