Playoff Scenario Question

[UncleSam]

Couldn't think of where else to put this, so I'll post it here.

Here's the scenario. Either the Sox or Yanks is winning the division comfortably by the last week of the season. The other team is battling the Twins for the Wild Card spot. If you're a fan of the team in the lead, do you root for the Twins or your hated rival to make the playoffs?

If the Twins win, you face Santana and Liriano in a short series in the first round.

If your rival wins, you play the AL West winner, but might meet your nemesis again in the ALCS.

Tough choice?

[Workhorse]

I don't think that I could root for the Yankees under any circumstances.

[Sam18]

I don't root for either team. Rooting for one team cuz they might be easy to beat is just asking for it.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

I'd root for the Sox. I don't like the Sox and I don't like to see them in the playoffs. If the yanks are going to lose in the post-season, I'd certainly rather it be to the Twins than the Sox. But in the scenario you describe, I think the yanks overall chances of advancing are better playing the A's (or whomever) in the first round and then the BoSox/ChiSox/Det winner than playing the Twins in the first round and then whomever. Especially if the yanks have comfortably wrapped up the division, I'd feel ok about a potential yankee/boston matchup. Assuming those two main guys keep cooking, I'd always be pretty wary of playing Minn in a short series.

[DaPip1998]

I NEVER root one way or another for an opponent.

Learned that lesson in 1997 rooting to play Cleveland instead of Seattle.

[In Mo I Trust]

If I thought the Twins would be tougher in a short series, I'd have no problem rooting for the Sox. I want the Yankees to win the World Series, and if the Sox help out in that effort, so be it.

[wwjdd]

I guess the way I look at it is that if my team can't beat one of the other teams in the playoffs, it doesn't deserve to be the champs. So I take Bill Belichick's approach and say that our job is to play whoever is on the schedule next.

[gold23]

Root for the Twins. I don't want to face them in a short series, but I don't think it is a slam dunk by any means. They don't have much of an offense, and I wouldn't think it would be such a major mismatch with their top two guys.

[Spiker101]

Lirano and Santana are tough, but the Twins rush back into playoff contention has really been more about Radke's return to quality, which gives them a very good rotation one through three. If he's still pitching well in late September, I'm hollering for Ortiz to hit another walkoff. Teams that can throw three terrific starters at you are poison in a best of five situation.

[buckyjacobson]

Unquestionably root for the Twins -- not because I think they're an easier opponent, but because I'd always want the Yankees out, as soon as possible.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

Root for the Twins. I don't want to face them in a short series, but I don't think it is a slam dunk by any means. They don't have much of an offense,

Since May began, they've scored the 4th most runs per game in the AL. They're 1/100th of a run per game less than the yanks over that period.

[Casey37]

I cannot root for the Red Sox under any circumstances.

It's as simple as that.

[yankeebot]

Root, Root, Root for the Twinkies. I could never root for the Sawx unless it was to, like, save the universe or something. Mostly I agree with wwjdd, though. Just play the other team that is on the field as hard as you can.

[diehardyankeefan]

Root for the Twins. I don't want to face them in a short series, but I don't think it is a slam dunk by any means. They don't have much of an offense, and I wouldn't think it would be such a major mismatch with their top two guys.

Yeah, the Yankees hitting is a lot better. I mean Santana vs Mussina would come down to the 9th and Liriano vs Johnson/Wang would be close too. Keep in mind the Yankees have been hitting still good without Sheffield and Matsui. Put those 2 back and the Yanks will probably score an extra run every game.

[Bro Jackhammer]

I cannot root for the Red Sox under any circumstances.

It's as simple as that.

How about Red Sox vs. Al Qaeda?

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

Yeah, the Yankees hitting is a lot better.

As I pointed out above, since May 1, the yankes' hitting, at least our run scoring, is exactly the same.

[Casey37]

How about Red Sox vs. Al Qaeda?

When was the last time you saw them playing baseball?

[sprucemoose]

It would be hard, but I'd root for the Red Sox. I want to play the Red Sox in the ALCS. Knocking the Sox off in the ALCS would be one of the few things that could wipe some of that horrible 2004 taste from my mouth.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

I don't root for either team. Rooting for one team cuz they might be easy to beat is just asking for it.

Exactly just root for the Yankees and hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

[Archer1979]

Root would be a strong word for me. I would have mild interest in the Twins losing though. The Twins with those two pitchers in a five game series would be the clear favorites.

[effdamets]

If it came down to it, I'd root for the Twins. Simply because that means the Yankees would have home field and the Twins are abismal on the road (currently playing .412 in road games).

It wouldn't matter though. Red Sox, Twins, White Sox, Tigers. If the Yankees get to the post season, that is step one. I'll take it and worry about the opponent when that time gets here.