I agree 100% with you on this. Before Buck came along,too many of the games against the Yanks and Red Sox were lost before the first pitch was even thrown. Same with many other teams.
That has all changed now IMO. Not only because the Yanks often can't make it past the first round in the postseason but because of the Red Sox missing the playoffs so much.
No longer are these teams feared. And without the fear factor,these two teams are showing nothing more and more.
Having said all that...these two teams will never fade away,Selig and company will make sure of that.