PLAYOFF MATCHUPS : AMERICAN LEAGUE (Angels vs. Red Sox)

CATCHER--At 38, old man Bob Boone keeps rolling along, fielding his position with style and throwing out 50% of all attempted base stealers. But the Red Sox don’t run anyway (41 stolen bases), which nullifies Boone’s main asset. Rich Gedman hit 16 home runs, drove in 65 runs and also cut down 50% of opposing base stealers. Boone batted .222. Edge to Red Sox.

FIRST BASE--What have you done for me lately? Wally Joyner hit 16 home runs in his first 44 games and wound up with 22. Since the All-Star Game, he has hit two home runs and driven in 28 runs. Bill Buckner was Boston’s toughest out in September and closed fast to drive in more than 100 runs for the third time in his career. Edge to Red Sox.

SECOND BASE--Master of the hidden-ball trick, Marty Barrett is Boston’s hidden ballplayer. Obscured among the Red Sox’s heavy hitters, Barrett batted .286 with 39 doubles, 60 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The Angels platoon Bobby Grich and Rob Wilfong here, with more success when Grich’s bat (.268) is in the lineup. Edge to Red Sox.

THIRD BASE--Wade Boggs is Wade Boggs--another 200-plus hits, another .350-plus average, another AL batting title. But Doug DeCinces was the Angels’ most valuable player during the second half and will probably win the Gold Glove that has so long eluded him. In a seven-game series, DeCinces’ power potential (26 HR, 96 RBIs) could have a powerful impact. Even.

SHORTSTOP--This has been Dick Schofield’s breakthrough season. Defensively, he ranks among the league’s best, but the biggest surprise has been his offensive development (.249, 13 HR, 57 RBIs). He is the most improved Angel. Boston’s Spike Owen is an improvement only over Rey Quinones and Glenn Hoffman, his predecessors at the position. Edge to Angels.

LEFT FIELD--Brian Downing drove in a career-high 95 runs and receives consideration for Angel MVP. Jim Rice receives consideration for American League MVP. Rice ranks among the league’s top five in batting average (.324), RBIs (110), hits (200) and doubles (39). Edge to Red Sox.

CENTER FIELD--The Red Sox have tried Tony Armas, Dave Henderson, Kevin Romine and LaSchelle Tarver here, without satisfaction. Gary Pettis overcame a horrendous first two months to bat .258, steal 50 bases, drive in 58 runs and restore his reputation as one of the game’s best defensive outfielders. Edge to Angels.

RIGHT FIELD--Somehow, Gene Mauch squeezed 31 home runs and 96 RBIs out of the platoon of Ruppert Jones and George Hendrick. Dwight Evans nearly matched those numbers on his own (26 HR, 97 RBI) and, at age 34, still possesses one of baseball’s strongest throwing arms. Defensively, the Angels lose a lot with Hendrick in the lineup. Edge to Red Sox.

DESIGNATED HITTER--The ghost of Buzzie Bavasi could haunt the Angels here. Bavasi failed to re-sign Don Baylor after the 1982 season and have lacked a true clubhouse leader ever since. This year, they could have also used Baylor’s 31 home runs and 94 RBIs. Angel designated hitters combined for just 76 RBIs. Reggie Jackson drove in less than 60 runs during a full season for only second time in his career. Edge to Red Sox.

STARTING PITCHING--If Roger Clemens is completely healthy, the Red Sox will be, too. A fit Clemens could pitch three times, giving Boston a sizeable edge if a seventh game is necessary. But right now, John McNamara is considering using four starters, which means Al Nipper (10-12, 5.38) in Game 4. The Angels have two starters with ERAs below 2.85 and two others below 3.60. Depth counts. Edge to Angels.

BULLPEN--Last year when Donnie Moore entered a game, it was over. But this season, because of a tender right shoulder, Moore hasn’t exuded the same presence. If he’s hurting, he can be hit. Moore, however, has a decent supporting cast in Gary Lucas, Doug Corbett and Chuck Finley. For Boston, it’s rookie Calvin Schiraldi (9 saves, 1.41) and little else. Edge to Angels.

BENCH--No contest. The Angels have a late-inning defense/pinch-run specialist in Devon White and a fleet of capable pinch-hitters (Grich, Jones, Hendrick, Rick Burleson, Jack Howell). Henderson has batted .180 with three RBIs since his trade to Boston. Other Red Sox reserves Romine, Tarver, Ed Romero, Marc Sullivan and Dave Stapleton have combined for just 43 RBIs and a .199 batting average. Substantial edge to Angels.

OUTLOOK--The Red Sox have the hitting, but the Angels have more pitching, more defense and more speed. That combination worked well for St. Louis and Kansas City in ’85. Edge to Angels.