OAKLAND ATHLETICS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES

Wednesday: Oakland (Mark Mulder 21-8) at New York (Roger Clemens, 20-3), 5:15 p.m., Channel 11

Thursday: Oakland (Tim Hudson, 18-9) at New York (Andy Pettitte, 15-10), 5:15 p.m., Channel 11

Saturday: New York (Mike Mussina, 17-11) at Oakland (Barry Zito, 17-8), 4:45 p.m., Channel 11

Sunday: New York at Oakland, 1:30 p.m., Channel 11*

Monday: Oakland at New York, 5:15 p.m., Channel 11*

*If necessary All times PDT

NEW YORK AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

*--*

Po Player HR RBI Avg. LF C. Knoblauch 9 44 .250 SS Derek Jeter 21 74 .311 DH Paul O’Neill 21 70 .267 CF Bernie Williams 26 94 .307 1B Tino Martinez 34 113 .280 C Jorge Posada 22 95 .277 RF Shane Spencer 10 46 .258 3B Scott Brosius 13 49 .287 2B Alfonso Soriano 18 73 .268

*--*

Pitcher: Roger Clemens 20-3, 3.51 ERA

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: The playoff-proven rotation of Clemens, Pettitte and Mussina gives the Yankees a big edge in experience. O’Neill just returned from a stress fracture in his left foot and probably will be limited to DH duties. The defending champs know the routine of playing in the big games, and have one of the best managers in Joe Torre. Rivera led the league with 50 saves in 71 appearances.

WEAKNESSES: Mike Stanton is the only reliable left-hander in the bullpen, and the A’s have a strong left-handed lineup. Williams hit .091 against the A’s this year.

KEY RESERVES: OF David Justice (.241, 18 HRs, 51 RBIs), OF Gerald Williams (.201, 4, 19), INF Randy Velarde (.278, 9, 32) TEAM BATTING: .267 (sixth in AL)

TEAM PITCHING: 4.02 ERA (third)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

The Yankees must avoid using the bullpen and go from the starter to Rivera as often as possible. The Yankees are one of the most patient offenses in baseball and have to get into the A’s bullpen. As defending champions who ousted the A’s in last year’s playoffs, they have the advantage of knowing how to win in the postseason. Texas blew through the regular season for years only to get a spanking by the Yankees in the first round. The A’s must get past the psychological barrier that all opponents face when playing in Yankee Stadium, home to so many championship teams. Clemens has lost his last two decisions after a record-setting 20-1 start, and may be showing signs of wear and tear at the end of a long and emotional season. The A’s probably will have to win one of the first two games and sweep the two in Oakland, or else face a Game 5 back in Yankee Stadium.

Records: Athletics 102-60, Yankees 95-65

Head to head: Athletics, 6-3

OAKLAND AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

*--*

Po Player HR RBI Avg. CF Johnny Damon 9 49 .256 SS Miguel Tejada 31 113 .267 1B Jason Giambi 38 120 .342 RF Jermaine Dye 26 106 .282 LF Terrence Long 12 85 .283 3B Eric Chavez 32 114 .288 DH Jeremy Giambi 12 57 .283 CR Hernandez 15 60 .254 2BF Menechino 12 60 .242

*--*

Pitcher: Mark Mulder 21-8, 3.45 ERA

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Jason Giambi is a candidate for his second consecutive MVP award. The A’s 58-17 mark in the second half is the second-best winning percentage (.773) for a half in history, behind the 1954 Indians (.775). Mulder, Hudson and Zito form the best young threesome in baseball, and Jason Isringhausen is a fairly dependable closer.

WEAKNESSES: Not much team speed, which means they hit into a lot of double plays, plus an inconsistent bullpen. They don’t move runners very well.

KEY RESERVES: DH Olmedo Saenz (.220, 9 HRs, 32 RBIs), OF Ron Gant (.259, 2, 13)

TEAM BATTING: 264 (ninth in AL)

TEAM PITCHING: 3.59 ERA (second)