A Change In The Red Sox And Yankees Era?

2014 will be the second year in a row the Yankees have the hopes of another World Series Championship is smashed. After losing to Baltimore Wednesday night there is officially no chance for the Yankees to make a playoff run. Similarly the Red Sox will also not be making a run this year even after coming off a World Series Championship just last year. Could these unsuccessful seasons mark a change in the MLB? Maybe it does. If so will smaller teams step up to the plate? Also, these seasons could finally prove the point that money isn't everything when it comes to baseball. Teams are finally recruiting younger and cheaper players who end up killing it in the league. The Red Sox failure of Daisuke proves that statement that money isn't everything.

Underdog teams are finally starting to make noise in Major League Baseball. Particularly the Orioles are making noise in the East. The Orioles are usually one of the worst teams in the East but are beating the Yankees, Tampa Bay, and the Red Sox this season. Orioles were also the first team in the MLB to clinch a playoff berth. On Friday the 26th the Red Sox and Yankees will finish off their seasons in a home series in Boston. Who will prove to be the best of the worst?

Red Sox Rookie ContinuesTo Struggle

Coming off a World Series championship season, the Red Sox opening day roster consisted of two rookie players to the league. Xander Bogaerts starting at the short sop position, and Jackie Bradley Junior. Bradley Jr. has play short stints in the major leagues starting in the 2013 season, where he started the season before being sent between AAA Pawtucket and the Boston Red Sox all season long. This year for him proved no different. Bradley did not earn the starting center field job right out of the gate this season. Batting only in the .200's and having competition from a , returning and seasoned Grady Sizemore, Bradley sure had to fight for it. I asked Bradley in May for a comment on the situation to which he responded, "I don't see it as a competition, I see it more as an opportunity for me to learn from him." Bradley went on to say going through high school and college he had looked up to Grady Sizemore, Grady of course having a couple gold gloves. Bradley said it was unbelievable to actually be able to play with him now, and learn from him. Bradley in the early season was thrown around between the different fields, left one game right the next, even center every once in a while. Even during the early struggle of what spot he was actually going to rest in Bradley struggled elsewhere. Last years hitting woes proved to still be an issue, batting low .200's yet again people started to doubt Jackie even with his perfect fielding, best in the MLB for fielding this year.

Bradley tried not to let the early doubts get to him as he tried to focus in and get back to his days in college where he was the best fielder and the best hitter on the College World Series champion South Carolina Gamecocks in 2010 being named most valuable player. Bradley worked with the hitting coaches daily to change his stance the right way for him to finally be able to smack the ball. Widening his stance, bringing it back, chocking up, lighter bats, heavier bats, further away from plate, nothing seemed to work. How far can one make it in the MLB when they hit the ball 1 out of 5 times, while striking out 3 out of those 5? The games leading up to the end of this will more then definitely decide Jackie Bradley Jrs. fate for the upcoming 2015 season. How ever if you compare Bradley's batting average to that of Dustin Pedroia in his rookie years the numbers are very similar. So really in all we are waiting for a sign of hope for the young Bradley Jr, hoping he finds his bat yet again. Then hopefully succeed in the box and on the field for a struggling Red Sox.