ALCS Preview - Angels/Yankees

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Today, we'll take a look at the ALCS between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees. We'll view each position and see which team has the advantage at that position. After all of that, I'll make my prediction on who will win this series between the two best teams in the American League's regular season.

Season series: 5-5 (Yankees won 3-1 at Yankee Stadium, Angels won 4-2 at Angel Stadium). If you could ever look at a stat and see that home field advantage applies, it might be here. Now, the position players.

First base: Angels - Kendry Morales v. Yankees - Mark Teixeira (left)
These are arguably the two best 1B in the AL (Twins and Tigers fans may disagree. And they are legit in those). Both amassed MVP numbers for the season. Tex got most of the press because of playing in New York, but Morales came into his own this season given the fact that Tex went from the Angels to the Yankees in the offseason. Offensively, these guys are even. It's the glove that's the difference.
Advantage: Yankees

Second base: Angels - Howie Kendrick v Yankees - Robinson Cano
Kendrick was sent down to the minors earlier in the season to get his head back together, and the results were good. Cano continues to be in the upper echelon of MLB's second baseman.
Advantage: Yankees

Third base: Angels - Chone Figgins v. Yankees - Alex Rodriguez
There's no Kate Hudson factor that applies here. How did the Angels advance agsint the Red Soxand Figgins didn't even get a hit? That needs to change for the Angels to get past the Yanks. Add this to the talk: ARod did have a good season despite the extensive layoff. Look at these numbers: 30 HR, 100 RBI, batting average of .286. He walked more in '09 than in '08 while playing in 14 less games.
Advantage: Yankees

Shortstop: Angels - Erick Aybar v. Yankees - Derek Jeter
Do I really need yo go through the reasoning?
Advantage: Yankees

Left field: Angels - Juan Rivera v. Yankees - Johnny Damon
The main thing that separates Rivera and Damon from an offensive standpoint is strikeouts. Rivera played in only 5 less games, but struckout 41 less times (Rivera: 57, Damon: 98). Where Rivera gets a decided edge is in the field. He had 11 assists and commited only 2 error. We know it can be an adventure with Damon.
Advantage: Angels

Center field: Angels - Torii Hunter (right) v. Yankees - Melky Cabrera
We will get to see some excellent center fielders in this one. It's the bat that really divides Hunter from Cabrera. Add in the leadership qualities of Hunter and there's even more of separation.
Advantage: Angels

Right field: Angels - Bobby Abreu v. Yankees - Nick Swisher
Abreu did see a slight dip in his HR. He would've hit 30 playing in the new Yankee Stadium. Swisher was just 1 HR shy of 30. That's the only meaningful stat where Swisher has an offensive edge. Defensively, these guys are pretty much even despite the video we've seen of Swisher's misadventures. Abreu has more assists (10 to 2), but he committed more errors (8  to 5). Not as close as everyone thinkd.
Advantage: Angels

Catcher: Angels - Mike Napoli/Jeff Mathis v. Yankees - Jorge Posada
Intriguing this is. With New York going with a three man rotation, Posada will most likley catch most of the games. The Angels are more than willing to test his arm. There's the difference.
Advatage: Angels

Designated hitter: Angels - Vladamir Guerrero v. Yankees - Hideki Matsui
Straight offense in this comparison. Neither strike out a whole lot which is important for the DH. Matsui will take a walk and we know Vlad is almost impossible to walk. Guerrero missed about a third of the season due to injury and Matsui appears to have his legs under him. Plus, Matsui has bts around him in the order for protection. Vlad doesn't have as much of that.
Advantage: Yankees

Starting pitching:
The Yankess will go with a three man rotation (CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte). I'm not totally liking that, but if the weather is a factor (and it looks like it might), then it could be interesting for New York. That might put the Yanks more in the driver's seat, but you cannot discout the Angels four (John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Jared Weaver (left), Scott Kazmir). Lackey has almost as much grit as any pitcher in the majors. Weaver had a career high 16 wins and can go the distance if needed. So much coser than people think.
Advantage: Yankees...barely

Bullpen:
Can you name one pitcher (besides the closer) for the Angels? It might be that East Coast bias working. That might be a good thing. We know the Yanks will send out Joba for the 7th and Hughes for the 8th. Hughes showed a bit of vunerability against the Twins and that could lead to trouble if not corrected.
Advantage: Yankees

Closer: Angels - Brain Fuentes v. Yankees - Mariano Rivera (right)
Fuentes blew 8 save opportunities and has an ERA of 3.93. Rivera blew 2 save opportunities and had an ERA of 1.76. You can get two innings from Rivera, if you need it. Is there any better in postseason anyway?
Advantage: Yankees

Bench:
Both have defensive replacements in the outfield and infield. With Gary Matthews, Jr., Maicer Izturis, and Reggie Willits, there's a speed factor. The Yankees can offset that with Brett Gardner and Jerry Hairston, Jr. But New York has Eric Hinskee that can change a game with one swing. The Angels don't really have that type of luxury.
Advantage: Yankees

If you go up and down, it looks like New York has a decided edge...and they do. But I'm going away from all of that and taking the Angels in 7. Something just tells me.....

MLB AL Playoff Breakdown

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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.

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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.