World Series Preview

Jason Michael Barker

Well, here we are. After a 162-game, six-month regular season and two rounds of postseason play, just two teams remain. On one hand you've got the Yankees, whose 22 World Series titles are the embodiment of baseball tradition and greatness. On the other you've got the Padres, a veteran-laden team fighting for respect and hoping to convince their city to vote them a new stadium.

The Teams
San Diego Padres (98-64) vs. New York Yankees (114-48)

How They Got Here
New York swept Texas three games to none in their Division Series, holding the Rangers to just one run in those three games. After falling behind two games to one in the ALCS, the Yankees came back to win three straight, defeating Cleveland four games to two. Starting pitcher David Wells (2-0, 2.87 ERA) was named Most Valuable Player of the series.

The Padres beat Houston three games to one in their Division Series, led by the pitching of Kevin Brown. In the NLCS, San Diego jumped out to a three games to none lead on favored Atlanta, only to see the Braves win games four and five. The Padres won the series with a 5-0 shutout in game six. Sterling Hitchcock (2-0, 0.90 ERA) was named MVP of the series.

The Schedule
Game 1 at New York; Saturday October 17, 8 p.m. ET
Scheduled starters: Kevin Brown vs. David Wells

Game 2 at New York; Sunday October 18, 7:55 p.m. ET
Scheduled starters: Andy Ashby vs. Orlando Hernandez

Game 3 at San Diego; Tuesday October 20, 8:20 p.m. ET
Scheduled starters: David Cone vs. Sterling Hitchcock

Game 4 at San Diego; Wednesday October 21, 8:20 p.m. ET
Scheduled starters: Andy Pettitte vs. ???

*Game 5 at San Diego; Thursday October 22, 8:20 p.m. ET
*Game 6 at New York; Saturday October 24, 8 p.m. ET
*Game 7 at New York; Sunday October 25, 7:55 p.m. ET

* If necessary

All games will be broadcast on the FOX Television Network and ESPN Radio

Head to Head
The Padres and Yankees did not play during the regular season.

Fun Facts
New York has won 14 of 16 dating back to the regular season... San Diego's Jim Leyritz and Brian Boehringer were members of the Yankees' 1996 World Series team... Hideki Irabu was originally property of the Padres, but refused to play for any team but the Yankees. He was then dealt to New York for Ruben Rivera... This marks the Yankees' 35th trip to the Fall Classic, with 22 titles to show for it... The Padres' only other World Series appearance was in 1984, when they lost four games to one to the Tigers. Tony Gwynn is the only remaining member of that team still active with San Diego.

Position-by-Position Comparison (with 1998 OPS)
Catcher: Carlos Hernandez (.674) vs. Jorge Posada (.825)
Jim Leyritz and Joe Girardi may see some time behind the dish, but Hernandez and Posada are the primary receivers. Young Jorge is better both at the plate and behind it than his Padre counterpart. Edge: New York

First Base: Wally Joyner/Jim Leyritz (.823/.851) vs. Tino Martinez (.860)
The left-handed-batting Joyner will take a seat on the bench in game one in favor of the right-handed Leyritz, who gets the start versus tough lefty David Wells. Martinez has really struggled in the postseason, to the point where Joe Torre considered benching him in the ALCS. The Joyner/Leyritz platoon is a good one, and Leyritz has a knack for big hits in the post-season. Edge: San Diego

Second Base: Quilvio Veras (.729) vs. Chuck Knoblauch (.760)
The similarities are endless -- both play second base, both hit leadoff, both have good OBP but don't hit for much power. Veras had a slightly better OBP this year (.373 to .360) and plays better defense than Knoblauch, although the latter has more pop in his bat. This one's a toss-up. Edge: Even

Third Base: Ken Caminiti (.862) vs. Scott Brosius (.843)
A tough call between two veterans, but Caminiti has the edge both in OPS and in the field, where he is one of the best at his position. The Padres rely on Caminiti much more than the Yankees rely on Brosius, who bats eighth in the order. Edge: San Diego

Shortstop: Chris Gomez (.725) vs. Derek Jeter (.865)
Despite criticisms about his range in the field, Jeter has a big edge here both at the plate and on the basepaths. Judging from the statistics, it appears the two are a wash defensively. Edge: New York

Left Field: Ruben Rivera/John Vander Wal (.703/.894) vs. Chad Curtis/Tim Raines (.715/.778)
Choices, choices...Rivera and Vander Wal have been pressed into duty due to an injury to Greg Vaughn, who has the benefit of the DH in four games this series. Curtis and Raines aren't exactly the duo to strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers either -- neither has any power to speak of, but at least Raines gets on base at a decent (.395) rate, so they take this one by default. Edge: New York

Center Field: Steve Finley (.702) vs. Bernie Williams (.997)
Nearly 300 points of OPS? That's simply unfair. If somebody knows a good reason why Finley still has a starting job, drop me an email. Edge: New York

Right Field: Tony Gwynn (.865) vs. Paul O'Neill (.882)
Does it surprise you that O'Neill has the edge in OPS? It might not, but it may come as something of a shock to learn that he also has the edge in OBP. Sorry Padres fans, but Gwynn just isn't as productive as he once was. Edge: New York

Designated Hitter: Greg Vaughn (.960) vs. Chili Davis (.820)
Fortunately for the Padres, the DH rule will be in effect during the games played in Yankee Stadium. Vaughn probably wouldn't be able to play the outfield due to his shoulder injury, and they really need his big bat in the lineup. Still, who knows how much the injury or downtime will affect his hitting? It might take him a few games to get his timing back, which is longer than San Diego can afford to wait. Davis hit well during the ALCS, but isn't the threat he once was. If Vaughn is able to play the field when the series moves to San Diego and there's no DH, this could turn into a big edge for the Padres, as the Yankees will lose Davis' bat. Edge: Even

Bench
The Padres' bench will be diminished during the series, thanks to Bruce Bochy's two platoons. In game one he'll have Joyner and Vander Wal available to pinch-hit in addition Mark Sweeney, a decent left-handed bat who hit a pinch-hit home run in the NLCS. In game two he'll have Leyritz, his best pinch-hitter, available off the bench as well as Rivera. The rest of the bench (Andy Sheets, George Arias, and Greg Myers) provide little in the way of offense.

New York's bench consists of Curtis, Raines, Shane Spencer, and/or Ricky Ledee, depending on who isn't playing LF that day. Other than that, it's IF Homer Bush, who runs very well and is Joe Torre's favorite pinch-runner, backup catcher Joe Girardi, and light-hitting IF Luis Sojo. Edge: San Diego

Starting Rotation
Tough call, eh? Kevin Brown, Andy Ashby and Sterling Hitchcock have all been brilliant for the Padres, and I wouldn't be surprised to see ultra-intense pitching coach Dave Stewart take the mound if necessary. Once again the key may be Joey Hamilton, who needs to step up in Game 4 if he gets the starting nod. If not, Bochy can always elect to go with Brown on short rest.

David Wells has pitched very well this postseason, but after that the Yankees have some question marks, one of which, Andy Pettitte, is a big one. Pettitte struggled to close out the regular season, and was hit very hard by the Indians in Game 3 of the ALCS. He's slated to start Game 4, and his performance could be the difference between the Yankees leading 3-1 or the series being tied at two games apiece. Orlando Hernandez, the Game 2 starter, has pitched just once this postseason, although he was brilliant in that start. Finally there's David Cone, coming off a bad start in the final game of the ALCS.

What does it all mean? It means San Diego gets the nod, however slight. Edge: San Diego

Bullpen
I consider the closers to be a wash, as Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera are two of the best, if not the two best, in the business. Both managers have a solid group of arms to work with, from Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton to Dan Miceli and Donne Wall. The wild card in the equation is New York long man Ramiro Mendoza, capable of giving the Yanks three or four solid innings in the event of a starter being chased early. In a similar situation, the Padres would be stuck with a washed-up Mark Langston. Mendoza and the New York pitchers' experience have it. Edge: New York

Prediction: New York, four games to two
The Yankees are clicking on all cylinders, and should win the franchise's 23rd World Series title with relative ease. The Padres have had a great run, but they'll fall short this season.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker is bummed that Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla is banned from the press box for the series, as he would like someone to investigate the Yankee Stadium bratwurst.