Why The Yankees Could Win The ALDS
The Yankees head into the postseason with the best record in baseball as winners of 103 games, having outscored their opponents by exactly one run per game. They also are matched up against theonly team that did not defeat them in 2009. Furthermore, the Yankees haven't won a playoff series since 2004 when they last faced Minnesota in October.
All of those things bode well, even if the Twins won 17 of 21 games including a 12-inning instant classic in Tuesday's one-game playoff against Detroit to get in to the post-season.
The first thing that anyone ever thinks about when looking at the Yankees is the power and depth of their lineup. New York features eight hitters with an OPS of .850 or better, while Minnesota has just three such hitters (not including the injured Justin Morneau). That is the kind of lineup that Carl Pavano (former Yankee bust), Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn will struggle with once it turns over.
Unlike previous seasons, the Yankees' offense will not rely so heavily on Alex Rodriguez to deliver in clutch situations as he will share the similar pressure in the middle of the lineup with fellow teammate Mark Teixeira.
New York's starting pitching has two power pitchers in Game 1 and 2 with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Sabathia struggled in April, but finished the season with a 3.37 ERA and had a 1.29 mark with a 9.26 K/9 rate during the month of September. That is the kind of a true frontline starter that the Yankees haven't had the luxury of throwing out there in Game 1 of a playoff series the past few years when the best they could throw out was an aging Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Kevin Brown or the hittable Chien-Ming Wang.
Burnett is capable of being the best pitcher alive on certain outings, but he has always been inconsistent and had a 4.33 ERA in just under 100 second half innings. Andy Pettitte will start Game 3 and though he had a 3.31 ERA since the break, he has struggled in his past few starts. Joba Chamberlain's struggles have made Pettite going with Sabathia and Burnett in the five-game set a relative no-brainer.
The Yankees' bullpen is deeper and more dominant than it has been with Phil Hughes and now Joba Chamberlain setting up Mariano Rivera.
Other than the clear edge New York has at the plate, they are also vastly superior defensively. The Yankees were ranked 18th in fielding percentage compared to the 27th ranked Twins.
Why The Twins Could Win The ALDS
This would be a monumental upset, but in no way is it impossible. After a classic game in the final regular season contest at the Metrodome, the Twins earned the AL Central crown and now will go to New York to face baseball’s best team. The Twins had less than 16 hours to prepare for the Yankees and will head to the Bronx with a fatigued staff and without one of their franchise players in Justin Morneau, but don’t count out Minny just yet.
Over the past decade in postseason baseball, the team that comes in with the most momentum usually lifts a few eyebrows. In 2007, the Rockies won 14 out of 15 games, including the famous Matt Holliday play-in game to clinch the NL Wild-Card. From there they cruised to the World Series. This Minnesota Twins club has the ability to make a similar run. The Twins started September seven games behind the Detroit Tigers, but won 17 out of their final 21 to earn a berth. They play the game with nothing to lose and everything to win.
Contrary to belief, the Twins can actually score with the Yankees. In the regular season, they were fourth in the American League in runs scored with 817. Denard Span (97), Joe Mauer (94), Michael Cuddyer (93) and Orlando Cabrera (83) were all in the top 40. Minnesota puts the ball in play and makes things happen. They were third in the AL in sacrifice hits in the regular season. They do the little things, and they do them well.
Mauer easily was the best hitter in the AL this season and will almost certainly win the MVP. He batted .365 in the regular season with an OBP of .444. He is as dangerous as hitter as anyone in the game and if the Yankees pitch around him, they will be forced to give Kubel and Cuddyer some pitches to hit.
The lineup is peaking at the right time. Even after Morneau went down, the Twins have averaged nearly six runs a game. Delmon Young was just named the co-player of the week. Nick Punto is a pesky hitter at the end of the lineup who battles every time he is in the box and Carlos Gomez is a guy that can come off the bench and steal a huge base late in the game.
Minnesota’s staff may be a little worn-down for the series, but manager Ron Gardenhire will take it game-by-game. He will not force Carl Pavano to go six if he can see that he doesn’t have his stuff early in the game.
The Yankees don’t have a cakewalk here no matter how exhausted you may think Minnesota’s club is. You just don’t get tired at this time of year. After losing all seven regular season contests with the Yankees, the Twins are out their to prove to the world again that they belong.
Peace and Much Love To Ya :)
*Note: Game 1 was played today and the Yankees won 7-2 to take a 1-0 series lead
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