Bill Conlin: Comparing Phillies, Yankees lineups the right way

IN A WORLD SERIES comparison, a Tale of the Tape tradition dating to 1903 has matched the combatants by position.

While that gives a picture of relative strengths on an individual basis - third basemen Mike Schmidt and George Brett was a close matchup of 1980 Phillies and Royals stars - it ignores the roles of same-position players in the context of where they hit in the batting order.

Even the heavyweight champion Phillies and Yankees have different rules of engagement as a game unfolds. Let's look at another 1980 matchup of first basemen Pete Rose and Willie Mays Aikens. Rose, the patron saint of win-any-which-way-you-can small ball, was batting No. 2 in '80 at a position normally reserved for a power bat. Aikens, the prototypical cleanup hitter, was more the first-base business model. It was a no-brainer to give Willie a lopsided edge in a matchup with the aging Rose. He outhomered Pete by 20-1 that season, drove in 34 more runs.

Ah, but Aikens' 20 homers and 98 RBI were pedestrian numbers for a cleanup hitter. Rose lashed 185 hits, stroked 42 doubles and scored 95 runs while compiling a .352 OBP. Those are fine numbers for a table-setter whose job description is to get on base - he reached 251 times by hit and walk.

So, the edge clearly belonged to Rose when factoring in his contribution to the Phillies' lineup chemistry.

Here is one man's spin on how the Phillies and Yankees match up - not by position - but by positions in the batting order. (Using DH rules and the most recent starting lineups posted by managers Charlie Manuel and Joe Girardi. I am also assuming Raul Ibanez will DH in New York and Ben Francisco will play left. Most AL managers like to put speed in the No. 9 spot, but Carlos Ruiz runs well and I think Francisco will bat No. 7 behind Ibanez.)

Gentlemen, protect yourselves at all times and let's have a clean, hard fight.

Leadoff: Jimmy Rollins

vs. Derek Jeter

 

The Yankees' captain is a first- ballot Hall of Fame lock. Rollins adds to his credentials year-by-year. Both are run scorers and producers. Give Jeter the edge as a pure hitter, Rollins check marks for power from both sides and speed. Jeter's intangibles are off the charts. Rollins revels on the Big Stage.

RINGS: Rollins 1, Jeter 4.

EDGE: Even.

No. 2: Shane Victorino

vs. Johnny Damon