So Minnesota got swept, and the Yankees win the division, and amazingly that’s the best possible conclusion for the Sox. Now unless the Twins sweep the Indians the ALDS matchups look like this:
Minnesota vs Yankees
Sox vs Angels/As
Conspiracy theory: Minnesota knew that if it got swept, they would most probably face the pitching-poor Yankees in the ALDS with a starting rotation that would go longer than it did these few games. That matchup might be worth giving up home advantage for.
Conspiracy or not, that’s the outcome I’m hoping for. The AL West is really down to the wire: Anaheim meets the As for a loser-goes-home best-of-3 series for the division title. If the As win it… then it’s 2003 all over again.