The subway series
10/21/2000
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Unless you're a New Yorker, this World Series probably doesn't mean a whole lot to you. In fact, this may be the very last match up you'd like to see. But it's still baseball after all, and it is still the World Series. Nothing really beats October baseball and if you're a true fan, you'll have to see at least some of the action. Besides, you know there are going to be some great fights in the stands!
New York Yankees
Projected lineup:
1. C. Knoblauch (2B)
2. D. Jeter (SS)
3. D. Justice (LF)
4. B. Williams (CF)
5. T. Martinez (1B)
6. J. Posada (C)
7. P. O'Neill (RF)
8. G. Hill/J. Canseco (DH)
9. S. Brosius (3B)
Key bench: Jose Vizcaino and Luis Sojo will see plenty of duty as late-inning defensive replacements.
World Champions if... they play like the two-time defending champions. This team is loaded with talent and you just knew they weren't going to duck out of the playoffs. Guys like David Justice, Bernie Williams, David Cone and Chuck Knoblauch know all about World Series play and they've come too far to let this one, a three-peat, slip away. As long as the Yankees remain composed, they'll win this series.
Runners up if... 2B Chuck Knoblauch's defense really breaks down again. The Yankees will be forced to play Knoblauch, a guy who had terrible problems with the throw to first base during the season, because they'll need him to lead off and won't always have the luxury of sticking him in the DH role. If he struggles, Joe Torre will have to pull him, meaning the Yankees lose their leadoff hitter and table setter. That spells trouble.
Key player: Closer Mariano Rivera has been lights out all season and even better in his postseason career, breaking the record for most scoreless playoff innings in the opening series against the A's. As long as he can lock down the late inning leads that will surely be coming his way, the Yankees will be fine.
New York Mets
Projected lineup:
1. T. Perez (RF)
2. E. Alfonzo (2B)
3. M. Piazza (C)
4. R. Ventura (3B)
5. T. Zielle (1B)
6. B. Agbayani (LF)
7. J. Payton (CF)
8. M. Bordick (SS)
9. D. Hamilton/L. Harris/B. Trammell (DH)
Key bench: If Derek Bell is ready to go, he'll be a big addition. If not, one of the three listed DHs will have to make a hefty contribution.
World Champions if... they ignore the Yankees' impressive history and just go out and play ball. If the Mets come into this series and don't take care of business early on, they'll be down two games before they even realize what's going on. All those championships are great but the Mets have to ignore those; otherwise, the Yankees will walk right over them on their way to a three-peat and another championship.
Runners up if... either Mike Hampton or Al Leiter breaks down. These guys are the Mets' money pitchers and this is the biggest money situation of them all. They'll be going against guys with some great postseason success, but Hampton and Leiter aren't playoff rookies either. As long as they keep rolling, the Mets will keep this series close behind their two stud pitchers.
Key player: There's really no question that Mike Piazza makes this team go. There's going to be some added drama to this series with the whole Piazza/Clemens head beaning episode from earlier this year and it could positively or negatively affect the All-Star catcher. If he uses that incident as motivation, Piazza could be in for a huge series and the Mets could be world champions. If, however, he lets that episode intimidate him throughout the series, Piazza will lose the inside part of the plate and the Mets will crumble.
The Bull's prediction: New York in six...
The Yankees, that is. This team just has too much momentum and World Series history backing them right now. The Mets will put up a fight but in the end it'll be another pinstriped October. Ugh.