Does it feel strange?

The New York Yankees are coming to Fenway Park for the final series of the season and it means nothing.

Since 1995, the Yankees always made plans for October, playing playoff baseball. Not this year.

New York is out. Boston is in.

It feels weird.

For so many years, "Yankees paranoia" struck New England, as Red Sox followers fretted about the team in pinstripes.

Much changed in 2004, when Boston defeated New York for the pennant and then won its first World Series in 86 years.

But the 2006 and 2007 seasons provide a big story, too.

In 2006, Boston missed the playoffs. General Manager Theo Epstein did little to improve the club with any big trades at mid-year, holding onto prospects instead. The Red Sox slipped.

But 2006 was a case of taking one step back in order to take two forward, as Boston won the 2007 World Series.

Is there a lesson here for the Yankees?

New York has a treasured past, with 26 World Series titles. But the Red Sox can claim honors in recent history. Over the past six years, they have as many playoff appearances (five), counting 2008, and two World Series titles to New York's none.

What has gone wrong for the Yankees?

Here are three names to answer the question:

1. Dioner Navarro. In January 2005, less than three months after Boston celebrated its World Series, the Yankees traded three players, including Navarro, to the Arizona Diamondbacks, for Randy Johnson, a 41-year-old pitcher.

Johnson won 34 games in two years, but the Yankees did not improve and New York finally shipped the aging Johnson back to Arizona.

Navarro, meanwhile, was traded to Los Angeles and then to Tampa Bay, where he became an All-Star catcher this year and a key reason why the Rays vaulted past its AL East rivals. If not for Tampa Bay's rise, New York would likely be the wild-card team.

New York, meanwhile, found itself without catching depth and re-signed Jorge Posada to a four-year, $52.4-million contract. Posada, 37, tore his rotator cuff and played only 51 games this year, just 30 as catcher.

2. Johan Santana. While the Yankees have been faulted for trading away prospects for quick fixes, a deal for Santana would have made sense. But the Yankees backed out and the Mets got him.

The Yankees needed Santana because they do not have an ace, now or in the near future. Chien-Ming Wang is good when healthy. Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina are past their prime, and prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are not seasoned. And New York still seems to be figuring out where to put Joba Chamberlain.

Giving up good prospects for a young ace can provide dividends (see Josh Beckett).

Santana, 29, would have given the Yankees a No. 1 starter for years to come. Still without an ace, the Yankees are likely to go after free agent CC Sabathia.

3. Carl Pavano. The $40-million, four-year contract he was given as a free agent after the 2004 season was obviously a mistake. He was injured most of the time and produced a total of nine wins.

Red Sox fans can hardly gloat about Pavano; Boston also went after him. When the Yankee won the bidding, Boston signed Matt Clement, who was ineffective, but at least his contract was for only three years.

Pavano began 2008 on the disabled list. He soon would have company, with the likes of Posada, Wang (foot) and a host of others who missed time.

The Yankees had bad luck with injuries and did not have the depth to hold on. Boston also had injuries, but could plug the holes.

So, indeed, the Yankees have fallen.

But they certainly can get back up.

Here are three reasons why:

1. Payroll. New York can take $68 million off the books by allowing the departure of five free agents -- first baseman Jason Giambi ($21 million), outfielder Bobby Abreu ($16 million), Pettitte ($16 million), Mussina...