2012 and the Texas Rivalry

I like Texas for its leadership: LBJ, Barbara Jordan, Ann Richards. A long distinguished line of world leaders from Texas.  Now in baseball, Texas has Nolan Ryan's leadership- and it shows.  The keen eye for talent and a keener eye for power pitching.  There are many brands of pitching but none more appealing to the average fan than power arms.  Texas has power arms and with Yu Darvish coming on board they have drama too.  The fans love this - the mystery man from overseas, how much success will he  have? can he really be so dominant, so un-hittable here?  They already have Josh Hamilton on offense who stirs the same vivid imagination in fans- can he hit 60 homers some year? Triple crown?  Outside of Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez he may be the biggest impact player in baseball, clearly so in the American League he and Pujols will lead a dash to the playoffs with firepower. 
ARod, Jeter and the Yankees now have a rival who- unlike Boston- does not usually self -destruct, implode from within and use the best talent in the game to fail miserably. Texas has back to back AL championships and also back to back World Series losses.  The Yankees probably lead the game in World Series losses, they have won 27 times, lost 13 times, have also lost two in a row in the first round. Texas has what the Yankees lack right now- young pitchers to get them to the finish line still strong- depth.  Now NY has the player pool it is the cycle of development that is out of whack.  Banuelos and Dellin Betances are the arms needed to reach the next level for NY, joining Phillip Hughes and Ivan Nova to form the young core of the rotation.  Texas already has theirs- Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, and now Darvish.  Three young pitchers throwing in the mid 90's is enough when you add other pitchers who feature some mix of movement and power - say Derrek Holland, Colby  Lewis, and Scott Feldman.  There is power and depth and more available still.  The Yankees have to patch things together again this season.  Last year Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon filled two big gaps.  Colon burned out after a fine season and left a hole they could not fill in the playoffs, Phil Hughes was hurt most of the year.  In 2012 Hughes, Nova, and Garcia slot in after CC Sabbathia and AJ Burnett.  The Yankees have some depth in ready young arms: Hector Noesi and David Phelps.  It is a rivalry and it will dominate the season and playoffs too.  Somehow if the match-ups materialize: the Angels vs Texas, and Yankees vs Tigers, it would set the stage for the AL Championship- NY vs. Texas.  The World Series might be an afterthought to one of the best post seasons in recent decades--as a fan-- one can only hope.  but also as a fan, it will be exciting to watch!