MLB AL Playoff Breakdown

v.

Season series: Yankees 7-0

First base: Michael Cuddyer (Twins)/Mark Teixeira (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

Tex will likely finish 2nd in the AL MVP voting while Cuddyer has moved from right field due to the season ending injury to Justin Morneau

Second base: Nick Punto or Alexi Casilla (Twins)/Robinson Cano (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

Casilla's a hero right now in the Twin Cities, but Cano can get you a home run and he turns a DP better than any second baseman in baseball.

Third base: Matt Tolbert (Twins)/Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

We all know of A-Rod's struggles in the postseason, but maybe he's due this year...

Shortstop: Orlando Cabrera (Twins)/Derek Jeter (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

Cabrera was picked up before the trade deadline and helped to solidify the Twins infield, but Jeter had maybe his best overall season of his HOF career.

Left field: Delmon Young (Twins)/Johnny Damon (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

Young is still a bit raw but played well down the stretch. Damon's playoff experience gives him a slight nod.

Center field: Denard Span or Carlos Gomez (Twins)/Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner (Yankees)

Advantage: PUSH

It will most likely be Span and Cabrera starting but Gomez and Gardner could see a lot of time, too. Cabrera is the better defensively but Span can be a terror on the bases

Right field: Jason Kubel (Twins)/Nick Swisher (Yankees)

Advantage: Twins

Both are somewhat a defensive liability, but Kubel has better offesive numbers and the Twins need all the punch they can get.

Catcher: Joe Mauer (Twins)/Jorge Posada (Yankees)

Advantage: Twins

This is a lot closer than anyone can imagine. Mauer will most likely (and should) be the MVP, but Posada has more postseason experience and that closes the gap.

DH: Brenden Harris or Jose Morales (Twins)/Hideki Matsui (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

Matsui has recovered from injuries and his presence makes the Yankees lineup so much more potent.

Starting pitching: Brian Duensing, Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano, Scott Baker (Twins)/ CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

If the Twins didn't have to use Baker recently, their rotation wouldn't look like it's a mess. The Yankees, despite the names, aren't as solid as everyone believes

Closer: Joe Nathan (Twins)/Mariano Rivera (Yankees)

Advantage: Yankees

If I was comparing any other closer to Nathan, the Twins would have the edge. Just not against the greatest closer of all time.

If the Twins can find another dash of magic and pull off a victory in Game 1, that may cause Yankees fans to push the panic button. Sabathia hasn't had much postseason success, so winning today is critical for the psyche of the Yankees despite having tons of playoff experience. The Twins are just plain scrappy and have more grit than any other team in the postseson. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says he has ball players. Thing is, the Twins just can't win in New York. Yankees in 4.

v.

Season series: Angels 5-4

First base: Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox)/Kendry Morales (Angels)
Advantage: Red Sox
Morales did put up better offensive numbers, but Youk has the better glove.

Second base: Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)/Howie Kendrick (Angels)

Advantage: Red Sox

Pedroia didn't duplicate his MVP campaign of last year, but Kendrick was sent down earlier in the season to get straight.

Third base: Mike Lowell (Red Sox)/Chone Figgins (Angels)

Advantage: Angels

Lowell hasn't totally recovered from his surgery. Teams gameplan around Figgins because he demands that much attention.

Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez (Red Sox)/Erick Aybar (Angels)

Advantage: Angels

Will Gonzalez be able to give it a go? It's the postseason, so expect him to play. Aybar is on the rise as far as young SS go. He could be the X-factor for the Angels.

Left field: Jason Bay (Red Sox)/Juan Rivera (Angels)

Advantage: PUSH

Bay was an MVP candidate until just before the All-Star break, but faded. Rivera ended up with better offensive numbers but Bay is a slightly better fielder.

Center field: Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox)/Torii Hunter (Angels)

Advantage: Angels

Hunter was also in the runing for MVP until an injury derailed him. But Hunter has bounced back to the same level. Ellsbury could be the next great centerfilder.

Right field: J.D. Drew (Red Sox)/Bobby Abreu (Angels)

Advantage: Angels

Drew did have a decent offensive campaign, but his rash of nagging injuries has curtailed his defense. Some are saying Abreu deserves some MVP considerations. Nobody but the Angels wanted him. They're laughing at the rest of MLB.

Catcher: Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez (Red Sox)/Mike Napoli (Angels)

Advantage: Angels

Here's the only reason I took the Angels...the Angels will run, run, and then run some more on the Sox catching duo.

DH: David Ortiz (Red Sox)/Vladimir Guerrero (Angels)

Advantage: Red Sox

This is almost a push, but Ortiz has picked it up over the last couple of weeks.

Starting pitching: Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchhoz (Red Sox)/John Lackey, Jared Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Joe Saunders (Angels)

Advantage: Red Sox

Even though Beckett has had his recent stuggles, he's one of the best postseason pitchers of this generation. If he pulls it together, the Angels could be in trouble because if this series goes to a fifth game, Beckett will get the ball in Game 5.

Closer: Jonathon Papelbon (Red Sox)/Brian Fuentes (Angels)

Advantage: Red Sox

Fuentes may have 48 saves, but he's really struggled over the last month.

This should be the year the Angels break through against Boston, but it could easily go the full five games. The main difference is the bullpen. The Angels have had major struggles recently while the Red Sox have been one of the best pens all season. I look for this to go the distance with the Angels using the Rally Monkey to get the Red Sox monkey off their back. If the Angels are able to run on the Red Sox catchers, it will spell doom in Boston. Angels in 5. I think they can be beat Beckett.