Playoff Preview: Twins @ Yankees

The New York Yankees come into the 2009 postseason as the big bad team with 103 victories. Everyone is looking for this team to fail. the Twins come in the 2009 postseason as the opposite. They are the scrappy underdog team who got hot at the right time and upset the Tigers to win the Central Division in a one-game playoff.

The Yankees’ offense is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. they have 5 players with over 20 homers and the 3-4 combination of Teixeira-Rodriguez is one of the best in the league. With Jeter and Teixeira, the Yanks have two players who will probably finish in the top 3 in the AL MVP voting. Ace C.C. Sabbathia hasn’t had the best postseason success in the past, but I see him having a big October along with playoff veteran Andy Pettitte. A.J. Burnett is a wildcard, the Yanks need him to be the pitcher he was mid-season and in late September for a deep playoff run. The bullpen is also one of the best in the game with Phil Hughes setting up the legendary Mariano Rivera.

The Twins come in hot and running on adrenaline after a tiring week and a 12 inning play-in game with the Tigers ending 20 hrs before the first pitch of the ALDS with the Yankees. The Twins have the AL MVP on the team with insanely awesome catcher, Joe Mauer. But besides Mauer and the momentum, I don’t see how this team can compete with the Yankees. Michael Cuddyer has fit in very nicely for an injured Justin Morneau, but Morneau will be missed for these playoffs. The starting pitching is also in shambles. Rookie Brian Duensing takes on ace C.C. Sabbathia for his first start at Yankee Stadium in game 1 of the ALDS, talk about pressure. You then have Carl” The DL” Pavano starting game 2 in Yankee Stadium, which I’m sure the packed crowd won’t be very hostile. The Twins best pitcher will only be able to start one game in this series, and it won’t be until game 3 in the Metrodome.

Yankees Key To Success: A.J. Burnett- He has to show up as the pitcher he was signed to be and has been during July. He better win with his personal catcher Jose Molina, or Jorge Posada might cause some ruckus and won’t be silent about it.

Twins Key To Success: Momentum- They need to ride this momentum all the way through the playoffs, similar to how the 2007 Rockies did.

Prediction: NYY Over MIN In 4 Games- If the Yankees lose this series, it will be more to a total collapse by the Yankees than the Twins overpowering them. I’ll give the Twins game 3 with Baker on the mound and in the tough, loud Metrodome.