Angels vs. Yankees in the Playoffs? Expect It

Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

I look forward to a potential American League Championship Series face-off with the Angels in the same way I anticipate becoming 40 and having my wife tell me I need a completely-invasive prostate exam.

To make clear, I fear the future worse than Chris Russo.

The Yankees beat the Angels at their own specialty on Monday in New York, manufacturing the lead run thanks to the substantially effective Brett Gardner and a helping hand from Chone Figgins, who was more skittish at 3rd than Tom Brady in the pocket versus the Bills.

The final tally was 5-3, allowing New York to ascend its lead over LA Anaheim of CA to six games in the battle for home field advantage in the playoffs. It was a key win for the Yankees, but the context of the battle was perhaps even more meaningful.

A postseason meeting between these 2 franchises would be a massacre.

I know, there is that entire issue of the divisional series to be settled. The Yankees will need to survive Detroit and LA and must figure out a way to outdo the Red Sox, a franchise that consistently seems to bury them. However in a year where the Yankees have earned the nominated status as "The Team To Beat", it is not possible to not think about LA in the long term.

The Angels' team is loaded with athletes that frighten me. Figgins, Torii Hunter, Kendry Morales, and yes, Bobby Abreu, form the core of a talented lineup that mirrors the strength of the Yankees' roster.

Expect a series between these 2 franchises to go to seven games or close to it. Predict a series where a 3-run margin of victory is considered a thrashing.

What I am attempting to say is, predict a series where you'll need to imbibe plenty of fluids...and I do not suggest water.

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