What would be better - a Sox and Yankees ALCS, or another ALDS exit for New York

I don't like the New York Yankees. In fact, though I respect their track record, I detest almost everything about them. The players - many of which are arrogant primadonnas who have a sense of entitlement. The owner - who is mostly responsible for the game transforming from a sport into a business by paying inflated salaries, which forced other owners to do the same to at least try to keep up. The fans - many who live in yesteryear, touting the team's 26 World Series titles, but disappear when the Yankees fall into a losing skid or experience an early post-season exit.

Yes, the Yankees have no excuse not to reach the playoffs every season. They have financial resources and advantages that even the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels lack. They are the only team that can field an All-Star at every position. So their season is indeed a failure if they do not at least reach the World Series.

That said, don't confuse my distaste of all things New York Yankees with hatred. Friends will tell you that I am the most calm and laid back person they know. I can honestly say I do not "hate" anyone or anything. I am even friends with a few Yankees fans, and when I am out and about and wearing Red Sox apparel, it is rare when I do not get a comment or engage in conversation with a Yankees fan (or Red Sox fan) about baseball and the rivalry. Even here in Orlando, if you go to a grocery store adorned with Red Sox or Yankees apparel, chances are you will encounter a fan of the rival team and enter into a friendly discussion.

This leads me to the point of writing this post. Thanks to the combination of John Henry, Tom Werner, Theo Epstein and Terry Francona, the Red Sox are among the best franchises in baseball. It will be that way for the long term because of the ownership's willingness to spend the money to acquire key free agents and trade targets, and the team's commitment to developing its' own players. The Sox no longer dwell in the Yankees shadow. Boston can compete with the Yankees. There is no longer reason to fear the Evil Empire. So the question is, "As a Red Sox fan, who do you root for in the Indians-Yankees series?"

Though the Sox have a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Angels, the series is far from over. Yet, if Boston does win, it will inevitably face either the Indians or the Yankees. It was gratifying in 2004 to stage the most dramatic comeback in the history of sports by erasing a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS to defeat the Yankees and then win the World Series. It was equally heartbreaking in 2003, when Grady Little stuck with Pedro Martinez one batter too long and then Aaron Boone hit Tim Wakefield's pitch in the left field seats, suddenly ending what was shaping into a magical post-season for the Sox.

Truth is, the Indians are better than the Yankees. They are playing solid baseball right now, they are young and scrappy, and they have a 1-2 punch that outshines Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte. Of course, the Yankees are formidable. Though their starting pitching is average, and their bullpen is subpar, they do have the most potent offense in baseball. I'm a firm believer that pitching, and not offense, wins championships. If you have solid pitching, and enough offense, your chances of winning the World Series are better than if you have an exceptional offense and marginal pitching, which is what defines the 2007 Yankees.

The Red Sox match up well against both teams. Yankees fans and even some the-sky-is-falling Red Sox fans like to point out that, when you compare the two teams' position players one by one, the Sox get the nod with only David Ortiz at DH, Kevin Youkilis at first base and Manny Ramirez in left field. That is a weak argument. Baseball is not played on paper. It is a team sport composed of 25 players. The Yankees have the better lineup. The Sox have better pitching and defense. The Yankees have a better collection of players. The Sox have a better team.

So while I enjoy every loss the Yankees experience, I would rather see the Sox and Yankees in the ALCS. I am confident the Sox will be there. I'm not so sure about the Yankees. My prediction for that series is the Indians in five. How do you feel, members of Red Sox Nation? Would you like to see the Sox and Yankees in the ALCS, or would you be fine with the Bombers tasting yet another first round exit? Simply put, I'm comfortable with either scenario.