NY media homerism at its finest

[Providence A's]

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/p.../1108/SPORTS01

Yankees writer Peter Abraham and Mets writer John Delcos deliver the 10 things you need to know about the American and National leagues.

That right there sets up all you need to know.

1. The Yankees have a lineup that could score 1,000 runs.

No team in baseball has scored 1,000 runs since the Indians put up 1,009 in 1999. That could change this season. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter will get on base ahead of Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi. The last three guys in the order are veteran All-Stars Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada and budding All-Star Robinson Cano. If you're a pitcher, who can you work around? Joe Torre has already proclaimed this the best lineup he has managed. But, he cautions, the key in the postseason will be how well they can create single runs. "Scoring 10 runs in one game doesn't give you a five-run lead the next day," Torre said.

What about the starting pitching?

1. A Subway Series wouldn't be a surprise.

No, no, no — not the interleague nonsense of May and June, but the real thing in October. As always, the Yankees expect to be there, and the Mets could live up to their end of the bargain if their pitching holds up. Both teams have offenses that should pile up runs, a quality closer should their bullpens get the game to them, and neither plays in a league with a slam-dunk juggernaut projected to run away from the pack. The odds are against the teams squaring off in October for just the second time since 1956, but the Mets can get there if Tom Glavine has something left in the tank, Pedro Martinez and Steve Trachsel stay healthy and their retooled bullpen lives up to expectations.

Again, what about the starting pitching?

A Subway Series would surprise me...

[General]

The Yanks could make the WS if their pitching steps up in the playoffs like it used to. The Mets will not last long in the playoffs, even if they make it.