Postseason Pontificating

Between perusing the Giants-Dodgers tilt and the various NFL matchups, I've been checking in on the Red Sox-Yankees game today. For all the hatred and "rivalry" at stake, there isn't actually a whole lot on the line in this game. Given that New York has a 4 1/2 game lead and that Boston has a stranglehold on the wild card, the Sox-Yanks matchups over the past two weekends have been relatively meaningless, since both teams will make the playoffs no matter what.

However, today's game is somewhat significant because I thnk it will be the last time these two teams meet until April. The Yankees-Red Sox ALCS re-match that everyone assumes is inevitable will not actually happen. Why? Two words: Johan Santana. The guy has been as dominant a pitcher over the past ten weeks as anyone in recent memory. In a five game series, there's no way to survive with Santana making two starts. I think facing the New York in the first round would be especially advantageous. You'd have Santana starting Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, then get games 3 and 4 at home, and finally you put Santana on the mound for Game 5. Doesn't that sound very winnable for Minnesota? Regardless of which team they face, the underrated Twins (who also have Brad Radke to go with a scrappy, small-ball lineup) will advance to the ALCS.

The Boston and New York media won't know what hit 'em.