YANKEES FANS SHOULD BE HAPPY PAPLEBON IS A PHILLIE

Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Paplebon has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Philies. Though his numbers don't show it, he had a very solid year in 2011 and could return to dominance in 2012. This would not have been good for the Yankees, which is why they should be glad that Paplebon found a new address. They should also be happy that Daniel Bard will become the Red Sox closer.

Bard, who throws exceptionally hard, has difficulty against the Yankees and teams above .500 in general. While his overall career ERA is 2.88, he's 4-5 against winning teams with an ERA of 3.19. Against the Yankees, he's 2-1 with an ERA of 4.13. 

Bard has given up only 16 home runs in his career, but 7 were to the Yankees. The most he has given up against any other team is 2.

Paplebon, on the other hand, had an ERA of 1.93 against the Yankees in 2011.

Though Bard has even better velocity than Paplebon, he isn't as smart a pitcher.