How 'bout dem Yankees?

[Ian]

Wow...that's lame even for you bro.

Only a Philly fan would try to tarnish something like that.

What?? I was merely pointing out that, for the vaunted Yankees franchise, it's been a long dry spell without winning a championship.

Don't be bitter.

[Pagan]

What?? I was merely pointing out that, for the vaunted Yankees franchise, it's been a long dry spell without winning a championship.

Don't be bitter.

Oh yea I'm sure your intentions were innocent.

[Ian]

Oh yea I'm sure your intentions were innocent.

Completely!!

[Hammer]

Completely!!

(Is there a "fingers crossed" smiley??)

[sportsguy2315]

With the way things are appearing, the Yankees will get the winner of the AL Central Tiebreaker Tuesday in the Division Series. As a Twins fan, how do Yankee fans see how the Twins and Tigers matching up to the Yankees? I give the Twins a slight edge, mainly because of a semi-steady rotation and more consistent offense. Being one of the hottest teams in baseball doesn't hurt either.

[Pagan]

Of course you give the Twins the edge, you're a Twins fan! LOL!

Realistically though, they don't match up well against the Yankees. The Yanks swept the season series 7-0 scoring 41 runs in the process. The first 4 game sweep came when the Yanks were struggling.

A more consistant offense???

Runs Scored: Yanks - 915, Twins - 811
Hits: Yanks - 1604, Twins - 1527
Doubles - Yanks - 325, Twins - 270
Triples - Yanks - 21, Twins - 39
Home Runs: Yanks - 244, Twins - 170
Total Bases: Yanks - 2703, Twins - 2385
RBIs: Yanks - 881, Twins - 765
Batting Average: Yanks - .283, Twins - .274
On Base Pct.: Yanks - .362, Twins - .344
Slugging Pct.: Yanks - .478, Twins - .429
OPS: Yanks - .839, Twins - .773
Walks Drawn: Yanks - 663, Twins - 579
Stolen Bases: Yanks - 111, Twins - 85

With the exception of triples, the Yanks OWN the Twins in every major offensive catagory.

Pitching???

Team ERA: Yanks - 4.26, Twins - 4.50
Earned Runs: Yanks - 687, Twins - 721
Total Runs: Yanks 753, Twins - 760
Walks: Yanks - 574, Twins - 460
Strikeouts: Yanks - 1260, Twins - 1044
Op. Batting Avg: Yanks - .251, Twins - .272

So really...what do you base your assumptions on???

I'd rather have the Yankees face the Twins than the Tigers. Detroit matches up better against them.

[Ian]

Barring a miracle, the Yankees should win their 27th World Series this year.

There. I said it. Every other team in the playoffs has too many question marks to seriously contend with the Yankees. They're just rock solid from top to bottom.

I do suspect, however, that it will be a Yankees v. Phillies series. I know the Phils aren't the fashionable NL pick this year (that honor seems to be going to the Cardinals who, oddly enough, enter the playoffs with the worst regular season record of all NL playoff teams? ), but I think being back in the post-season is going to re-energize them.

Not to mention that none of these other NL playoff teams really scares me. The Dodgers pitching is a mess. The Rockies starting rotation does nothing for me. The Cards have been in the tank for almost a month now and are in a serious tailspin. At the end of the day I think the Phils lineup and starting rotation, combined with their playoff experience, will be enough to carry them through.

But that Yankees buzz-saw is waiting in the wings and I don't think they have what it takes to get through a Series with the Yanks ... especially not one in which the Yanks have home field advantage.

[Pagan]

Barring a miracle, the Yankees should win their 27th World Series this year.

That's it....we're doomed.

[barnaby]

Barring a miracle, the Yankees should win their 27th World Series this year.

There. I said it. Every other team in the playoffs has too many question marks to seriously contend with the Yankees. They're just rock solid from top to bottom.

I do suspect, however, that it will be a Yankees v. Phillies series. I know the Phils aren't the fashionable NL pick this year (that honor seems to be going to the Cardinals who, oddly enough, enter the playoffs with the worst regular season record of all NL playoff teams? ), but I think being back in the post-season is going to re-energize them.

Not to mention that none of these other NL playoff teams really scares me. The Dodgers pitching is a mess. The Rockies starting rotation does nothing for me. The Cards have been in the tank for almost a month now and are in a serious tailspin. At the end of the day I think the Phils lineup and starting rotation, combined with their playoff experience, will be enough to carry them through.

But that Yankees buzz-saw is waiting in the wings and I don't think they have what it takes to get through a Series with the Yanks ... especially not one in which the Yanks have home field advantage.

Yankees have question marks in the starting rotation. Sabathia is 2-3 with an ERA around 8 in the postseason, Burnett is inconsistent, Pettite is older and has some shoulder issues, and Joba is a headcase.
But the Yanks lineup is stacked 1-9. They will wear out opposing teams pitching.

Phillies will come out of the NL, only team that can beat them is the Cards because of Carpenter and Wainwright. Dodgers may not win a playoff game, they'll be one and done. The Rockies are overmatched by the Phils and will be out in the NLDS.

The 3 best teams in baseball are in the AL - Yanks, Angels, Red Sox.
However, that doesn't mean that an NL team won't be WS champs. Anything can happen in a 7 game series and there are WAY too many off days in the playoffs.

[Pagan]

Yankees have question marks in the starting rotation. Sabathia is 2-3 with an ERA around 8 in the postseason, Burnett is inconsistent, Pettite is older and has some shoulder issues, and Joba is a headcase.
But the Yanks lineup is stacked 1-9. They will wear out opposing teams pitching.

Joba will be in the bullpen for this series. Past is past, Sabathia was a 19 game winner this year. He gets a clean slate for the playoffs. Burnett was inconsistant, but has come on as of late. Pettite is older, but also has the experience.

They'll do just fine.

[barnaby]

Joba will be in the bullpen for this series. Past is past, Sabathia was a 19 game winner this year. He gets a clean slate for the playoffs. Burnett was inconsistant, but has come on as of late. Pettite is older, but also has the experience.

They'll do just fine.

Joba is in the 'pen because he wasn't very good down the stretch.
Sabathia won 19 games in 07 but was just OK in the playoffs.
Burnett has always been inconsistent, thats not a good thing.
Pettite is older and has the experience, but with age has lost some skill and is not the same picther he was.

I am not saying the Yankees are in trouble, simply making the point they have question marks in the rotation.

[Pagan]

Joba is in the 'pen because he wasn't very good down the stretch.

Joba is in the pen because that's where he started and never should have been taken out of.

Sabathia won 19 games in 07 but was just OK in the playoffs.

That was then, this is now.

Burnett has always been inconsistent, thats not a good thing.

That's only one starter. He's like the girl with the curl...when he's good, he's very very good...when he's bad, well...

Pettite is older and has the experience, but with age has lost some skill and is not the same picther he was.

But like they say, age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

I am not saying the Yankees are in trouble, simply making the point they have question marks in the rotation.

Wasn't any questions last night though.

[JPL]

I'm loving it right now! Let's hope they keep it up!

[Phantod]

Dodgers may not win a playoff game, they'll be one and done.

The Dodgers one and done? Haaaaa, haaaaa. Good one. How about a 3 game sweep....and which team had the best pitching in the series.....could it be.....Satan, I mean Saint Louis....no, it was the Dodgers.

GO BLUE!! They'll clean house with the Phillies, should they make it....and then take care of business in NY.

[Phantod]

The Dodgers pitching is a mess.

Ian, what are you smokin'? How about Padilla in game 3? Yeah, they have a BIG problem with their pitching....and their hitting to. I'm pretty sure they'll never beat the Cards.....oh wait, they swept them in three.

You must be dwelling in a different universe than I.

GO Dodgers!!!

[Ian]

Ian, what are you smokin'? How about Padilla in game 3? Yeah, they have a BIG problem with their pitching....and their hitting to. I'm pretty sure they'll never beat the Cards.....oh wait, they swept them in three.

You must be dwelling in a different universe than I.

GO Dodgers!!!

Congratulations on the Dodgers success. They indeed played a quality series against a worthy opponent.

I am quite looking forward to a Phillies/Dodgers NLCS should the Phillies be fortunate enough to best the Colorado Rockies and advance. It should be a most ripping contest.

[Pagan]

HEY!!!!
Start a Dodgers thread, willya?

[Pagan]

Pens win Saturday....Yanks sweep....Sox GET swept...all I need is for the Dolphins to beat the Jets tonight and my sports weekend was perfect!

BRING ON THE ANGELS!!!

[Ian]

GO BLUE!! They'll clean house with the Phillies, should they make it....and then take care of business in NY.

So how's that whole house cleaning business goin' for ya?

Come on ... be a man ... take your lumps. Where ya been??? You were all lippy about "BLUE" when things were going well, but you're not gonna man up and come back and take it when they're getting crushed (again) by the Phils??? That's weak, dude.

The Dodgers are the Eagles of baseball. They can get to the Championship Game and then they fall apart. Think about it, dude ... they're one Chase Utley error away from having been swept.

Where ya at, Phantod???