| Stephen Cannella's' Breakdown |
|---|
| Yankees |
|
Oakland |
| The Yankees' offense was inconsistent all season, and after Sept. 1 they
averaged just 4.1 runs per game. New York must get production from first baseman
Tino Martinez and third baseman Scott Brosius, who combined for just 32 homers
and 155 RBIs, and center fielder Bernie Williams, whose numbers dropped sharply
in the second half. When they're on their game, the Yanks manufacture runs with
timely hitting, force starters to throw a lot of pitches and capitalize on the
opposition's mistakes.
|
OFFENSE The Edge:
 |
The A's look, act and hack like a beer-league softball team -- they were second
in the AL in homers and led the league in strikeouts. But they're also patient;
only the Mariners walked more often. The A's won't steal bases or manufacture
runs. They will sit back and wait for someone -- first baseman Jason Giambi,
shortstop Miguel Tejada or left fielder Ben Grieve are the most likely
candidates -- to launch a three-run "Jimmy Jack." So far, the formula
has worked: Oakland was the second-highest-scoring team in the
majors. |
|
| No team is less likely to make a physical or mental error in October, but there
are trouble spots. Every throw is an adventure for second baseman Chuck
Knoblauch; don't be surprised if he's lifted for Jose Vizcaino late in games.
David Justice, Clay Bellinger and -- gasp! -- Jose Canseco don't exactly sparkle
in left
field.
|
DEFENSE The Edge:
 |
Defense is Oakland's biggest concern; the Rangers were the only AL team to
commit more more errors. At times, Tejada is spectacular at short, but the rest
of the infield is ordinary at best. This could be the key to the series: If the
A's crack on D, no team is better able to pounce on mistakes than the
Yankees.
|
|
| On paper right-hander Roger Clemens, southpaw Andy Pettitte and Orlando
Hernandez, a righty, are an imposing, postseason-tested trio, but questions
remain. Which Rocket will show up -- the one who didn't lose in July and August,
or the one who was bombed for 15 runs in his last three starts? Is El Duque, who
lost three of his last four decisions, fully recovered from his elbow injury?
And will Torre give the ball to a struggling David Cone in Game 4? The rotation
will win or lose the series for New
York.
|
STARTING PITCHING The Edge:
|
The A's starters' combined ERA (4.62) was third-best in the AL, and
right-handers Gil Heredia, Kevin Appier and Tim Hudson each won at least 15
games. But the rotation is young, both in actual age -- Hudson is 25, likely
Game 4 starter Barry Zito, a lefty, is 22 -- and terms of playoff experience.
Neither Heredia nor Appier has made a postseason start. No one knows how any of
the four will hold up in
October.
|
|
| Closer Mariano Rivera is nearly automatic -- he has allowed just two runs in 31
postseason outings -- but getting to him could be an adventure. Setup men Mike
Stanton, a lefty, and Jeff Nelson, a right-hander, were inconsistent all season,
though both pitched better down the stretch. Torre will also use slumping
starters Denny Neagle and Dwight Gooden out of the
pen.
|
BULLPEN The Edge:
None |
Oakland's bullpen is underrated. Jason Isringhausen (33 saves in 40 chances) is
a reliable closer, and right-hander Jim Mecir (2.96 ERA) is one of the game's
best late-inning setup men. Righty Jeff Tam had a 2.63 ERA in 72 appearances.
One area of concern: Left-handed batters hit .288 against so-called lefty
specialist Mike
Magnante.
|
|
| On a team with a $112 million payroll, the bench-warmers are players most teams
would be proud to call starters. Right-handed batters Jose Canseco and Glenallen
Hill provide scary power off the bench. Vizcaino and super-sub Luis Sojo are
versatile defensive replacements.
|
BENCH The Edge:
|
Jeremy Giambi, a lefty batter, and Olmedo Saenz and Frank Menechino, both
right-handed hitters, provide three decent bats off the bench. Manager Art Howe
likes to make moves; only the Twins' Tom Kelly called on pinch hitters more
often in the AL. Alas, Howe's strategy rarely worked -- A's pinch hitters batted
a meager
.212. |
|
| Torre has won three World Series in four years. Any
questions? |
MANAGER The Edge:
|
Howe did a masterful job of shepherding his young team down the stretch and
shielding them from the pressure of a playoff chase. Plus, his low-key
personality is well-suited to an extremely loose group of players. Can he work
the same magic in
October? |
|
| Momentum, or lack thereof. The Yanks are the first playoff team in history to
finish the regular season with a seven-game losing streak, and they backed into
the AL East title. Yes, they have a wealth of playoff experience, but the Bombers are
also fielding an older team this postseason, one that showed its age down the
stretch. Can they simply flip their switch now that the calendar has flipped to
October? |
'X' FACTOR The Edge:
|
Momentum, or an overabundance of. Oakland swept into the playoffs, going 18-4
down the stretch, and has the look of a team that fancies itself unbeatable.
There are always questions about a young squad that lacks October experience,
but the A's have essentially been playing playoff games for three weeks now. If
Oakland can maintain its emotional high, the Yankees will watch the World Series
on TV for the first time since
1997.
|
| Cannella's Prediction: A's in 5 |
|---|
| |
