Mets Fans For Yankees...seriously

OK, I know that I said that no Mets fan can ever root for the Yankees, but, given the way the standings are right now, I am rooting for the Yankees to win the AL East. Let me explain why, as a Yankee Hater, I am actually rooting for the Yankees to win the AL East. In the American and National League playoffs the four teams that qualify from each league are the 3 division winners (East, Central, and West) and the team with the best record among the non-division winners qualifies as the wild-card. Now, the wild card is precluded from playing the champion from its own division; for example, if the Mets, who play in the NL East, were to win the NL East and the Phillies, also an NL East team, were to win the NL wild card as the best second place team, then the Mets and Phillies would not be able to face each other in the Division Series. Any match-up between the two would have to wait until the next round, the National League Championship Series. The Phillies would face the division champion with the best record out of the Central or Western division champion, and the Mets would get the remaining team in the Division Series. So, let's now go back to reality...

Currently the Yankees (88-57) lead the AL East by half a game over the Tampa Bay Rays (87-57), who are actually the 2nd best team in the American League; the Minnesota Twins (86-58) lead the Central by 7 games over Chicago; and the Texas Rangers (81-63). So, the Rays could not play the Yankees in the Division Series because they are from the same division. Therefore, if the season ended today, The Twins, by virtue of having a better record than Texas, would draw the Rays in the Division Series and the Yankees would play Texas. Now, if the Rays were to overtake the Yankees for the division lead and championship, then the Rays would play Texas and the Yankees would play the Twins. The latter scenario is just about the worst thing a Yankee Hater could hope for because the Twins cower when they see the Yankees on the same field; last season the Yankees swept the Twins in the Division Series, swept them at home in 4 straight during the regular season, and this season the Yankees beat the Twins in 4 of 6 meetings. Against Texas, however, the Yankees have split their 8 meetings this season, including losing 4 out of 5 to the Rangers since Texas acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle; Lee, mind you, also beat the Yankees twice in last year's World Series.

As a Yankee Hater I want the Yankees to have the toughest road possible through the playoffs and World Series; therefore, if the standings remain the way they are, I want the Yankees to win the AL East so that they have to play Texas and Cliff Lee in the Division Series instead of Minnesota, who the Yankees would sweep with little effort. If the Yankees got through Texas, then they would have to face, hopefully, the Tampa Bay Rays, who are 7-6 vs the Yankees. And if the Yankees win the American League, then hopefully they don't face the Braves, Phillies or Giants. If they do make it to face those teams, then at least football will be in full swing and hockey will be starting up. But yes, for the rest of the regular season while the standings remain the way they are, I will be joining the church of METS FANS FOR YANKEES!