Why Watch?

Jason Michael Barker

You're going to hear quite a bit of negative sentiment about the World Series over the next week or so, so I figure, why not start right here?

On one hand you've got a team that couldn't even win their own division, sneaking into the post-season by the back door, and on the other you've got a team that won only 87 games despite an enormous payroll. To make matters worse both teams hail from the one U.S. city everybody loves to hate, what with the overpopulation, the garbage, and the sewer rats the size of George Steinbrenner.

Kidding.

I'm never even been to New York -- unless you count passing trough on a train that didn't even stop -- and I'm already sick of the stereotypes and talk of boycotting the series. If you don't want to watch the series, fine. But spare us the melodrama, will you? And by "us" I mean those of us who would watch the World Series even if it featured the Philadelphia Phillies and a local college team.

In case you need a bit of prodding, I've assembled a list of compelling reasons to watch the Sub, er, Subway... forget it. I can't bring myself to say it.

? Roger Clemens vs. Mike Piazza

Unfortunately, Joe Torre has set up his rotation so that Clemens won't be pitching in Shea Stadium, meaning The Rocket won't be batting, either. The rematch, which should come in the first inning of Game Two, will be more hype than anything else, as neither team can afford ejections, a brawl, or even an extra baserunners that early in the second game of the series.

Later in the series, however, particularly if the game is out of hand one way or the other, could get interesting. Not quite as interesting as if Clemens was starting Game Three at Shea Stadium, but you should tune in nonetheless.

? Roger Clemens

It pains me to say this since he did it against my favorite club, but Clemens' performance against Seattle in the ALCS was the most dominating pitching performance I've ever seen in person. In case you're wondering, the former was a one-hitter by Mike Mussina when I had the good fortune of seeing a game at Camden Yards in Baltimore (incidentally, that was the same trip that took me through New York by train). Kevin Appier pitched a two-hitter for the Royals but lost 1-0 -- to this day, it's the best baseball game I've ever attended.

But back to Clemens. Tossing aside age and the fact that he'd already thrown over 120 pitches, he was still hitting 96 MPH on the radar gun in the ninth inning. Love him or hate him (no need to answer, Mets' fans) he's very entertaining to watch when he's on his game, and he should get two starts in the series.

? Mike Hampton

Did you catch Hampton's outing in the NLCS clincher? It was a different sort of dominance that what Clemens did against the Mariners, but Hampton had his stuff working all night against the Cardinals. I wouldn't call him a finesse pitcher by any stretch -- he just looks that way when compared to Clemens.

And whaddya know? That's the pitching match-up in Game Two: Clemens vs. Hampton. It should be a dandy.

? Timo Perez vs. Jessica Alba from Dark Angel

Is there any bigger hype machine in this country than FOX? If you don't already know who Alba or Perez are, just be sure to tune in to the World Series. If you've got other plans, don't worry -- five minutes of viewing should be enough to discover each.

I haven't seen Dark Angel, but I do enjoy watching Perez play. He's a little slap-hitting lefty, a terror once he gets on base, and seems like a heck of a defensive player as well. There isn't much minor league data to go on, but if what he did at AAA this year is any indication, he's going to need to hit for a pretty average in order to be successful -- he's not patient at the plate, and doesn't walk much.

For those of you who've jumped to make the comparison to Melvin Mora, who came out of nowhere to spark the Mets last post-season but fell flat this year, keep in mind that Mora is 28 while Perez is just 23 and could certainly get better over the next couple of years. Even if he only winds up as a fourth outfielder, I think he's going to have a better career than Mora.

OK, prediction time... I think the Mets are a better team than the Yankees. Of course, looking back on the post-season, I thought: 1. the A's were a better team than the Yankees, 2. the Mariners were a better team than the Yankees, 3. The Giants were a better team than the Mets, and 4. The Cardinals were a better team than the Braves.

Mets in seven, behind the starting pitching duo of Mike Hampton and Al Leiter, with series Most Valuable Player Edgardo Alfonzo leading the way on offense.

Of course, only a fool would pick against the Yankees in October.

Sewer rats the size of George Steinbrenner. Hmmm, how can you tell them from Steinbrenner himself, given that they probably behave identically, too? Jason Michael Barker has no doubt figured out the secret, so why not ask him what is is at jmb@strikethree.com.