It comes down to this: The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will play for the right to go the World Series this year. It’s the classic rivalry which dates back all the way to the Curse of the Bambino. History aside, this should be a good series. The Yankees have the pitching, while the Sox have the lineup. Let’s take a closer look at how these teams fare:  
 
 
Catcher - Jason Varitek vs. Jorge Posada  
 
Varitek (.273-25-85) had a great season, but Posada (.281-30-101) was a little better this year.  
 
Edge: Yankees  
 
First: Nick Johnson vs. Kevin Millar  
 
Millar is a threatening power bat that knocked out 25 and drove in 96. After being hurt a good portion of the year, Johnson came back to hit .284 with 14 homers and 47 RBI’s. We like Johnson’s defense, but Millar’s bat a little more.  
 
Edge: Red Sox  
 
Second: Todd Walker vs. Alfonso Soriano  
 
Walker is a nice player that knocked in 85 runs this year, but Soriano is developing into one of the top players in baseball.  
 
Edge: Yankees  
 
Shortstop: Nomaaahhh vs. Mr. Yankee  
 
Two of the top shortstops in baseball. Nomar (.301-28-105) had his normal great season and Jeter hit over .300 again. But Nomar is Nomar and he had been and still a little better year than Jeter.  
 
Edge: Red Sox  
 
Third: Bill Mueller vs. Aaron Boone  
 
This one is simple. Mueller (.326) won the batting title and Boone (.267) did not.  
 
Edge: Red Sox  
 
Left: Manny Ramirez vs. Hideki Matsui  
 
Rookie of the year candidate, Matsui, drove in 106 this year and is one of the top defensive outfielders in the league. But Ramirez (.325-37-104) is too good of a player not to take him.  
 
Edge: Red Sox  
 
Center: Johnny Damon vs. Bernie Williams  
 
Damon got hurt in game five against the A’s, but if he comes back he is one of the top leadoff men in the game. Williams had an off-season this year hitting .263 and missed most of the first half. You gotta go with Damon.  
 
Edge: Red Sox if Damon is healthy - Yankees if he is not.  
 
Right: Trot Nixon vs. the Yankee revolving door  
 
No impeaching Nixon for the year he had hitting over .300 with 28 round trippers. He alone tops Juan Rivera, Karim Garcia, and Ruben Sierra.  
 
Edge: Red Sox  
 
DH: David Ortiz vs. Jason Giambi  
 
Both players are power hitters, and Giambi (.250-41-107) has better power numbers than Ortiz (.288-31-101). Both mean a lot to their teams, but Giambi’s low average makes this a tie.  

Edge: Even  
 
Starting Pitching:  
 
The Red Sox will be going with Tim Wakefield, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez, and John Burkett in that order. The Yanks will send Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and Davis Wells in that order. On paper, this is a huge edge for the Yanks. The rotation is old, but you can’t pick against them.  
 
Edge: Yankees  
 
Relief:  
 
Both pens are suspect and outside of Mariano Rivera, neither side has anyone that inspires confidence. Rivera has been hit by the Sox this year, but his experience alone will give this to the Yankees. Scott Williamson is the closer for the Sox. ’Nuff Said.  
 
Edge: Yankees  
 
Manager: Grady Little vs. Joe Torre  
 
Little has done a great job this year with the Sox, but the four rings that Torre wears gives him the edge.  
 
Edge: Yankees.  
 
Prediction:  
 
On Pitching alone you should think the Yanks will win the series, but if the starters get touched up, the Yankees will have trouble getting to Rivera. Clemens and Wells’ ages say that they can’t keep this up. Pettitte has also got hit by the Sox in the past.  
 
Red Sox in 7