Born to Score Runs

The Star Ledger's Dan Graziano sat down with an unnamed American League scout recently to compare the vaunted lineups of the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. While Detroit's already potent lineup got even stronger with the addition of Miguel Cabrera, the Yankees led the AL in runs scored last season with 882.

Graziano and the scout performed a position by position comparison. Some of the results might surprise you.

FIRST BASE: The Tigers' Carlos Guillen moves over from shortstop, where he had a 102-RBI season and a .357 on-base percentage that was his lowest in four years. He's not as great an offensive player for a first baseman as he was for a shortstop, but he's a reliable and productive hitter, and he's probably better than whatever the Yankees will get from the mishmash of Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and Morgan Ensberg. If Giambi can be healthy and good enough to play first every day, this could swing the Yankees' way, but as it stands:EDGE: Tigers.

SECOND BASE: This is one of a few spots where these teams might have the two best players in the league. Detroit's Placido Polanco had a brilliant year in 2007, with 200 hits, 105 runs scored and a .388 on-base percentage. He was one of the best all-around players in the game last year, but his season wasn't exactly in line with the rest of his career. Our scout is betting on the Yankees' 25-year-old on the upswing over the Tigers' 32-year-old coming off his career year. But as he says, "only, maybe, by a hair."EDGE: Yankees.

THIRD BASE: Another spot where the matchup is one in which any of the other 28 teams would gladly take the loser. Miguel Cabrera was the big off-season addition to the Tigers or any other team in baseball, and he may well be the second-best hitter in baseball. However, the Yankees' third baseman is the clear-cut, head-and-shoulders best hitter in baseball, and for now, our scout says, "there's nobody you'd take over A-Rod."EDGE: Yankees.

SHORTSTOP: Our scout isn't as high on Detroit's acquisition of Edgar Renteria as some others are. "He struggled in the American League the first time (with Boston, in 2005), so why should we think he can handle it this time?" This strikes us as a little harsh. Renteria is a nice all-around player and would hold up in a head-to-head comparison with most shortstops. But the Yankees' shortstop is, well, Derek Jeter. And since we're talking only offense, not defense, here, the choice is a clear one.EDGE:Yankees.

CATCHER: "A mismatch," our scout says. "(Detroit's) Pudge (Rodriguez) is a Hall of Famer, but he doesn't hit like one anymore." The Yankees' Jorge Posada did hit like a Hall of Famer last year. In fact, with another year or two like the one he had in '07, he might be a future Cooperstown candidate as well. For now, though, he's as good an offensive catcher as there is in the game.EDGE: Yankees.

LEFT FIELD: "Once (Johnny) Damon got healthy and in shape last year, the Yankees' offense took off," our scout says. He's right, and Damon seems healthy early in spring training. That, along with the fact that the player competing for playing time with Damon is Hideki Matsui, makes this one another mismatch. Jacque Jones looks like a good No. 9 hitter, but he's not likely to give the Tigers what Damon/Matsui will give the Yankees. EDGE: Yankees.

CENTER FIELD: This one's a mismatch for the Tigers, and no offense to Melky Cabrera. "Melky's a nice-looking player, but (Curtis) Granderson is a do-it-all superstar on the rise." Granderson's 2007 season was historic -- 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and 26 steals. Cabrera might still be improving, but so might Granderson.EDGE: Tigers.

RIGHT FIELD: Bobby Abreu is another guy whose return to form keyed the Yankees' second-half surge. But Detroit's Magglio Ordonez would have been the league MVP if not for that A-Rod guy. This year, Ordonez will bat between Gary Sheffield and Miguel Cabrera, which means he could be even more productive.EDGE: Tigers.

DESIGNATED HITTER: Tough call here. "If (Gary) Sheffield is going to stay healthy, you give the edge to Detroit," our scout says. "But I don't think he'll stay healthy," and the "leftovers" from the Yankees' bench -- Giambi, Duncan, Matsui, Damon ... whoever's not playing the field on a given night -- should contribute more over the course of a season than Sheffield's backups will.EDGE: Yankees.

The Yankees came out on top in 6 of the 9 comparisons. But as we well know, and have seen far too often in the past few years, it will still be pitching, defense, and timely hitting that wins games in October.