European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 5, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday october 5,1988 the stars and stripes Pago 23 matchup. Houston mets rated even by John Nelson a baseball writer sparty Anderson reduced to an observer this year Calls the new York mets and Houston astros Carbon copies of each other. Ii comes Down to one thing pitch ing the Detroit tigers manager said and the two clubs look even. I d hate to have to bet any Money on either of  the 1986 National league playoff Between the Mela from the East and the astros from the West do indeed Promise to be a meeting of two ideally matched teams the met with a Little More Power the astros with an Edge in Speed. The Meis won the season series 7-5,but Houston won the last three games and four of the final six. The met outscored Houston 54-40 in 12 games but throw out the results of a13-2 new York Victory in Houston on july 17, and the difference Between the clubs was three runs 41-38. The team split six one run decisions. The matchup Catcher although Hii average has fallen off and be is nol As Mobile behind the Plale the mets1 Gary Carter still rates As one of the game s top catch in. He has driven in 100-plus runs for die third straight season and is Given much of the credit for shaping the mets Young pitching staff. Alan Ashby for the astros is solid and a Good Leader but he cannot match the offensive threat of Carter. Neither is much of a threat against the stolen base managing to throw out about 25 per cent a substantial Edge to Carter. First base in the Field the mets Keith Hernandez sets the Stan Dard and he is one of the game s Best National league clutch hitters Houston s Glenn Davit on the other hand could Well be the astros map. Davis has Given the stroj something they have Long needed Power. This year he became Only the second Astro to hit 30 homers Jim Wynn was the other and he leads the dub in Bis. If for no other reason than experience a slight advantage to Hernandez. Second base astros coach Denis Menke feds there is none better at turning the double play than Billy Doran. He also is the club Leader in Sto Len bases and runs scored. The my platoon switch Hitler Wall Backman and right hander Tim Teufel. They Are stronger with Backman playing against right handed Pitcher. Normally Doran would rate a slight Edge but with Backman having a career Type year and two of the astros starters right handers Call it even. Shortstop neither Dickie then nor Craig Reynolds has bit partic Luarty Well for the astros but until jus recently Rafael Santana had been an abysmal failure at the plate for new York. Don t look Here for offence. In the Field Santana is smooth Thun can be excellent Reynolds is Workman like they be got Santana outnumbered so take the astros. Third base the mels started Oul Plato Ning Roy Knight and Howard Johnson Al third. But with a batting average that Stilt rests just below .300, Knight won the full time Job. Defensively he s As Good Ai either Denny Walling or Phil Garner who Pla Toon for Houston Walling though ii Jan  be the key for astros having one of his Best offensive seasons while gamer has been typically Tough. Heads Lake Houston. Tails Lake new York. Heads it is. Left Field at age 39 and both ered by injuries Jose Cruz got off to a slow Start. Then As they say in Houston he went into Cruz  he has a baiting average up by More than 70 Points and he could be a key for the astros. Rookie Kevin Mitchell plays in left most of the time for the mets sometimes cookie Wilson. Mitchell a Cut and slash hitter has been hot and cold hot More often. Wilson can realty make things happen with his Speed. Still give the advantage to Cruz. Center Field the astros went after the Chicago cubs Billy Hatcher because they wanted More Speed. What they got was Speed runs and defense much the same As ten Dykstra gives the ecu. Hatcher May have a slight Edge in the held but Dykstra is having one of those Yean where everything seems to go right. With occasional help against Tough left handers from cookie Wilson dyes to gives the mets the Edge. Right Field near the 200-Hil Mark with an average Well Over .300,Kevin Bass has been the prime rival to glean Davis for Houston map. He leads the club in doubles has topped the 20-Homer Mark Trail Only Doran and Davis in runs and is second in Rolt. Darryl Strawberry on the other hand has been an inconsistent performer for the mels. Still he is second to Carter in but and leads the team in homers. He Hai hit some prodigious Shott in the Astrodome but its anybody s guess what he will do in a playoff situation. Bass gets the nod. Pitching Dwight Gooden is. Mike Scott. Bob Ojeda is. Nolan Ryan. Ron Darling is. Bob Knepper that what Sparky Anderson was talking about. Gooden was the Mew by Young win Ner last year. Scott with his no Hitler to Clinch the division May win it this Yea for Houston. Ojeda has been outstanding for the mets since arriving from , Well is Ryan. Although the master of no decisions. Darling always keeps the mets in the game. Struggling of late Knepper was Houston s Mel killer this year with a 3-1 record. In the bullpen the mets throw Roger Mcdowell and Jesse Orosco Houston uses Charlie Kerible and Dave Smith. Even evener Evenell. Clemens Arm May be the key by Ben Walker a baseball writer will Roger Clemens be Able to pitch he says yes. And if that s so the bos ton red son match up Well with the Cali fornia Angels in a pitching Rich Ameri can league championship series. Without him they re in a lot of trouble. Clemens hit in he right Elbow by a line drive during a tune up Start wednes Day night went 3-0 against the Angel this season. California won seven of 12 Overall and half the time a learn was held to one run or less. Game i will be tuesday night in bos Ion where they split six games and it May not be def Italy known until then what to expect from Clemens who led the league with a 24-4 record a 2.48 Era and 238 strikeout. California manager Gene Mauch and the Angels Are looking to change their postseason Luck. Neither Mauch to his 25th year of managing nor the Angels in their 26lh year or existence have Ever reached the world series. I Mesa Ueo ule Are going to talk about thai Briot Mauch said his 1964 Phila Delphia team collapsed and his 1982 California club fell apart in the playoffs. The matchup Catcher Rich gedman of the red sox it the better Hitler about 30 Point in average and a lot More Power. Bob bronc of the Angels is better defensively Boston which stole the fewest bases in the majors this season stole none against Boone and the Angels California swiped american league five against the red sox. In other words Boston s glaring weakness a Lack of Speed Worts in reverse to cancel conc s primary strength. Give the Edge to gedman. First base Rookie Wally Joyner gave the Angels the Power at first base they never had with Rod car cd. Joyner and Boston Veteran Bill Buckner each Oil about 20 Home runs with 100 Bis Al though Joyner s average was slightly higher. The biggest difference Between them is defensive. Joyner s legs Are younger and be coven a lot More ground than the 36 year old Buckner. The Edge to Joyner. Second base Marty Barrett does a Tot of Good things for Boston. He hits around .290 and has nearly 40 Dou Bles. He also tends a neat second , be gets oven adored on the red  Grich at age 37. Has not gotten As much playing Lime As in the past. He .275 average is up Bis 30 Bis Are  like to talk about How veterans help in the postseason but Grich is Bat Ting Only .172 in four previous playoff series. An Edge to Barren. Shortstop Dick Schofiel like his major league father is not Eye pop singly exciting. But be bats .250 with 13 Home runs and helps the Angels turn a lot of double plays. Spike his real first name Owen Gol a second life when be was traded from Seattle to Boston in Lime to be eligible for the playoffs. He is a Fine fielder a poor to mediocre hitter. . Third base Wade Boggs of the red sox is leading the major league with an average near .360, and 100-plus walks boost his on base average to Over ,450. Years of taking 100 practice grounders before each game have turned him from a below average fielder into a pretty Good one. Doug Decinces of the Angels Bat hit 25 homers and is approaching 100 Bis. His Range is not what it was 10 years ago. He has been in two playoffs series an bit Over .300 in both of them. . Left Field Jim Rice is having an map Type year for the red sox. He a batting .322 with 20 Homyn and 108 Bis and his experience in playing balls off the Green monster helps. Brian Downing has Bil 20 Home runs with More than 90 Bis along Wilh nearly 90 walks. An average fielder. A solid Edge to Rice. Center Field California s Gary pct is is among the Best defensive play ers in the majors Al his position. He hits .260 and leads the team with 47 stolen bases. Boston s Tony Annas enjoyed a slight resurgence in the eco Lii half of the sea son and wound up Hilling Over .260 with almost 60  strengths make them even. Right Field Dwight Evans hit 26 Home runs with nearly 100 Bis. He also Drew 90 walks a valuable skill when hitting High in the Boston lineup. His defensive skills have always been among he Best. George Hendrick who balled barely Over .200 with four Home runs As a 35 year old last season has done swell forthe Angels in 1986. He hit .274 with m Homins and 47 Bis while Plato Ning with left handed Ruppert Jones who hit Only .229 but had 16 Home runs. Evans gets the  Well can Reggie do it again Jackson melancholy since the Angels told him be will nol be re signed for next year is Hilling .245with 18 homers three against Boston ind 58 Bis plus 90 walks. He i known As or. October even though his career average for 10 playoff series is Only .234. It s in the world series where he shines with a ,3i7 Mark that includes 10  Baylor hit 31 Home runs with 92 Bis for the red sox. Baylor starred forthe Angels in their 1982 Al playoff lost to Milwaukee driving in 10 runs during five  Reggie will show up Call it even for now. Pitching the Angels led the league in pitching. The red sox finished third but doing it in Fenway part half the Lime makes their numbers More in  is the key. If be is healthy Boston s pencilled in Tartera Clemens Bruce Hurst and Oil can Boyd match up Well with California s big four of Mike will Kirk Mccain to John can Delaria and Don Sutton