 The off @-@ season after the 2007 Series showed a war of words between management of both teams . Boston GM Theo Epstein called Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina a " bad apple " for complaining about the Yankees ' 2004 trip to Japan as the Red Sox were gearing up for their own trip there . Epstein claimed that Mussina had used it as a crutch during the season . Mussina retorted back saying " Yea , we used it as a crutch to win the division ! " Later that month , Hank Steinbrenner , who had taken a bigger role with the Yankees operation from his father George , responded in a feisty manner to the popularity of Red Sox Nation in The New York Times supplemental Play Magazine : " ' Red Sox Nation ? ' What a bunch of ( expletive ) that is . That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN , which is filled with Red Sox fans . Go anywhere in America and you won 't see Red Sox hats and jackets , you 'll see Yankee hats and jackets . This is a Yankee country . We 're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order . " In response , Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry inducted Hank Steinbrenner into Red Sox Nation . Steinbrenner went on to praise Henry 's handling of the Red Sox and said they would always be competitive under him . 
