ALCS PREVIEW: YANKEES VS. MARINERS

The Associated Press

A look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners:

- Season Series: Seattle won 6-3.

Players

- Yankees offense: Chuck Knoblauch lf (.250, 38 SBs), Derek Jeter ss (.311, 21, 74, 110 runs, 27 SBs), Bernie Williams cf (.307, 26, 94), Tino Martinez 1b (.280, 34, 113), Jorge Posada c (.277, 22, 95, 18 passed balls), David Justice dh (.241, 18, 51), Paul O'Neill (.267, 21, 70) or Shane Spencer rf (.258, 10, 46), Scott Brosius 3b (.287, 13, 49, 22 errors), Alfonso Soriano 2b (.268, 18, 73, 43 SBs).

- Mariners offense: Ichiro Suzuki cf (.350, 8, 69, 242 hits, 127 runs, 56 SBs), Mark McLemore ss (.286, 5, 57, 39 SBs), Bret Boone 2b (.331, 37, 141, 206 hits, 37 2Bs), Edgar Martinez dh (.306, 23, 116, 93 BBs, 39 2Bs), John Olerud 1b (.302, 21, 95, 94 BBs), Mike Cameron cf (.267, 25, 110, 99 runs, 34 SBs), Stan Javier lf (.292, 4, 33), David Bell 3b (.260, 15, 64), Dan Wilson c (.265, 10, 42).

- Yankees pitching: LH Andy Pettitte (15-10, 3.99), RH Mike Mussina (17-11, 3.15, 214 Ks), RH Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51, 213 Ks), RH Orlando Hernandez (4-7, 4.87), RH Mariano Rivera (4-6, 2.34, 50/57 saves), LH Mike Stanton (9-4, 2.58), RH Ramiro Mendoza (8-4, 3.75, 6), RH Mark Wohlers (1-0, 4.54), RH Jay Witasick (3-0, 4.69), LH Sterling Hitchcock (4-4, 6.49).

- Mariners pitching: RH Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.60), RH Freddy Garcia (18-6, 3.05 ERA, 3 shutouts), LH Jamie Moyer (20-6, 3.43), LH John Halama (10-7, 4.73), RH Kazuhiro Sasaki (0-4, 3.24, 45/52 saves), LH Arthur Rhodes (8-0, 1.72, 3), RH Jeff Nelson (4-3, 2.76, 4), RH Jose Paniagua (4-3, 4.36, 3), LH Norm Charlton (4-2, 3.02, 1), RH Paul Abbott (17-4, 4.25).

Matchups

- Yankees: New York won last year's ALCS against Seattle in six games. Justice drove in 8 runs in the series, including key 3-run HR in clincher.

Clemens pitched his greatest postseason game in Game 4 against Seattle last season. He struck out 15 in a one-hitter. The Rocket has had good success against key Seattle hitters: Martinez (18-for-82), Olerud (12-for-65) and Jay Buhner (8-for-51).

The Yankees are waiting for Rhodes to enter the game. He was horrible in last year's ALCS, allowing seven runs in two innings -- including Justice's go-ahead homer in Game 6 -- and has 6.62 career ERA vs. New York.

Williams has feasted on Seattle pitching in postseason with .432 average, 3 HRs and 8 RBIs in 42 ABs.

- Mariners: Set the tone for the season with a sweep at Yankee Stadium in April. Won games started by Clemens, Pettitte and Mussina.

Took two of three in August against Yankees in hyped potential playoff preview. Moyer was sharp in the finale, and Cameron homered twice and tied a Seattle record with eight RBIs as Yankees pounded Pettitte.

Moyer's game is suited to the spacious dimensions of Yankee Stadium. He went 2-0 with 1.35 ERA in three starts against New York this season.

Garcia is 4-1 in his career against New York, including both Seattle wins in last year's ALCS.

Sele has lost all three postseason starts against the Yankees, including two with Texas.

Suzuki held to .286 average against Yankees. Boone only batted .229 with no homers.

Martinez has always had great success against New York. He's a .317 hitter against New York in the regular season and a .500 hitter with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs in 42 ABs.

Big picture

- Yankees: New York was written off after losing first two games to Oakland, but became first team to win five-game series after losing Games 1 and 2 at home.

As always, Rivera was a key. Had 0.00 ERA in five innings vs. Athletics.

Manager Joe Torre doesn't have the big bats he's had in the past, but pitching -- especially the bullpen -- has been the key to run of four World Series titles in his five seasons in New York.

Looking to become just third team to win four straight titles, joining Yankees from 1949-53 and 1936-39.

Weren't the best team in the AL during the regular season, but always play best in biggest situations. Lost 15 of 18 to end last season, but recovered to beat Seattle in ALCS on way to World Series title.

Justice and O'Neill struggled down stretch of regular season and enter playoffs limping. Spencer and Randy Velarde started last two games against Oakland's lefties and could get playing time in this series as well.

Williams is key to making the offense go. Appears to have hit his stride after slow September.

Jeter and Brosius made 37 errors on left side of infield, but Jeter's remarkable relay was key to comeback against Oakland. Jeter, showing heart and skill of a champion, dived headlong into stands to catch a foul pop late in Game 5.

Jeter and Posada each hit .444 in first round.

Mendoza will be counted on to replace departed Jeff Nelson as righty setup man for Rivera.

- Mariners: After coasting through the regular season, overcame deficit against Cleveland in first round. Lost the opener and fell behind 2-1, before rallying to win Games 4 and 5.

Tied the major league record with 116 wins in the regular season.

Eighth major league team to lead from wire to wire, the first from the AL West.

Led the AL in pitching, scoring, and fielding.

Broke franchise record of 91 wins set last season when they made it to the ALCS and lost to the Yankees in six games as the wild card team. Have never made it past this round.

Fourth playoff appearance in seven years, all under manager Lou Piniella, who led the 1990 Cincinnati Reds to the World Series title.

Set an AL record for road wins in a season (59).

Suzuki and Boone more than made up for the departure of All-Star SS Alex Rodriguez to Texas, where he got a record $252 million contract. Boone set AL records for most homers and RBIs by a second baseman. Suzuki won the batting title in his first year in the majors after winning seven in Japan and hit .600 in first round.

After leading league with 141 RBIs, Boone did not drive in a run and went 2-for-21 in opening round.

Had only one four-game losing streak.

Despite losing Ken Griffey Jr. and A-Rod in recent years and moving out of the cozy Kingdome, the Mariners led the majors in runs scored.

Piniella doesn't wait for the homer. Mariners led majors with 173 steals.

Lack dominant starter, such as former ace Randy Johnson, but they have a deep starting rotation led by Garcia, the AL ERA champion. Also have deep and talented bullpen headed by closer Sasaki, Rhodes and Nelson.

Watch for

- Who's the best? Mariners broke Yankees' AL record of 114 wins, but unless they can beat New York in the playoffs and win the World Series, Seattle won't be able to stake a claim to the best season ever.

- Whoa Nellie. The Yankees and Mariners have played twice in the playoffs and Nelson was on the winning side both times. New York will miss the side-arming righty, especially in key situations against Edgar Martinez.

- Last stand. The comeback against Oakland prolonged the Yankees dynasty a little longer, but New York is showing signs of aging. O'Neill, Martinez, Knoblauch and Brosius all could be in their final days in pinstripes.

- Back of the rotation. With Garcia and Moyer unable to pitch the opener, the Mariners will need a strong start from Sele to open the series. Halama will also be counted on as Mariners use four-man rotation.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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