As fans, the day between the end of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs is always filled with equal parts anxiety and optimism. You dream of hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy while simultaneously fretting over how it could all come crashing down.
For the 1999 Yankees, the hard part was done. They returned to the dance, attempting to repeat as World Series champions—a feat that has not been matched since the 1998-2000 Yankees.
If pitching wins championships, the Boston Red Sox were heavy favorites for the American League crown, despite making the playoffs as the Wild Card. Led by Pedro Martínez, their pitching staff excelled.
Boston's pitching staff combined for a 126 ERA+, a full 13 points higher than the second-place Yankees. In a short series, having two top-of-the-rotation starters like Pedro Martínez could be huge.
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