Rangers are no match for Yankees when it comes to playoff history

They have nearly four times the payroll, 14 more numbers retired, 40 more American League pennants and 27 more World Series trophies.

They are the New York Yankees, and when it comes to playing the Texas Rangers in the AL Championship Series, which opens here Friday night, it is like men against boys. Or, perhaps, men against babies.

These Yankees are proud, intimidating and experienced.

Most of all, they are experienced.

Think about this: The Rangers franchise never has won a postseason game at home, even when it was the Washington Senators; the Yankees won seven playoff games at home last year alone.

And this: Since he was traded from the Rangers to the Yankees after the 2003 season, Alex Rodriguez had appeared in more postseason games (39 before this year) than any member of the Rangers had with any team ( Vladimir Guerrero and Bengie Molina had 29 each before this season).

And this: Derek Jeter had appeared in more postseason games (138 before this fall) than the five with such experience on the Rangers combined (78).

And this: Andy Pettitte had started more postseason games (40) than Friday’s Texas starter, C.J. Wilson, has started overall in his career (39).

Wilson faces the Yankees’ CC Sabathia, who has 11 playoff starts.

So, the question becomes: Does postseason experience matter, or is it just another of those overblown nonfactors?

“I would imagine if you have a ton of postseason experience it helps,” Rangers third baseman Michael Young said. “But one thing we have had this year, even with the five games we’ve played [in the postseason], is hard-fought game experience.

“So we’re going to hang our hat on that. That’s all we have, and we’re proud of that.”

Young is right about the Rangers somehow surviving the AL division series against the more-experienced Tampa Bay Rays by winning three games on the road.

“Experience is very important,” said Guerrero, whose Angels lost to the Yankees in the ALDS last year. “But [our] guys made it through the first round. It was the first time for them and they did good.”

The Rangers’ Darren Oliver, who had pitched in 14 playoff games before this season, said it would help to have “been in certain situations before, like when you have a bad game and you know how to shake it off.”

What matters, of course, is how players handle the pressure of a series that will decide the AL’s World Series entrant. It is something Rangers and Senators fans haven’t experienced in the franchise’s 50-year existence. Yankees fans have not only been through it but expect to win.

In the end, postseason series usually are decided by pitching. For the record, Sabathia is 4-1 in the postseason with the Yankees.

dvandyck@tribune.com