WORLD SERIES MATCHUPS

NEW YORK YANKEES

STARTING LINEUPS

RS: Regular Season

PL: Playoffs

*

Chuck Knoblauch, Designated hitter

RS: .283 Avg. 5 HR 26 RBI

PL: .281 Avg. 0 HR 3 RBI

Pesky and patient leadoff batter provides offensive spark, but Yankees are taking huge gamble by playing him at second base in Shea.

*

Derek Jeter, Shortshop

RS: .339 Avg. 15 HR 73 RBI

PL: .268 Avg. 2 HR 7 RBI

The strong-armed Jeter is silky smooth defensively and is unfazed by playoff pressure. His bat began to warm up toward end of ALCS.

*

David Justice, Left field

RS: .286 Avg. 41 HR 118 RBI

PL: .227 Avg. 3 HR 9 RBI

His .321 average against lefties during regular season will come in handy against Al Leiter and Mike Hampton. Does best work in the clutch.

*

Bernie Williams, Center field

RS: .307 Avg. HR 30 121 RBI

PL: .349 Avg. HR 1 4 RBI

Switch-hitter’s production has dropped considerably from division series and ALCS (.331, 10 homers, 34 RBIs) to World Series (.151, 2 homers, 7 RBIs).

*

Tino Martinez, First base

RS: .258 Avg. 16 HR 91 RBI

PL: .364 Avg. 1 HR 5 RBI

Hit left-handers (.281) far better than right-handers (.249) during regular season; has hit everybody in the playoffs.

*

Jorge Posada, Catcher

RS: .287 Avg. 28 HR 86 RBI

PL: .194 Avg. 0 HR 4 RBI

His two-run double started comeback against Seattle in Game 6 of ALCS. Strong arm, quick release could slow Mets’ running game.

*

Paul O’Neill, Right field

RS: .283 Avg.18 HR 100 RBI

PL: .231 Avg. 0 HR 5 RBI

The old warrior’s pride took a hit when he was pinch-hit for twice in ALCS, but he came up with huge two-run single in Game 6 against Seattle.

*

Scott Brosius, Third base

RS: .230 Avg. 16 HR 64 RBI

RS: .200 Avg. 0 HR 1 RBI

Offensively, Brosius is a shadow of the player who was named 1998 World Series MVP, but he’s a steady defender with great hands.

*

Jose Vizcaino, Second base

RS: .276 Avg. 0 HR 10 RBI

PL: 1.000 Avg. 0 HR 2 RBI

His .526 average (10 for 19 with two doubles) against Leiter earned Vizcaino Game 1 start. Started ALCS Game 6 comeback against Mariners with infield single.

STARTING PITCHERS

Andy Pettitte, LHP

RS: 19-9 Record, 4.35 ERA

PL: 2-0 Record, 3.50 ERA

If left-hander’s cut fastball is sharp, he’ll cause Met right-handers problems. Great pickoff move puts crimp in opponents’ running game.

*

Roger Clemens, RHP

RS: 13-8 Record, 3.70 ERA

PL: 1-2 Record, 4.50 ERA

Shed October underachiever label with one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout of Seattle in Game 4 of ALCS. His fastball has been electric.

*

Orlando Hernandez, RHP

RS: 12-13 Record, 4.51 ERA

PL: 3-0 Record, 3.63 ERA

Crafty right-hander is lined up to pitch Game 7 if necessary, which bodes well for Yankees. They’ve never lost a playoff game El Duque has started.

*

David Cone, RHP

RS: 4-14 Record, 6.91 ERA

PL: 0-0 Record, 0.00 ERA

Former Met right-hander may have chance to redeem himself for miserable season in Game 4. He’s 2-0 with 2.15 ERA in five World Series starts.

CLOSER

Mariano Rivera

RS: 7-4 Record, 2.85 ERA, 36 saves

PL: 0-0 Record, 0.93 ERA, 4 saves

Cut-fastball specialist had 34-inning playoff scoreless streak ended by Seattle in Game 6 of ALCS, but he’s still virtually automatic.

OTHER POSITION PLAYERS

Luis Sojo, Infield

RS: .286, 7 homers, 37 RBIs

Glenallen Hill, Outfield

RS: .333, 16 homers, 29 RBIs

Jose Canseco, OF/DH

RS: .252, 15 homers, 49 RBIs

Clay Bellinger, Outfield

RS: .207, 6 homers, 21 RBIs

OTHER PITCHERS

Denny Neagle, LHP

RS: 7-7 Record, 5.81 ERA

Jeff Nelson, RHP

RS: 8-4 Record, 2.45 ERA

Mike Stanton, LHP

RS: 2-3 Record, 4.10 ERA

Dwight Gooden, RHP

RS: 6-5 Record, 4.54 ERA

*

NEW YORK METS

STARTING LINEUPS

RS: Regular Season

PL: Playoffs

*

Timo Perez, Right field

RS: .286 Avg. 1 HR 3 RBI

PL: .300 Avg. 0 HR 3 RBI

Injury to Derek Bell was blessing in disguise; speedy Perez gives Mets the true leadoff hitter they’ve lacked and has 10 runs in playoffs.

*

Edgardo Alfonzo, Second base

RS: .324 Avg. 25 HR 94 RBI

PL: .361 Avg. 1 HR 9 RBI

Many think Alfonzo, not Derek Jeter, is the best player in New York. He can do it all--hit for power, for average, and in the clutch.

*

Mike Piazza, Designated hitter

RS: .324 Avg. 38 HR 113 RBI

PL: .323 Avg. 2 HR 4 RBI

Former Dodger has given sagging October reputation huge boost; his bat is lethal, but his throwing arm isn’t. Yanks could take advantage in Shea.

*

Todd Zeile, First base

RS: .268 Avg. 22 HR 79 RBI

PL: .242 Avg. 1 HR 8 RBI

He’s no Gold Glover but made smooth transition from third to first. Will yield cleanup spot to Ventura against right-handed pitchers.

*

Robin Ventura, Third base

RS: .232 Avg. 24 HR 84 RBI

PL: .179 Avg. 1 HR 7 RBI

Though his playoff average is awful, he has been driving in runs and had key two-run homer in division series clincher. Has few peers defensively.

*

Benny Agbayani, Left field

RS: .289 Avg. 15 HR 60 RBI

PL: .344 Avg. 1 HR 4 RBI

His 13th-inning homer won Game 3 of the division series, and he went six for 17 in the NLCS. No wonder they call him the Hawaiian Punch.

*

Jay Payton, Center field

RS: .291 Avg. 17 HR 62 RBI

PL: .167 Avg. 1 HR 5 RBI

Rookie-of-the year candidate has struggled offensively in playoffs but has not let that affect his solid defense.

*

Todd Pratt, Catcher

RS: .275 Avg. 8 HR 25 RBI

PL: .000 Avg. 0 HR 0 RBI

Will give Mets a better defensive catcher than Piazza in Yankee Stadium. Pratt doesn’t have much power but has been good in the clutch.

*

9. Mike Bordick, Shortstop

RS: .285 Avg. 20 HR 80 RBI

PL: .120 Avg. 0 HR 0 RBI

Has .353 on-base percentage in playoffs because he has drawn six walks and been hit by three pitches. Steady but not spectacular on defense.

STARTING PITCHERS

Al Leiter, LHP

RS: 16-8 Record, 3.20 ERA

PL: 0-0 Record, 3.00 ERA

Pitched well in World Series Game 7 start for Florida in 1997 and thrives on pressure situations. Most effective on cut fastball inside.

*

Mike Hampton, LHP

RS: 15-10 Record, 3.14 ERA

PL: 2-1 Record, 2.11 ERA

Beating Yankees in World Series was what Mets had in mind when they traded for Hampton, whose shutout of Cardinals clinched NLCS.

*

Rick Reed, RHP

RS: 11-5 Record, 4.11 ERA

PL: 0-1 Record, 5.79 ERA

Control pitcher has little room for error because he can’t overpower batters. Still, finesse throwers have given Yankees problems.

*

Bobby Jones, RHP

RS: 11-6 Record, 5.06 ERA

PL: 1-0 Record, 4.15 ERA

His fastball tops out at 86 mph, but Jones showed in one-hit shutout of Giants in division series clincher that he can dominate.

CLOSER

Armando Benitez

RS: 4-4 Record, 2.61 ERA, 41 saves

PL: 1-0 Record, 3.00 ERA, 1 save

Can be overpowering with 96-mph fastball but has history of giving up late-inning home runs in the playoffs.

OTHER POSITION PLAYERS

Bubba Trammell, Outfield

RS: .256 Avg. 10 HR, 45 RBIs

Darryl Hamilton, Outfield

RS: .276 Avg. 1 HR, 6 RBIs

Lenny Harris, Infield

RS: .260 Avg. 4 HR, 26 RBIs

Matt Franco, Infield

RS: .239 Avg. 2 HR, 14 RBIs

OTHER PITCHERS

John Franco, LHP

RS: 5-4 Record, 3.40 ERA

Turk Wendell, RHP

RS: 8-6 Record, 3.59 ERA

Rick White, RHP

RS: 2-3 Record, 3.81 ERA

Glendon Rusch, LHP

RS: 11-11 Record, 4.01 ERA

KEYS TO THE SERIES

Many believe the Mets will have an edge because they have two of baseball’s best left-handed pitchers in Leiter and Hampton, veterans who could neutralize the Yankees’ left-handed power hitters, especially in Yankee Stadium. But the Mets actually had the worst average against left-handers (.238) in baseball this season, and they will have to face Yankee left-hander Andy Pettitte twice in the Series. Two of the Yankees’ top left-handers, Justice and Martinez, hit lefties very well. Knoblauch’s defensive play in Shea Stadium will be important, because if he commits an error or two, the Yankees will have to pull him for Sojo or Vizcaino, which will hurt them offensively. The Mets have scored 16 first-inning runs in the playoffs, so Yankee starters need to limit early damage. Game 3 always seems to be pivotal in a seven-game series, and the Yankees will have a decided edge with Hernandez going against Reed. But the Yankees are vulnerable in Game 4, when they will start either Cone or Neagle. The Mets might have an edge in short relief with Franco, Wendell and White, whereas the Yankees’ Nelson has been inconsistent in the playoffs. The Yankees, however, have the ninth-inning hammer in Rivera, who is probably the best playoff closer in baseball history. Overall, the teams are solid defensively, though both have weak links, Agbayani for the Mets and Knoblauch for the Yankees. The Yankees’ experience in the World Series, the confidence they will always come through with the big hit or big defensive play or big pitch when they need it, gives them a slight edge over the Mets.

*

PREDICTION: Yankees in seven games.