After Adam's position-by-position analysis earlier today, I thought I'd run a less in-depth matchup list that's based a little more on intuition...or, more accurately, a graphic I was messing around with yesterday.

Rotation:  The one area that I split, it was hard for me to choose one side or the other.  The Yankee hurlers of C.C. Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes are certainly more well-known than Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano and Brian Duensing, but based on this season's performance I'd say our Twins have had the better season as a group.  But Sabathia is a Cy Young candidate, Pettitte's seen it all before and Hughes is no slouch.  I could go either way on this one.

Bullpen:  I'll match Brian Fuentes, Jesse Crain, Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier against Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson, Boone Logan and Kerry Wood.  The Yankees are flashier, but the Twins are deeper.

Closer:  No contest.

Catcher:  No contest.  Who has an over-under on the number of Jorge Posada passed balls?

1st Base:  No contest.  With all due respect to Michael Cuddyer, he's had a down season in spite of stepping in for Justin Morneau and being a clubhouse leader.  Mark Teixeira can hit.

2nd Base:  Orlandu Hudson's had an okay season, especially once you look past that cold September.  But Robinson Cano might be the best offensive second baseman in the game.

3rd Base:  This one actually is a contest.  That's how good I feel about Danny Valencia, but no matter how good you feel it's not realistic to say he's a better asset at this point than Alex Rodriguez.

Shortstop:  No contest.  Derek Jeter is having the worse year of his career, and J.J. Hardy has been instrumental in Minnesota's surge in the second half.

Left Field:  Controversial.  But I like Delmon Young, I think he'll have a big series.

Center Field:  Denard Span had a rough year.  Curtis Granderson is too much to overcome here, even if we just looked at Denard's Target Field numbers.

Right Field:  No contest.

Designated Hitter:  Marcus Thames, Jorge Posada, Lance Berkman...it doesn't matter who the Yankees play here, Jim Thome has this one locked up.

OF Defense:  We know the Twins aren't the best, and they certainly don't cover a lot of ground.  With Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson running around, the Yankees might as well just keep Nick Swisher in foul territory.

IF Defense:  Catcher, third base, shortstop and second base, Minnesota's defense is superior.

Bench:  The Yankees have some depth here, and some legitimate options to move things around if they don't work.  The Twins have options for pinch running and late-inning defensive replacements, but if there's a matchup that Gardy doesn't like there's nowhere to turn.

What are your thoughts on these matchups?