RandBall: A few reasons you shouldn't be sweating the Yankees in the ALDS For a while, we bought into the lament about the Twins possibly having to face the Yankees in the ALDS this season. But we're done with it. And here's why:
• If you fancy yourself a World Series contender, as the Twins do, you are going to have to beat good teams. If the Yankees could be considered the best team in baseball would you rather face the Yankees: In the ALDS as the Wild Card, in a five-game series with three at Target Field? Or in the ALCS, in a seven-game series, with four games at Yankee Stadium?
• This is not the little-Twins-that-could (but probably wouldn't) team of yesteryear. These Twins have a competitive payroll. This team looked on paper at the start of the season like a bona fide contender to win it all.
• If these races continue as they have been going -- and again, that's an if. The Twins would be in a good position to set their postseason rotation and rest players. Either of their potential first-round opponents (Yankees or Rays) might not have that luxury, just as the Twins didn't a year ago.
