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"I've never noticed that when the Yankees sweep, wait for their opponents, and set up their pitching, that they have any performance deficit..."
Didn't that JUST happen to them against the Rangers?  The Rangers hit them on schedule after going the distance against the Rays, while CC just sat their after Game One against Minny, waiting and waiting for someone to show up, and was atrocious.  CC had 9 days rest...and had the shortest outing of the season, was bouncing balls off the backstop...it was miserable.
Imagine if CC pitches 3 days before the season ends, then waits through a 7 game in 10 day stretch of wildcards for his opponent to show up.
Two weeks off?  Terrible.  If it's two rounds of byes over shorter series it's the same thing.
First round of any wildcard has to be 3 games if they do it.  I'd WANT to let the Yankees win otherwise, get rusty while I keep playing, and take it to em.  I'd feel better about getting Cliff Lee on 2 weeks rest than on 5 days. 
So did the Giants, who shelled him on 8 days rest.  More rest is better in the NFL.  It's worse in MLB.  MLB is all about routine.  EVERY day they go to the park at X time, warm up for X hours, throw X pitches or take X swings...
The body does what it is accustomed to doing.  You don't train for 6 months running half-marathons and then suddenly decide to run a full one.  Your body will explode.  You've trained it to turn off after 13 miles.
Long breaks in baseball disadvantage the breakers.  It's not a reward, it's a punishment.  And it should be considered such.  2-3 games gives you time to get your rotation in order, maybe. 5 or 7 games just ruins your momentum and routine.
~G