The Punditry

has started speaking as if the Yankees are unstoppanle and BGW not unreasonably believes that this probably means we're screwed. Maybe so. Those of us who have followed the Yankees all year know this is a flawed team with significant weaknesses as well as overwhelming strengths. This is a year where that seems to be the rule throughout baseball. There are no really outstanding teams out there. I imagine that luck will be decisive this campaign and fortune, good or bad, begins with the scedule. As the boxing pudits like to say style make matches and if the Yankees can get the right match-ups at the right time, and probably only then, they can win it all. The royal road to number 27 would begin at home against the wild card Detroit tigers, a team I believe the yankees could actually sweep. Meanwhile, Oakland and Minnesota duke it out with Minnesota winning the fifth game with Santana on the mound assuring that he only gets one start in the following series unless it goes 7 or he goes on 3 days. The ALCs begins at the Stadium with a depleted Twins staff against a relatively well-rested Yankees staff. Then it's off to the World Series, where I guess you really want the Mets these days, since Pedro's breakdown and glavine's inevitable tail-off has left them without playoff quality pitching. Frankly I don't see how they get to the World Series at this point, but I'll take the Cardinals if they're available as well. The team you don't want is the Astros--too much pitching, they've been here last year, they play well under pressure. you don't want them. I'd rate the Dodgers and the Padres about a toss-up, but I frankly believe the Yankees at home should be able to take either one. Next time, the nightmare scenario.