World Series, position by position

[satchel]

I've been thinking about a Baseball Weekly style position-by-position rundown of the World series matchups. With two caveats, I submit it as a spark for discussion. The caveats are: (1) I don't follow the NL that closely so my assessments of the Diamondbacks may be off the mark. (2) I am a Yankees fan, albeit an eternally pessimistic one, and I have tried very hard to be objective but I am sure I have some misjudgments in here. In any event, I look forward to your comments. What do you think?

Catcher: Jorge Posada / Damian Miller
Yankees. Posada's the third best offensive catcher in the game, which more than makes up for his defensive struggles.

First Base: Tino Martinez / Mark Grace
Even. Tino has some pop and had a good year, but if Grace's hamstring is okay I like his hitting style and his presence.

Second Base: Alfonso Soriano / Craig Counsell
Yankees. Counsell picked up NLCS MVP honors, but he's no match for Soriano's speed and burgeoning power threat.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter / Tony Womack
Yankees. Womack's got the defensive edge, Jeter's ALDS heroics notwithstanding. But Tony Womack is the guy for whom they coined the phrase "you can't steal first base."

Third base: Scott Brosius / Matt Williams
Even. These players' offensive numbers look pretty similar this year. Brosius has the edge in defense.

Left Field: Chuck Knoblauch / Luis Gonzalez
Diamonbacks. Even the staunchest Knoblauch defender would have to admit there is no contest here.

Center Field: Bernie Williams / Steve Finley
Yankees. Finley had an off year, but this is a new series. Bernie's three homers in three days show that he's turned on the post season jets. I like Finley but given the choice Bernie is the man.

Right Field: Paul O'Neill / Reggie Sanders
Diamondbacks. The old man still has one last good fight left in him, but I have to give the edge to Sanders and the Diamondbacks here.

Starting Pitching:
Even. Johnson/Schilling pack a mighty 1-2 wallop but what happens with 3 and 4? Bautista shut down Atlanta but paired against Pettitte, Mussina, or a rested Clemens the edge has to go to the Yankees.

Bullpen:
Yankees. If the starters do their jobs, Stanton, Mendoza and Rivera are all you need. I admit that I choose the Yankees here, though, mainly because I don't know a thing about the Diamondbacks' pen.

Closer: Mariano Rivera / Byung Hun Kim
Diamondbacks. Just kidding! Yankees. Kim has a bright future but Rivera is the simply the best there is at closing out games in the postseason.

Bench/DH:
Diamonbacks.
Two words: Erubiel Durazo. Justice may have something left but I'll believe it when I see it. Spencer may be able to provide something off the bench but so can Arizona's Danny Bautista.

Infield defense:
Diamondbacks. There is something Tony Womack is good for. And Jeter's heroics aside, to quote an ESPN sportswriter, "he moves left about as well as Strom Thurmond." Veteran Counsell outdoes rookie Soriano as well. And Grace is every bit the athlete that Martinez is. Only Brosius has a real edge.

Outfield defense:
Diamondbacks. Not really sure on this one as I haven't watched them enough, but I'm down on the Yankees' outfield D.

Manager: Joe Torre / Bob Brenly
Yankees. Brenly's done a nice job in his rookie year as manager, but "4 out of the last 5" goes a long way.

Prediction: Yankees in 6. If Pettitte or Mussina can outpitch Johnson or Schilling just once each, the Yankees are taking home another trophy. This series will be a dandy if you like dominant pitching.