September 26, 2006

ALCS - Better to play the Yankees in 5 or a 7 game series? : The Minnesota Twins pounded the Kansas City Royals 8-1 to clinch at least the American League wild card on Monday, assuring a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons and, if they so choose, a chance to win the AL Central. That's a choice they should decline. Dan Wetzel proposes it will be easier to face the Yankees in a 5 game division series rather than in the 7 game series. Torii Hunter agrees.

read story | posted by gradys_kitchen to Baseball at 9:21 AM CDT (16 comments total)

Try and take the division. Stupid or not, try and take the division.

(of course I say that and think: Doesn't seem likely that they will be able to take the division though considering the fact that Detroit is really 2 games up right now because a tie means Detroit still wins the division.)

Comment icon posted by chris2sy at 9:35 AM CDT on September 26

I do agree with Dan Wetzel that it would be best to rid ourselves (Twins fan here) of the Yankees early (and in a 5-game series) if we plan on making that World Series run, but to me the bigger implication is home field advantage. We'd pretty much be screwed until the World Series. And just for statistics: at home we're 51-24 (best record), while we're 42-39 away. That's a pretty big difference.

But as chris2sy said, taking the division is near-impossible given the remaining schedules. I'd rest Santana and play everyone else sparingly if the Tigers win the first two against Toronto.

Comment icon posted by PublicUrinal at 10:23 AM CDT on September 26

Going into any series worried about your chances with one opponent versus another is a good way to ensure you're out of the playoffs in a very short time. They should try and win the division, regardless.

Comment icon posted by dyams at 10:24 AM CDT on September 26

dyams: The Tigers face the Royals after their Toronto series. And I somehow don't foresee the Royals stealing a game at Detroit (Road: 24-51, playing a very good team with motivation). If the Twins stand any chance at winning the division, the Toronto series will be it. I would rest my players if the Twins won't have moved up by Thursday night.

Comment icon posted by PublicUrinal at 10:32 AM CDT on September 26

I'd say since you're in the playoffs, play your remaining regular season games in the way that will keep your team tuned up but not banged up. Other than that, let the chips fall where they may.

Comment icon posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:53 AM CDT on September 26

I agree that the Twins should try and win the division, but Wetzel does have a point.

I'm not sure home field is that big a deal to these Twins...while PublicUrinal's stat is correct, the Twins are also 25-10 on the road since the All-Star Break, a mark which I would guess is the best in baseball, though I could be wrong. The only series they lost was to the Yankees, but it was 2-1 and the pitchers were Silva, Baker and Garza. In short, no Santana, Radke or the surging Boof Bonser.

("Surging Boof" is fun to say, I should note.)

Comment icon posted by TheQatarian at 11:43 AM CDT on September 26

Rather than trying to figure out who is beatable in how many games, I would simply save Santana for the playoffs and not worry about anything else.

Comment icon posted by SummersEve at 11:55 AM CDT on September 26

My first comment was meant to mean not worrying about who your first round playoff opponent is, nothing about who's left on their regular season schedule. The lead-in paragraph said the Twins would fare better in a 5-game series against the Yanks rather than a seven-game series. My point is they (Tori Hunter or whoever) shouldn't spend too much time worrying about how that whole thing will set up, because they'll probably get in, face someone else in the 5-game series, and get beat. If they're happy they have someone else in the division series, they'll end up watching a league championship series on television.

Comment icon posted by dyams at 12:13 PM CDT on September 26

It would be best to not play NY at all and let someone else play and hopefully eliminate the Yanks. As a Tiger fan I've got a feeling this is the Yankees' year. After all they are overdue.

Comment icon posted by sickleguy at 5:35 PM CDT on September 26

...this is the Yankees' year. After all they are overdue.

Yeah, it's been, like, forever since they won the title. But I am a Yankees fan so I hope it happens this year. (I really thought 2001 was their year.)

Comment icon posted by msacheson at 10:42 PM CDT on September 26

Oh yeah, it's been oh so long since the bronx billionares have won it. How about the year of the Tiger? We have waited longer and bled more than yankee fan. At least we don't boo our winning team on an off night.

Comment icon posted by sydney2006 at 8:25 AM CDT on September 27

As a Twins fan, I worry that it will be tough to beat the Yankees under ANY circumstances. When you can bat Matsui 9th, your lineup is obviously loaded. Getting the first two games at the Dome against Oakland would be the preferred choice, since we could bring Santana back for Game 5 at home. Plus I think Detroit has a decent shot at beating New York, with their depth of pitching across the board.

(admin: no need for bold)

Comment icon posted by Coyno at 11:47 AM CDT on September 27

That's a bold statement.

Comment icon posted by chris2sy at 12:10 PM CDT on September 27

Any team that beats the Yankees is my FAVORITE.

Comment icon posted by LaKeR4LiFe at 1:03 PM CDT on September 27

That's a bold statement.

Nice.

Comment icon posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2:22 PM CDT on September 27

Emphasis his.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 3:06 PM CDT on September 27

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