| Lineup |
Chuck Knoblauch, LF
.250, 9 HRs, 44 RBIs
Trying to hit everything out. Still can spark Yankees by getting on base and
running.
Derek Jeter, SS
.311, 21 HRs, 74 RBIs
The glue. Can go to right field with power. Outstanding
defensively.
David Justice, DH-RF
.241, 18 HRs, 51 RBIs
Swing has gotten real long. Good fastballs usually get him
out.
Bernie Williams, CF
.307, 26 HRs, 94 RBIs
Streaky. Can hit the ball out or steal a base. Defensively, better going side to
side than in or
back.
Tino Martinez, 1B
.280, 34 HRs, 113 RBIs
Adjusted swing so he's not as vulnerable on balls over inner half of
plate.
Jorge Posada, C
.277, 22 HRs, 95 RBIs
Developed into clutch guy. Opponents prefer him on the right side late in the
game.
Paul O'Neill, RF
.267, 21 HRs, 70 RBIs
Bat has slowed. Age shows in his hands, which are no longer quick.
Scott Brosius, 3B
.287, 13 HRs, 49 RBIs
Slow bat, so you can pound him inside. Had a bad year
defensively.
Alfonso Soriano, 2B
.268, 18 HRs, 73 RBIs
Goes up there swinging. Good athlete who can make a play on defense or steal a
base.
|
| |
| Bench |
| OF Shane Spencer excellent against lefties. A gap-to-gap hitter with good power.
Underrated defensively. IF Randy Velarde 's game has slowed. Can only handle
balls out over the plate. IF Clay Bellinger a limited player who might see time
as pinch runner. IF Luis Sojo is a good fastball hitter who can rise to the
occasion. His best role is as a pinch hitter. IF Enrique Wilson valuable
defensively: can play three positions. Good fastball hitter from the left
side. |
| Rotation |
| Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51 ERA) Can crank it up and give you a great start,
but not as sharp as he was most of the season. Throwing more splitters now,
which he tries to get guys to
chase.
Andy Pettitte (15-10, 3.99 ERA) A big-game guy. Throws four
pitches -- fastball, cutter, curve, change -- for strikes. Especially
effective against teams with lefthanded power. Has risen to the occasion year
after
year.
Mike Mussina (17-11, 3.15 ERA) Showed in Division Series Game 3 why the Yankees
paid him big free-agent money. Can stifle an attack with his fastball, splitter,
curve and change, all of which he throws for strikes, plus his ability to create
on the
mound.
Orlando Hernandez (4-7, 4.85 ERA) Not as effective as he once was, but on any
given day can come up big. Injuries have taken a toll on his
stuff.
| | Bullpen |
| RHP Mariano Rivera is still game's best closer. Great cutter allows him to pound
lefties inside. Throws strikes and has the confidence to come through with the
game on the line. LHP Mike Stanton gets righties out as well as lefties. Has
curve, slider and plus fastball. Valuable bridge to Rivera. RHP Ramiro Mendoza
runs hot and cold. When his sinker is good, nothing comes in above thigh-high;
when it's bad, everything is up and he gets whacked. RHP Jay Witasick has
straight fastball teams can adjust to. Hasn't gotten slider over consistently.
LHP Sterling Hitchcock can give you an inning as a bridge, especially against
lefties. |
|
