Here’s why the Red Sox will overpower Yankees, win the AL East

The rivalry is alive and well in 2018, but which team will come out on top? Here’s why it could be the Red Sox.

There is no rivalry in sports like the one between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, two of the most historic sports franchises in the world. These two teams and their fans have always had a very strong disdain for each other, but in 2018, the rivalry has been brought back into the light for the first time in several years.

When the Yankees stole the show in the offseason by acquiring Giancarlo Stanton – the reigning National League MVP – from the Miami Marlins, putting another humongous bat in the lineup alongside Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, it seemed like New York was an easy favorite to win the AL East. And it makes sense, because with a star-studded lineup like that, the Yankees should probably be a shoe-in for the World Series in October.

But, we can’t get ahead of ourselves, because before they get that far, the Yankees are going to have to fend off their hated New England rival, which ultimately, they might not be able to do. The Red Sox have held the lead in the division for most of the season thus far, and right now, the two teams are neck-and-neck.

While it might not scream “STAR POWER” as much as the vaunted New York lineup, Boston’s lineup certainly has plenty of guys who are more than capable of getting the job done. We’re in for a long season of Boston and New York battles, and honestly, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Here are five reasons why the Red Sox can overcome the Yankees and win the AL East for a third straight year.

5. They have that Boston gusto

It might not sound like much of a reason, but you can’t deny that teams from Boston seem to almost always be right in the thick of things. In the last four months alone, the Patriots have been in the Super Bowl, the Bruins reached the second round of the NHL playoffs, and the Celtics are currently playing in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now it’s time for the Red Sox to take their turn. And if you look at the recent history of Boston sports in the 21st century, it’s safe to say that history is on their side.

Going back to 2001, the city of Boston has accumulated 10 professional sports championships. The Patriots lead the pack with five titles (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016), the Red Sox themselves have won three (2004, 2007, 2013), and the Celtics and Bruins have one title apiece (2008 and 2011 respectively).

Interestingly enough, this argument wasn’t always valid. Prior to the turn of the 21st century, history would NOT have been on the Red Sox’ side. Other than the Celtics (who thrived during the Bill Russell and Larry Bird eras), the latter half of the 1900s were not kind to Boston sports. The Patriots were annual cellar dwellers, the Bruins struggled to find an identity, and the Red Sox endured “The Curse of the Bambino” for 86 years. After the Celtics won the NBA championship in 1986, Boston would not get another pro sports title until the current run of greatness began in 2001.

But that was a long time ago, and times have greatly changed. We now live in a time where Boston is synonymous with winning, to the point where you either love Boston or you hate it.