POTENTIAL ALCS WOULD GO TO SOX

Who do you think feels better right now: a Red Sox fan or a Yankees fan?

Yes, the Yankees got their 103 wins, which comes to about $2 million per victory. And yes, the Yankees won nine of the last 10 games against the Red Sox, including a sweep on the penultimate weekend of the regular season. But there’s no way a Yankees fan can feel good about a potential ALCS meeting with Boston. Conversely, a Red Sox fan has much to feel good about.

First off, there’s CC Sabathia. The Yanks’ Game 1 starter last night was an ace in the regular season, but the whole of his postseason track record leaves a lot to be desired. In 2007, he lost twice to Boston in the ALCS while posting a 10.45 ERA. Last year, after leading the Brewers to the postseason, he was pounded by the Phillies. Sabathia was 3-1 against the Sox this year and totally dominated them in late September, but one reason for his poor postseasons could be the 241 innings he threw in 2007, and the massive 253 innings pitched last year. Well, he’s at 230 this year. Yankee fans should worry.

They should also worry about A.J. Burnett’s 0-2 record and 8.85 ERA against the Red Sox this year. He had one very good game and three lousy ones against Boston. Burnett’s not special, and neither is Andy Pettitte, who has just one win in his last five playoff starts.

Even with questionable stretches by Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, Red Sox fans have to feel better about their 1-2 punch. And then there’s Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. Both had good last months, and they’re likely to be stronger because they’ve thrown so few innings this year.

New York’s relatively strong regular season against Boston would make its fans feel good ... if they weren’t thinking about Alex Rodriguez’s perennial postseason failures, or the fact that Mark Teixeira had one playoff RBI last year, when he played the only four postseason games of his career.

Terry Francona would get the edge against Joe Girardi, and Mariano Rivera has struggled at times against the Red Sox. Sure, there’s the little matter of getting past the Twins and Angels, but WHEN the Sox and Yankees meet in the ALCS once again, New York fans will be sweating a lot more.

– Bob Halloran is a sports anchor, reporter and author. He can be reached at sports@metro.us.

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