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September 11, 2007
Open The Door & Let ' Em In?
As of this morning, the Yankees are 5 games back of the Boston Red Sox in the A.L. East. There are 19 games left to the season.
Boston is playing a series against Tampa Bay - three games in total. And, the Sox lost to the Rays last night.
New York is playing a series now, also three games, up at Toronto.
From August 31st to September 2nd, the Devil Rays took 2 of 3 from the Yankees. And, from September 3rd to September 5th, the Blue Jays lost 2 of 3 to the Red Sox.
So, what happens if the Rays now take 2 of 3 from the Sox and the Jays lose 2 of 3 to the Yankees? It means the Yankees will be 4.5 games out of first, with 16 games to play, as they go to Fenway Park to play three games against the Red Sox.
Yeah, I know, it's a lot of moving parts on this one. But, as Larry Mahnken points out today, there may be an edge for the Yankees to try and grab here...by finishing first in the East...and getting the Indians in the ALDS rather than the Angels.
Then again, the Angels and Indians both have 84 wins, to date, this season. So, if the Indians finish with a better record than the Angels, then the Wildcard team (if it comes from the East, which it should) gets to play the Tribe (and avoid the Angels).
So, what's more important to Yankees fans - passing Boston or avoiding the Angels? Personally, I want to pass Boston - and then have the standings "chokes" of 2005, 2006 and 2007 in hand to help offset the 2004 ALCS choke. Besides, I figure it's time for the Yankees to beat the Angels in the post-season. It happens - for three years (1976-1978) the Yankees beat the Royals in the post-season and then they finally lost in 1980. Maybe this is the year that the Yankees get even for 2002 and 2005 with the Angels?
Oh, boy, this whole thing is alotta dreaming...starting with the Rays taking 2 of 3 from Boston...maybe it's time to just wake up and worry about the Yankees locking up the Wildcard first?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 09:11 AM
Comments
Blowing a 14.5 game lead in the standings is a hell of a lot more embarrassing than losing 4 games in the playoffs against a vastly superior team, IMO.
Posted by: Andrew ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 11, 2007 09:49 AM
~~~Blowing a 14.5 game lead in the standings is a hell of a lot more embarrassing than losing 4 games in the playoffs against a vastly superior team, IMO.~~~
I would agree.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 09:51 AM
Interesting read by Larry Brooks in today's Post I was not aware of. Best regular season team has the option of playing their ALDS series in either 7 or 8 days, relegating the other series to what they don't choose. Another bit of strategy as a team figures how to impact the Yanks rotation negativly.
Posted by: Santino53 at September 11, 2007 10:09 AM
Yanks only four back in the AFILC. With six games to play between them. If (a mighty big if) the Yankees go 5-1 against Boston, then they'd be tied and would have won the season series (IIRC), giving the Yankees the division.
I'd love to see Boston and LAA beat each other up.
Posted by: rbj at September 11, 2007 10:29 AM
I would love to see the Angels play Boston in the first round. I think that that the Angels will end up with the second best record in the AL meaning that the Yankees are better off as the wild card.
Posted by: bluke at September 11, 2007 10:36 AM
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Yankees have been a lousy road team and the pitching matchups with Toronto are very tough. With Mussina, Hughes, and Kennedy pitching in Toronto the Yankees will have a hard time winning 2 out of 3.
Unfortunately, every tine this season the Yankees have gotten close to Boston, they have immediately given it back in the next series.
Posted by: bluke at September 11, 2007 10:39 AM
Santino53 - thanks, I just linked to that in a new entry
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at September 11, 2007 10:50 AM