Are you ready to see the Boston Red Sox versus New York Yankees…again?
Whether you like that idea or not, as Kim Jong Il from the movie Team America once unclearly said, “It’s inevitabre”.
Half the battle is already complete since one of these two teams will enter the playoffs via the American League East. That will mostly likely be the Red Sox, leaving the Yankees in search of a berth by way of the Wild Card.
As much as these two rivals can not pitch, play defense or close out games, they do present the most appealing matchup in the NLCS.
Who else would you rather see?
The Oakland Athletics have stumbled since their summer hot streak and the Chicago White Sox once insurmountable lead in the American League Central is now down to six games. As time has passed, both teams have faded like Susan Sarandon’s acting skills and both don’t project to do any damage in the post-season. Just remember that the Minnesota Twins pitched an untouchable Cy Young winner twice and had home-field advantage but still crumbled to the Yankees last year.
That leaves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Cleveland Indians as the other possible playoff candidates.
The Angels are very similar to last year’s squad who also had home-field advantage and was spanked and swept in three games by the Red Sox. The Indians have been one of the hottest team in the big leagues with a 33-13 record since the middle of July but they don’t have a winning record against either the Yankees or the Red Sox this season and they are untested in the post-season.
They are a great Cinderella story but come gut-check time, Boston and New York will have the experience on their side and will be able to impose their intimidating presence.
So while the Red Sox are likely in, for the Yankees, the hour is approaching to give it their best. They are one and a half games back but now they’ve got to reach their prime. That's when they need to put themselves to the test and show us the passage of time. They’re gonna need a montage
With 17 of their 20 remaining games against Tampa Bay, Toronto and Baltimore, the opportunity is on the table.
Maybe feelings are feelings because we can’t control them, but I get the feeling that the Yankees and Red Sox will meet up again in the American League Championship Series.
They measure up pretty well against each other. Both teams play well at home, both teams lead the league in batting statistics and both teams have issues with their pitching. A few years ago, the over/under on a game where Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson were the starting pitchers would have been around seven but if they meet up in the ALCS, it will probably sit at 10 or higher.
It might be a sloppy series but it will be one worth watching.
More so than any other combination of Red Sox/Yankees versus Angels/White Sox/Indians/Athletics.
Baseball playoffs and Team America mix like Mondays and me.
“I taught them everything they know but not everything I know” – James Brown
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