Toronto vs New York

[nicksaviking]

It's really starting to shape up like both the Blue Jays and the Yankees are going to end up in the post season, the question is which will win the division and which will be in the Wild Card game.

 

Let us play the hypothetical game and also place our beloved Twins in that Wild Card game, who does everyone want to see?

 

All logic and reason should probably suggest that Toronto is the most formidable opponent as they have some of the biggest and baddest bats in the league and may just throw David Price out in the Wild Card game.

 

But no doubt there will be the illogical voice in everyone's head bringing up over a decade's worth of bad memories caused by the Yankees, who's utter dominance over the Twins, particularly in the post season, can barely be explained by anything other than intangible and super-natural forces?

 

Which path do we want to take?  Play John McClane, shout yippie kay yay and hope that the Twins can overcome the much better armed opponent? Or play Father Karras and try to exorcise the inexplicable demons that have blocked their path to redemption?

[nytwinsfan]

I'd rather play NY.  I have more faith that the Twins' hitters can handle the Yankees pitching than I do that the Twins' pitching can handle the Blue Jays lineup.

[Squirrel]

 

Play John McClane, shout yippie kay yay and hope that the Twins can overcome the much better armed opponent? 

There's more to that line that that!

 

I think I like our chances better playing one game against the Yankees than the Blue Jays. But for one game it's probably really a toss up ... 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

yippie kay yay, jerks!

 

I'd go into Toronto with Duffey's slider/curveball, May and Jepson in relief, and maybe even an inning of Alex Meyer, someone they haven't seen yet.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'd rather play NY.  I have more faith that the Twins' hitters can handle the Yankees pitching than I do that the Twins' pitching can handle the Blue Jays lineup.

Sabathia is out, right?  You'd be looking at Tanaka-Severino-Pineda-Eovaldi, which isn't necessarily easy.  (We did score a bit off Pineda in July, but that was right before his DL stint. I know he shut us down as a rookie for Seattle a few years ago.)

[James]

Ugh.  Either way, it doesn't sound like fun.

 

I'd probably go with playing the Yankees, I guess.  If you played Toronto, that would pretty much guarantee that they start Price, who has stomped us forever.  I feel like the Yankees have less reliable starting pitching, so there would be a toss up of who you would face.  I think the odds are somehow better in New York.

[nicksaviking]

My head says avoid the Jays, my heart says avoid the Yankees.

 

There just seems to be an aura of inevitable doom whenever the Twins step on the field with the Bombers.  However, winning one single game against them in the Wild Card round may perhaps break the curse.  One game is all it takes to win that "series", and even if it seems cheap, just being able to say they beat the Yankees in the post season might be all they need to wipe the slate clean of embarassing post-season misery.  Also, it would sure be easier than winning three games.  Or four.

 

Funny thing to say based on the records, but all things considered, I'd rather play the Royals.

[nytwinsfan]

 

Sabathia is out, right?  You'd be looking at Tanaka-Severino-Pineda-Eovaldi, which isn't necessarily easy.  (We did score a bit off Pineda in July, but that was right before his DL stint. I know he shut us down as a rookie for Seattle a few years ago.)

Definitely the Yankees pitching is really good. I'm just saying relative to the Blue Jays lineup, and given our respective lineup/pitching, I'll take my chances with the Yankees pitching.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Given their leads, both the Yankees and Blue Jays should be able to rest their ace (whoever that may be, in NY's case) for the wild card game (or division series game 1, if they win their division).  So yeah, Toronto will run out Price, and NY would pick Tanaka?  2-0 against us in 2014.  They could also go with Eovaldi,  2-0 against us in 2015, or Severino who has been pretty good so far.  (Probably not Pineda, barring injury, although Pineda or Severino might be their backup starter for that game.)

 

Guess that is better than Price, but still not easy!

[Willihammer]

If I understand the rules correctly, if NY and Tor wind up in a tie for first they would have to play a game 163 regardless of who won the season series. So, I'm hoping for that.

[TwinsCD]

As much as I hate to say it, we're better off playing the Yanks.  Remember, they had leads in every single game in Yankee Stadium in this last series, only to find new and improved ways to give it away.  When they played the Jays in Toronto post-trade deadline, they were never in any of those games.  For one game, I'd rather take my chances against the Yanks and maybe exorcise those ugly playoff demons.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd rather play Toronto because winning that game is virtually a 50/50 shot no matter who you play.

 

And if it comes to eliminating one of those teams so you don't play them in a five game series, I'd want to get rid of Toronto, even factoring in the Twins' woes in New York.

[Halsey Hall]

I don't give us much chance of beating either one, but I wouldn't mind sending the Yankees home til spring.  Knocking them out would feel pretty sweet. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Have we ever played  anything but a 1-game playoff with the Yankees? Doesn't seem like it.

 

...that said, Big Mig doesn't care about the Yankees. I'd like to see him groove one over those little-leage fences.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

The Twins are going to have to get that monkey off their backs at some point, might as well be in a one game postseason series.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wikd card game in New York could exorcise some demons.... or it could just exercise them.

[dougkoebernick]

I'm going to sound a little nutty but I think the Yankees blow the wild card lead and don't make the playoffs. They have fattened up on the Twins and the Braves recently but are having some troubles. They have a lot of AL East games to finish the year and it could get dicey.

 

Maybe I'm just a dreamer but let's all hope that happens.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

I'm going to sound a little nutty but I think the Yankees blow the wild card lead and don't make the playoffs. They have fattened up on the Twins and the Braves recently but are having some troubles. They have a lot of AL East games to finish the year and it could get dicey.

 

Maybe I'm just a dreamer but let's all hope that happens.

I was looking at the standings yesterday and thinking it might be more likely for the Twins to catch the Yankees than the Rangers at this point... even though the Yankees have the bigger lead at the moment.

[SwainZag]

 

Given their leads, both the Yankees and Blue Jays should be able to rest their ace (whoever that may be, in NY's case) for the wild card game (or division series game 1, if they win their division).  So yeah, Toronto will run out Price, and NY would pick Tanaka?  2-0 against us in 2014.  They could also go with Eovaldi,  2-0 against us in 2015, or Severino who has been pretty good so far.  (Probably not Pineda, barring injury, although Pineda or Severino might be their backup starter for that game.)

 

Guess that is better than Price, but still not easy!

 

If they stay close in the division, I would imagine them both trying to win the division instead of resting their aces and having one of them being content with WC.  

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

The Other Question - who would the Yankees rather face? The Twins or the AL West Champ? Same for Toronto... Who would they rather play in a one game playoff.  

 

Sano has to be making everyone in the AL East shaking in their cleats.