BOSTON Here, in this city of recent champions certainly compared to New York the supposed biggest rivalry in sports is turning into an afterthought. Its sad, really it is. The Yankees and their alleged nemesis Red Sox were set to meet for the Jordan McLaughlin Jersey first time in 2024 more than 70 games into the season and the game is so little considered it was to accommodate what the old town hopes will be yet another team title. The Celtics are the clear focus of the moment, and here where standards are high, the Yankees-Red Sox game was pushed into lobster roll time with a rare 6:30 start before being delayed by rain. (Actually, thats better for the deadline, so thanks, and this is the one paper that sent a columnist and beat man here to cover.) Manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is always bubbling. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Manager Aaron Boone, who hit the home run that sent the Yankees to the World Series and the Red Sox home in 2003, which just might be the last great year of this rivalry, says its always bubbling, and can come back again. We shall see about that. Theres no debating its down now, and here are three reasons: More From Jon Heyman 1. From the time the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth through 2003, the Yankees led the Red Sox in championships 26-0. Which is utter domination, and spurred a slogan The Curse of the Bambino and a book, too. Thats part of it the inferiority complex New England and New York. Its not the same, legendary Boston-based baseball writer Peter Gammons told me. 2. Theres a newfound friendline s that didnt exist when Graig Nettles was breaking Bill Lees arm, when Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez were tu sling on the basepath or when Pedro Martinez was to sing Don Zimmer to the turf. There arent guys on the Yankees for the Red Sox to hate, Gammons said. Who could even hate Aaron Judge? The first baseman [Anthony Rizzo] was [originally] a Red Sox. They love him. Alex Rodriguez helped add to the Yankees rivalry with the Red Sox. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post Jason Variteks scuffle with Alex Rodriguez was part of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. USA TODAY Sports 3. And this is the obvious one. The Red Sox arent on the Yankees level at the moment. Considering their surprising youth, the Red Sox are actually putting together a pretty nice season. But it doesnt compare to the once-hated Yankees, who were the best team in baseball at 49-22 entering play. The Red Sox actually arent bad, especially for rebuilders, which is what they are now. They simply arent good enough to be a threat following a winter when yet again they didnt do much of note beyond hold Zoom calls with stars (Jordan Montgomery was one). They still dont have the top-tier guys, Gammons said. They wont go out and sign the big-money guys. If theres one thing the Red Sox current ownership is noted for beyond breaking the 86-year jinx and winning three more titles its redoing its baseball management team. Yes, their owners are more like the Bo s than Steinbrenners own son Hal, whos running the most stable franchise in sports. Meantime, Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner anointed the fourth leader of their baseball ops department this decade. This diverges from the Yankees whove been run by Brian Cashman since, oh, forever. Darned if Red Sox ownership isnt consistent. For the third time out of four, it tabbed a Yalie, former pitcher Craig Breslow, following Chaim Bloom and the legendary Theo Epstein (a Breslow buddy who was wisely ). They certainly have a type. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Breslow is showing promise, on the fly forming a pitching staff thats performed at a surprisingly high level (they were sixth with a 3.43 ERA through Thursday). But this being the Red Sox, that win one, lose one trend isnt going to cut it, and everyone around here is gearing up for the club to sell at the deadline. In their last big trade, they , which is Exhibit A of the undesirable chummine s that now exists. Of course, its the even bigger trade involving Verdugo the one where homegrown superstar Mookie Betts was sent to the Dodgers that Bostonians still arent over (and probably never will be). Verdugo is a big plus for the Yankees, and though hes one of baseballs best quotes (no clichs here!), he continues to be unwilling to trash the Red Sox even after it came out that Boston manager Alex Cora was tiring of him. True to the state of these teams, Verdugo again told us Friday how much he respected Cora and even how much their families get along. Alex Verdugo was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Now, that kind of talk wont help the rivalry one bit! Verdugo is a big plus in Yankeeland, and even if he helps the Yankees break their title-le s streak at 15 seasons, the Red Sox must not mind too much. Verdugo isnt going to win the MVP that will most likely go to one of his two outfield mates, Juan Soto or the incomparably great Judge but the Red Soxs stunning willingne s to help the Yankees signaled their disinterest in continuing the hate that makes a rivalry great. Naz Reid Jersey