Tuesday’s question of the day: Which team is best positioned to win the World Series?

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Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they are wrong.

Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

The New York Yankees, without a doubt. The Yankees are rested and ready for whichever team emerges from today’s AL Central playoff with its pitching staff completely messed up. That team could be the Tigers, flying in two days from Detroit to Minnesota to New York, with the baggage of Miguel Cabrera’s drunken altercation with his wife. Or that team could be the Twins, against whom the Yankees played seven games this season and won them all. So the Yankees could make quick work of the Tigers or Twins, then align their shaky starting pitching just the way they like it for the Angels or Red Sox. Oh, and the Yankees lead the majors in runs scored and home runs.

Mandy Housenick, Allentown Morning Call

No hesitation here about the team to beat -- the New York Yankees. They’ve gone 52-22 since the All-Star break, a time period during which they hit .293 as a team.
They have seven players with 20 or more home runs and an outstanding bullpen, especially the back end with Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera. They also have a starting staff, anchored by CC Sabathia (67 walks in 230 innings), that can eat up innings and be dominant while doing so.
Is there any more of a gamer than shortstop Derek Jeter? He is incredible in the postseason. Always has been. Always will be.
There is no reason this team shouldn’t go all the way.

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune

First off, none of the nine teams still playing is in great shape to win the World Series. The challenge of surviving one best-of-five series and two best-of-sevens is always going to be a daunting one in baseball, where the best teams generally lose 40 percent of the time. But with that caveat out of the way, there’s one clear cut favorite this season and it’s the one you’d think – the Yankees. They have a rested CC Sabathia, which Milwaukee would have loved to have a year ago, and as much balance as any team. They are positioned for home-field in every round, and Boston is the only possible opponent that has much experience at the new Yankee Stadium, and catch a weakened opponent (Detroit or Minnesota) in the first round. They have Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera to calm Alex Rodriguez’s tendency for October hiccups. They’re paper champions, at the least.

Don Amore, Hartford Courant

It’s fashionable this time of year to name the wild card team, or the teams with the worst records, as the most dangerous in the playoffs. This year, one might be gripped by logic and name the team with the best record, the Yankees, as most dangerous. The Yankees’ AL East lead never went stale; they played near .700 ball consistently until they clinched. Their No. 1 pitcher, CC Sabathia, was as good as anyone in baseball in the second half. Their Big Three of Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, can match any team, and their bullpen was terrific once Phil Hughes took over the eighth inning, setting up the best closer in baseball. And, oh yes, they can hit and field. There are reasons the Yankees won 103 games, and they are bound to win 11 more.