Joe Torre is right about this Subway Series stuff: Six games between the Yankees and Mets are too many. Four would be fine; three better.
However, starting tonight at Shea Stadium, the Yankees and Mets meet for the first of six tilts. The Subway Series has lost some luster but still captivates New York baseball fans.
FIRST BASE
Jason Giambi vs. Jason Phillips
Even if Giambi’s average was still around .200, he would get the nod over Phillips based on power numbers. Now that Giambi’s bat is smoking, it’s not even close between him and the Mets’ neophyte, who is doing a decent job filling Mo Vaughn’s shoes.
EDGE: Yankees
SECOND BASE
Alfonso Soriano vs. Roberto Alomar
Soriano’s recent slide at the plate aside, he is much more of a threat than the switch-hitting Alomar, who has been bothered by a hip flexor and not done much from the right side. Soriano means a lot more to the Yankees than Alomar does to the Mets.
EDGE: Yankees
THIRD BASE
Robin Ventura vs. Ty Wigginton
Ventura’s steadiness in the field and ability to hit in the clutch has helped the Yankees through a rocky stretch. Wiggington, whom the Mets tried to replace during the winter and spring, has done a decent job.
EDGE: Yankees
SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter vs. Jose Reyes
Some day Reyes could be among the best shortstops in baseball. Right now, even with Jeter’s bat cold, Reyes is the second best on the field. Reyes has given the Mets a shot of adrenaline. Jeter eventually will hit and always does well when the lights are turned up like they will be this weekend.
EDGE: Yankees
LEFT FIELD
Juan Rivera vs. Cliff Floyd
Floyd has battled an Achilles problem and lived with an ailing left knee but still remains a productive player. Juan Rivera was promoted when Bernie Williams went on the DL, which forced Hideki Matsui to play center. Rivera hasn’t hit like expected.
EDGE: Mets
CENTER FIELD
Hideki Matsui vs. Jeromy Burnitz
Matsui returned to the position he played for years in Japan and showed a strong ability to get good jumps on balls. His bat has come alive in the past two weeks. Burnitz is a right fielder trying to play center. He’s swinging a sizzling stick that is a bit hotter than Matsui’s. Burnitz has bounced back from a dreadful 2002 at the plate.
EDGE: Mets
RIGHT FIELD
Raul Mondesi vs. Roger Cedeno
Mondesi started strongly in April and stayed hot for most of May. He tailed off at the end of the month and has been sporadic in June. A strong throwing arm keeps runners honest. Cedeno plays here for the Mets . . . and not well.
EDGE: Yankees
CATCHER
Jorge Posada vs. Vance Wilson
Posada is the best-hitting catcher in the AL and has improved defensively this year. He has filled in as the cleanup hitter in Williams’ absence. Vance Wilson has handled himself well since Mike Piazza was injured, but his bat isn’t Posada’s.
EDGE: Yankees
STARTING PITCHING
Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, David Wells vs. Steve Trachsel, Tom Glavine, Jae Seo
Yesterday’s rainout against Tampa Bay knocked struggling Jeff Weaver out of the Yankees’ rotation until Tuesday. The trio of Pettitte, Mussina and Wells includes two of the Yankees’ top three pitchers (Roger Clemens is the other). Trachsel, Glavine and Seo can’t stack up.
EDGE: Yankees
BULLPEN
Mariano Rivera over Armando Benitez gives the Yankees a big edge here, even though Benitez shook off a terrible start. The pendulum swings toward the Mets when the other names are in the mix, especially with Yankees right-hander Antonio Osuna out. David Weathers, John Franco and Graeme Lloyd are more reliable than Chris Hammond, Al Reyes, Mike Thurman and Jason Anderson.
EDGE: Even
BENCH
Ruben Sierra provided a spark off the bench, then as the DH. He is a bench player this series and has a ton of experience in that role. Todd Zeile and Bubba Trammell have struggled adjusting to limited playing time. Tony Clark, Joe McEwing, Timo Perez and Jay Bell don’t measure up as a group to the Yankees’ reserves.
EDGE: Yankees
MANAGER
Joe Torre vs. Art Howe
Torre always beat Howe in the playoffs when the latter was running the A’s. The better manager always has the better players. In this case that’s the Yankees, easily.
EDGE: Yankees
