Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is back, even though it never really went away

Napoli figures to be playing in the postseason for the sixth time in the past seven years. His postseason numbers are impressive, too: .272/.373/.457.

Tom Verducci | Sep 6, 2013

Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is back, even though it never really went away /

The productivity and patience of Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino are two big reasons for the success of the first-place Red Sox. — The productivity and patience of Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino are two big reasons for the success of the first-place Red Sox :: Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Napoli figures to be playing in the postseason for the sixth time in the past seven years. His postseason numbers are impressive, too: .272/.373/.457.

Published Sep 6, 2013

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.