First Base

Red Sox: Kevin Millar. Colorful slugger provides extra pop (18 homers, 74 RBI) in already powerful lineup. Often replaced by defensive whiz Doug Mientkiewicz in late innings.

Yankees: John Olerud. Released by Seattle on July 27, he has filled in admirably for ailing Jason Giambi. Great glove single-handedly makes infield defense much better.

Edge: Red Sox

Second Base

Red Sox: Mark Bellhorn. Switch-hitter with some power and a pretty good eye. Was 1-for-11 with five walks in first-round sweep of Anaheim. Slick-fielding Pokey Reese comes in for defense.

Yankees: Miguel Cairo. Scrappy No. 9 hitter has knack for big hits. Poised player with solid glove.

Edge: Red Sox

Shortstop

Red Sox: Orlando Cabrera. Former Gold Glove winner has helped solidify defense after replacing fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra. Suspect stick, but he can hurt you at bottom of lineup.

Yankees: Derek Jeter. Team captain finds all kinds of ways to win, especially in October. Showed more power this season (23 homers, 44 doubles) and is flourishing in leadoff spot.

Edge: Yankees

Third Base

Red Sox: Bill Mueller. Last year's AL batting champ was slowed by knee injury this season but went 4-for-12 in division series.

Yankees: Alex Rodriguez. All-around star had huge series (.421) in first-round win over Minnesota, excelling in clutch situations. Impressive on defense after switch to 3B.

Edge: Yankees

Catcher

Red Sox: Jason Varitek. Leadership means even more than consistent numbers he puts up.

Yankees: Jorge Posada. Production fell off a bit after strong start, but switch-hitter still finished with 21 HRs and .400 on-base percentage.

Edge: Even

Left Field

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez. A hitting machine. MVP candidate led league in HRs (43) and slugging percentage (.613). An adventure on defense.

Yankees: Hideki Matsui. Had 31 HRs and 108 RBI in second season since coming over from Japan.

Edge: Red Sox

Center Field

Red Sox: Johnny Damon. Speedy leadoff hitter quietly enjoyed big season (.380 OBP, 20 HRs, 94 RBI, 123 runs). Causes havoc when he gets on base.

Yankees: Bernie Williams. Reliable veteran owns four World Series rings and major-league record of 20 postseason homers.

Edge: Red Sox

Right Field

Red Sox: Trot Nixon. Injuries limited him to 48 games this year, but now he's healthy and plenty dangerous. Struggles against lefties, but Yankees have only Felix Heredia.

Yankees: Gary Sheffield. Played through painful left shoulder injury and carried offense at times during first season in New York. Quickest bat in baseball.

Edge: Yankees

Designated Hitter

Red Sox: David Ortiz. Bats behind Ramirez to give Boston fearsome duo in middle of lineup. Hit .301 with 41 HRs and team-leading 139 RBI. Natural power to all fields.

Yankees: Kenny Lofton. Speedy, knows how to get on base, would be playing every day on another team. Will start Game 1, with switch-hitting Ruben Sierra also likely to play a lot in the series.

Edge: Red Sox

Starting Pitching

Red Sox: RH Curt Schilling, RH Pedro Martinez, RH Bronson Arroyo, RH Tim Wakefield. Schilling (21-6, 3.26 ERA) gives Boston a gutsy ace. Still pitching through ankle injury. Rested rotation is lined up nicely, with Martinez to follow in Game 2. However, he has struggled against Yankees of late.

Yankees: RH Mike Mussina, RH Jon Lieber, RH Kevin Brown, RH Javier Vazquez or RH Orlando Hernandez. After all the questions about shaky rotation, New York got strong starts from Mussina, Lieber and Brown in first round. Starters could get exposed in this series.

Edge: Red Sox

Relief Pitching

Red Sox: RH Keith Foulke, RH Mike Timlin, LH Alan Embree, RH Derek Lowe, LH Mike Myers, RH Curtis Leskanic. Foulke (5-3, 2.17, 32/39 saves) was acquired to close out Yankees, who set major-league record with 61 comeback wins during regular season.

Yankees: RH Mariano Rivera, RH Tom Gordon, RH Tanyon Sturtze, RH Paul Quantrill, LH Felix Heredia, RH Esteban Loaiza. Rivera is best closer in postseason history (30 saves), though he blew lead in Game 2 against Minnesota.

Edge: Yankees

Prediction

Yankees in 7.

The Associated Press

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