Twins Win, American League Playoffs Set: Who Is The Beast of the East?

With the playoffs finally being set as of 9:46 p.m. Eastern time, the American League playoff picture has finally been painted. 

Beginning Oct. 7, four A.L. teams will begin a post-season that is sure to leave many fans holding their collective breaths. 

Not only does every team have a loaded lineup full of players with high on-base percentages, but each has a pitching staff of uncertainties that they will be reliant upon to help them capture the American League pennant. 

Both individual and team matchups will be key as previous post-season experience has taught us and there are sure to be post-season heroes who no one thought would have such a significant impact in the course each series takes. 

Managers Terry Francona, Mike Scioscia, and Ron Gardenhire have proven that they are some of the best managers in baseball.  Yankees manager Joe Girardi will have the most to prove with the least experience. 

With that in mind and the matchups being complete, the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Twins will make their leap towards history and hope that they can reach the promised land known as the World Series.

With each team having their own strengths and uncertainties, I delve into why each team may succeed or fail in the post-season.

New York Yankees

With the best record in baseball, the Yankees are primed for a run towards their 27th World Championship and their first World Series appearance since 2003.  The pitching staff finally has a legitimate ace in C.C. Sabathia, who showed his playoff mettle and clutch ability by pitching his team into the playoffs on three or four days rest with the Brewers last season. 

Sabathia will need to prove that resilience once again and give Yankees fans a reason to understand the outrageously high contract Brian Cashman doled out before the season began.  A few dominant outings should help him earn his stripes and at least some of that money. 

Following Sabathia will be the always inconsistent A.J. Burnett.  Burnett has the talent to shut out the Twins in the first round, but also the ability to to give up eight runs in four innings. 

Andy Pettitte and the bullpen should have the most success in the playoffs as the veteran starting pitcher returns to playoff form.  This form may not be exactly the Pettitte of old, but rather of a new "old Pettitte." 

Yet with a bullpen that can rival that of those during the 1990s, Pettitte shouldn't have that much pressure on him, knowing six innings of three-run ball can get him a win.

Considering that rotation, manager Joe Girardi decided to have a day off between games 1 and 2, giving the Twins less time to rest before they head to New York. 

By choosing this schedule, New York chose to possibly give C.C. Sabathia two starts in a four-game series.  The Yankees could have chosen to start Joba Chamberlain for the fourth game, but manager Joe Girardi chose otherwise and decided to place him in the bullpen. 

Adding Chamberlain to a bullpen of David Robertson, Phil Coke, Alfredo Aceves, Phil Hughes and some elderly citizen named Mariano Rivera, gives the starting pitchers for New York some much-needed backup, knowing that every win could essentially come down to the first six innings. 

Offensively, the Yankees have little to worry about.  Although the big bats for the Bombers cooled down at season's end, they should pull it together against a struggling Detroit pitching staff. 

If Alex Rodriguez can continue his hot hitting behind new Yankees first baseman, Mark Teixeira, he may finally give the Yankees faithful a reason to remove the post-season choke artist tag from the back of his uniform. 

Rodriguez's teammates will appreciate the effort as some like Teixeira, Brett Gardner, and Nick Swisher get their first opportunity to earn a place in Yankees lore.

New York's playoff hopes will lie in the hands of both Rodriguez and Burnett as both players have the most questions to answer going into the playoffs.

Boston Red Sox

Without the Red Sox there is no Yankees and vice versa.  With Tampa once again taking a backseat in the playoff hunt, both teams are back and competing. 

Once again, the Red Sox have proven that they belong among the elite from the beginning of the season to the end. 

The Boston offense has gotten better as the season has progressed despite injuries.  With Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis leading the charge, the Sawx having been scoring five or more runs on a daily basis and show no signs of slowing down. 

If Jason Bay can join them in the hit parade, Boston should be able to at least counter a strong Angels pitching staff. 

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