First base
Padres: Wally Joyner has never appeared in the World Series, but has proved to be a steady -- if unspectacular -- performer in postseason play. He is a good defensive first baseman who has a reputation for hitting in the clutch. His .412 average with runners in scoring position was the second-highest of any major-league player during the regular season. Batted .313 in the NLCS with two RBIs.
Yankees: Eventually, Tino Martinez is going to figure out this postseason thing and then there's going to be the devil to pay. Martinez has been one of the top run-producers in the American League the past four seasons -- and he had some success in the 1995 and '97 Division Series -- but he has just one RBI in 74 career at-bats in the league championship series and World Series.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Quilvio Veras is a speedy leadoff man who can work the count and get on base, but he is batting just .205 in the postseason and scored just two of the Padres' 24 runs in the NLCS. He'll have to be more of a spark plug if the Padres are going to score enough runs to be competitive.
Yankees: Chuck Knoblauch has not played up to his career numbers this year, but he's still one of the best on-base guys in the game. Made a critical blunder during the ALCS, but did not fold under the criticism from the media and abuse from the stands. This is his chance for redemption.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Chris Gomez isn't going to light up the highlight reels. He isn't going to carry the offense. And he probably won't foul things up either. He's one of those woodwork guys who turn into World Series heroes, but he'll have to bounce back from a .150 performance in the NLCS to make an impact on this one.
Yankees: MVP candidate Derek Jeter led the league in runs scored this year and is one of the best all-around players in the game. He hasn't made his mark on this postseason yet -- batting only .176 so far -- but he has a way of coming up big when it really counts. He's the guy who could unravel Kevin Brown.
Advantage: Yankees
Padres: Former National League MVP Ken Caminiti is a high-intensity player who can carry the offense when he gets up a head of steam. He hit two home runs against the Braves in the NLCS and reached base 11 times in 27 plate appearances. Sprawling defense also is a forte, but sometimes can lead to throwing errors.
Yankees: Scott Brosius was the most productive No. 9 hitter in baseball during the regular season and has been the biggest offensive contributor of the postseason for the Yankees, with nine RBIs. He also can make the exciting play at third base and is one of those "foxhole guys" who have a stabilizing influence on the rest of the team.
Advantage: Padres.
Padres: Former Dodgers backup Carlos Hernandez finally got a chance to play every day in San Diego this year and has been a big contributor in the postseason, batting .367 in the first two playoff rounds. He's also a decent defensive guy who threw out 25 percent of opposing base runners this year.
Yankees: Promising Jorge Posada assumed a greater share of the catching duties this season and confirmed his status as the club's catcher of the future. He hit 17 homers and drove in 63 runs playing just over half the time and threw out 38 percent of opposing runners during the regular season. Veteran Joe Girardi is no slouch either -- a steady all-around catcher who can come up with a big hit at a critical time.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Greg Vaughn is coming off a terrific offensive performance in the regular season, but has been dogged by a quadriceps strain that kept him out of much of the NLCS. Might have been in the Yankees lineup if club had not pulled out of a 1997 deal with Padres. Hit 50 home runs in 1998 to set team record. His availability will be a key factor for San Diego.
Yankees: The Yankees lost Darryl Strawberry (colon cancer) for the postseason and still had four viable left fielders in the organization, but Shane Spencer, Tim Raines (pictured), Chad Curtis and Ricky Ledee combined for just two hits in 29 at-bats in the ALCS. Manager Joe Torre probably will use Raines the most.
Advantage: Padres.
Padres: Former Oriole Steve Finley came back from a so-so regular season to bat .333 and lead the Padres with seven hits in the NLCS. He's a strong defensive outfielder with good speed who hit his only AL grand slam at Yankee Stadium during the O's "Why Not?" season of 1989.
Yankees: Bernie Williams edged out Mo Vaughn for the American League batting title (.339) after missing 31 games with a knee injury midway through the season. He struggled in the Division Series (0-for-11), but led the Yankees with eight hits and a .381 average in the ALCS. Great defensive player who will be very popular in the free-agent market during the off-season.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Eight-time batting champion Tony Gwynn is the only player in a Padres uniform who was around for the club's 1984 appearance in the World Series. He's a career .339 hitter, but has not been an impact player in this postseason (.220). Would love to add a big World Series performance to Hall of Fame credentials. Might be his last chance.
Yankees: Steady, productive Paul O'Neill will get some MVP votes this year for his strong all-around performance, but his contribution to this Yankees club transcends statistical accomplishment. He is one of the quiet leaders that give the team its calm, confident demeanor, and he will have a positive impact on the World Series. Batting .306 with six extra-base hits in the postseason.
Advantage: Even.
Padres: Jack of all trades Jim Leyritz probably will be the DH when the American League rules are in effect at Yankee Stadium, and why not? He hit three home runs in the Division Series and added another against the Braves in the NLCS. He has gained a reputation for coming up big in October, even though he seldom plays regularly during the regular season.
Yankees: Chili Davis missed most of the regular season with a severe ankle injury, but returned in time to play a significant role in the ALCS. Had four hits and five RBIs in 14 at-bats against the Indians. The 17-year veteran hit two home runs in 1991 World Series for the Minnesota Twins.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Right-hander Kevin Brown has established himself as an outstanding postseason pitcher -- first with the 1997 world champion Florida Marlins and now with the Padres. Dominated Houston in the Division Series and defeated Braves in only NLCS start. Is 12-3 lifetime against the Yankees. Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, who may come back on three days' rest to pitch Game 2, is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three 1998 postseason starts, dominating the Braves twice. Right-hander Andy Ashby gave up just one run over seven innings in his only start against Atlanta. Joey Hamilton could start Game 4, but will pitch in long relief if manager Bruce Bochy condenses the rotation.
Yankees: Game 1 starter David Wells has been the cornerstone of the postseason rotation after an 18-4 regular season. He is 3-0 in this postseason and was the MVP of the ALCS. In Game 2, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez will get a chance to follow up on his terrific -- perhaps season-saving -- performance against the Indians in the ALCS. Twenty-game winner David Cone will start the first game in San Diego. Left-hander Andy Pettitte will draw the Game 4 assignment, even though he struggled badly in his only ALCS start.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Trevor Hoffman is the most dependable closer in either league, as evidenced by the fact that the Padres have not lost a game they led going into the ninth inning since 1996. Left-hander Randy Myers may have been the best reliever in baseball last year, and now works as a setup man. Dan Miceli had a rough time in the NLCS, but also is a very capable setup man, as is former Yankee Brian Boehringer. If the Padres had to point to one area as the major reason that they are in the World Series, this is it.
Yankees: Closer Mariano Rivera is one of the best in the business, too. He did not give up a hit in four ALCS appearances totaling 5 2/3 innings. The Yankees also have good depth, with Ramiro Mendoza, Jeff Nelson, Graeme Lloyd and Mike Stanton working in setup roles. Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu will pitch in long relief.
Advantage: Padres.
Padres: The San Diego bench isn't in the same league with the Yankees, though Leyritz is clutch and reserve outfielder John Vander Wal made a big contribution in the NLCS. Former Yankees prospect Ruben Rivera has talent to burn and could show up in the starting lineup once or twice, but you probably won't see much of Andy Sheets or Mark Sweeney.
Yankees: Chili Davis will be the big bat off the bench during the non-DH games in San Diego, but the Yankees also have all those extra left-field candidates to draw when the NL rules are in effect. They also have an outstanding pinch runner in Homer Bush and a versatile utility guy in Luis Sojo. Basically, Torre has all the bases covered.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres: Bruce Bochy managed magnificently during the Division Series, but had a few rough spots in Game 5 of the NLCS -- using Brown in relief, not walking No. 8 hitter Michael Tucker to get to the pitcher twice with men on base. He has managed a few interleague games under American League rules, but does not have the wide-ranging experience of Joe Torre.
Yankees: Torre is the steady hand that has turned the Yankees back into the game's premier organization. He is the main ingredient in a chemistry that carried the Yankees to the most regular-season victories in American League history. He's the best in the business right now.
Advantage: Yankees.
Padres in seven: Even though the Yankees are -- on paper -- the vastly superior team, a couple of strong performances by San Diego ace Kevin Brown could turn the series in favor of the Padres. They've already beaten two 100-win teams to get this far. They're poised to pull the upset of the decade.
Pub Date: 10/17/98