ALCS Preview...Angels/Yankees

Another night.....another LCS preview....a much needed diversion from the sloppy Arkansas St.-UL Monroe.. game i'm watching on ESPN2.....there's been almost as many penalties than you see in an Oakland Raiders game....but the sloppiness of the Sun Belt Conference is another topic for another day.....anyways my take on the ALCS is as follows:

Catcher

Jorge Posada vs. Mike Napoli

Advantage: Yankees

First Base

Mark Teixeira vs. Kendry Morales

Advantage: Yankees

Second Base

Robinson Cano vs. Howie Kendrick

Advantage: Yankees

Shortstop

Derek Jeter vs. Erick Aybar

Advantage: Yankees

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez vs. Chone Figgins

Advantage: Yankees

Left Field

Johnny Damon vs. Juan Rivera

Advantage: Yankees

Center Field

Melky Cabrera vs. Torii Hunter

Advantage: Angels

Right Field

Nick Swisher vs. Bobby Abreu

Advantage: Yankees

Designated Hitter

Hideki Matsui vs. Vladimir Guerrero

Advantage: Yankees

Starting Rotation

CC Sabathia

A. J. Burnett
Andy Pettite

vs.

Jered Weaver

John Lackey

Scott Kazmir

Joe Saunders

Advantage: Yankees

Bullpen

Mariano Rivera

Philip Hughes

Phil Coke

vs.

Brian Fuentes

Darren Oliver

Jason Bulger

Advantage: Yankees

X Factor: Angels

Final Tally: Yankees 10 Angels 2

Do I want the Yankees to win and advance to the World Series? Do I think they are going to advance to the World Series? Yes. The only real major advantage the Angels have on the Yankees is history. They are the only team to have a winning record since 1996. In addition, the Angels have ended the Yankees season of '02 and '05 helping extend their World Series drought to an oh so excruciating 9 years.

However, looking at the starting line-ups, the Yankees are pretty loaded. While the short right-field porch has helped them, so has their ever-expanding payroll. They are stronger at every offensive position, with the exception of Center Field. The only Angels pitcher i'm sold on is Weaver and despite Fuentes getting through the ALDS without blowing any saves, i'm not sold on Fuentes getting through the post-season without squandering an opportunity for the Angels to win.

Prediction: Yankees in 4