Angels v Yankees

Here's my argument. I couldn't work the boxes into the diagram, so it might look like it's hanging loose.

 

Conclusion: The Yankees will lose to the Angels tonight.

 

Premise 1: The Angels have a better bullpen.

Premise 2: The Angels have a better defense.

Premise 3: In the playoffs, teams with better bullpens and defense always win.

 

1.      The Angels have a better bullpen.

a.       The quality of a bullpen is measured by the number of quality innings it can deliver.

b.      The Yankees can deliver up to three quality innings in any one game if Gordon and Rivera are available.

c.       The Angels can deliver up to four quality innings if Shields and Escobar are available.

d.      Shields and Escobar are available tonight for the Angels.

2.      The Angels have a better defense.

a.       The quality of a defense is measured by the number of errors it commits. The smaller the number of errors, the better the defense.

b.      The Angels committed 87 errors this season.

c.       The Yankees committed 95 errors this season.

3.      In the playoffs, teams with better bullpens and defense always win.

a.       Good pitching and good defense beat good hitting; therefore, even teams with good hitting will be beaten by those with good pitching and defense.

b.      The playoffs feature teams with the best pitching and defense.

 

The Angels will defeat the Yankees tonight.

The Angels have a better bullpen.

The Angels have a better defense.

Teams with better defenses and bullpens win in the playoffs.