With the inaugural “Matchup of the Year,” we wanted to be proactive instead of reactive. So we are jumping into the DeLorean and looking to 2005.

In the spring, Suzyn Waldman will join John Sterling in the Yankee radio booth. While neither Sterling nor Waldman will say much negative about any of their beloved Yankees, something tells us that, in due time, they will be bad-mouthing each other.

Sterling – save for Michael Kay – has had a cool relationship with his radio partners. In Waldman’s predecessor, Charley Steiner, Sterling recognized an inferior play-by-player and didn’t hide his feelings.

Waldman’s history also includes battles. More than one YES coworker privately expressed joy about her departure to radio. (Waldman wasn’t a big fan of YES, either.)

On WCBS radio, with Sterling expected to dominate the mike by doing all the play-by-play, Waldman must accept a secondary role for this on-air team to excel.

Since The Matchup has once again done a public service – alerting Sterling and Waldman of this potential problem – we think this duo will hold out until May before the sniping begins. So, May wins!

Thuuuuh month of May wins!