AROUND THE HORN POSITION-BY-POSITION MATCHUPS.

Byline: Matt McHale

FIRST BASE Edge: Red Sox

Millar, who grew up in Santa Clarita, coined the phrase ``Cowboy Up'' last year. Early this season, it looked like Millar would die with his boots on. He recovered and actually batted 20 points higher, but his power numbers were down. Erstad overcame early hamstring problems to finish with a .295 average. He no longer runs well but he was clutch down the stretch and one of the team's leaders.

SECOND BASE Edge: Angels

When the Angels lost Adam Kennedy (CSUN) in mid-September with a knee injury, they plugged in Figgins, who filled in at third for Glaus and CF for Garret Anderson earlier in the season. Figgins finished third in the AL with 34 stolen bases. Bellhorn emerged from a pack of infielders to win the starting job and hit 17 homers, but right-handed hitting Pokey Reese should get playing time during the series.

SHORTSTOP Edge: Even

Eckstein, the leadoff hitter and offensive catalyst of the 2002 World Series champs, doesn't play the same role on the Big Bopper Angels. He is batting seventh today but still will take pitchers deep into counts. Although Ramirez and Ortiz each hit more than 40 homers, the MVP of this team could be Cabrera, acquired in the monster Nomar Garciaparra deal in July. He solidified a shaky defense and contributed at the plate. Boston went 21-7 during his first month and won 20 of 22 at one stretch.

THIRD BASE Edge: Red Sox

The Angels are hoping McPherson is this year's Frankie Rodriguez. Like Rodriguez, who came out of nowhere to become a playoff sensation as a reliever in 2002, McPherson will play third after a year at Triple-A. Glaus is recovering from shoulder surgery and can't play defense. Mueller (pronounced Miller) was the defending AL batting champ but was lost in May to knee surgery. He recovered and had a late surge to finish at .297 with 18 homers.

LEFT FIELD Edge: Red Sox

Ramirez is a definite MVP candidate with 43 homers and 130 RBI. He also is a free spirit but this year has shown the discipline the Red Sox have needed. He is hitting .364 (4 for 11) against Washburn with one homer. When Jose Guillen was thrown off the team last week for disciplinary problems, the position was handed to Jeff DaVanon and Adam Riggs. The Angels will miss Guillen's 103 RBI, but the team rallied behind manager Mike Scioscia's decision. DaVanon had several clutch catches in the clinching series in Oakland.

CENTER FIELD Edge: Red Sox

Damon will receive some MVP consideration for his .304 average, 123 runs, 20 HR and 94 RBI. He also made news with his long hair and beard, a look that fans loved and kept teammates from taking themselves too seriously. Anderson, one of the most consistent big-league stars and in any other year might have the edge. But he missed a huge chunk of the first half with an arthritic condition in his back. He recovered to hit .301 with 14 homers.

RIGHT FIELD Edge: Angels

Guerrero's first season with the Angels was epic, with a .339 average, 39 HR and 126 RBI. Now he caps it with his first postseason appearance. He is batting .255 lifetime against Schilling (13 for 51) with four homers. Fears of back trouble that forced him to miss more than 40 games last year never materialized, but he has a tender shoulder. The Red Sox will go with Taft High product Gabe Kapler against Washburn in the opener. Kapler will platoon with Trot Nixon.

CATCHER Edge: Red Sox

Many point to July 24, the day the switch-hitting Varitek smacked New York's Alex Rodriguez in the face with his glove, as the day the Red Sox turned their season around. Varitek is the emotional leader of the clubhouse. He also is a potential free agent and struggled early before finishing with a .296 average and 18 homers. The Molina brothers - Bengie and Jose - handle the position for the Angels and are terrific defensively. Jose is the personal catcher for Game 2 starter Bartolo Colon.

DESIGNATED HITTER Edge: Red Sox

Glaus still cannot throw because of midseason surgery but he might be more dangerous as a DH. He was the World Series MVP in 2002 and is one of the game's most feared sluggers. The shoulder is sound but his swing is not all the way back. Ortiz combined with Ramirez to give the Red Sox just their second 40 HR duo ever. His 139 RBI was second in the AL to Miguel Tejada. He also is a big clubhouse presence who seems to keep Ramirez happy.

ROTATION Edge: Red Sox

Many think Schilling is the AL Cy Young winner even though Minnesota's Johan Santana went 13-0 in the second half. Schilling went 9-1 in the final two months. Pedro Martinez slipped down the stretch and needs to have strong series. After Washburn, the Angels have 17-game winner Colon and Kelvim Escobar, who emerged as the ace of the staff in September.

BULLPEN Edge: Angels

Foulke gave the Red Sox the solid closer they've been missing the past few years, but he allowed home runs in three consecutive appearances down the stretch. The Angels have Percival, who probably will leave as a free agent after the season. He was on the mound when they clinched the World Series two years ago and wants one final moment. Frankie Rodriguez, who won five postseason games in 2002, is strong again after a shaky 2003. He is the difference here.

BENCH Edge: Red Sox

Most players from the Angels' bench have been pressed into starting roles. It has been good experience but with Figgins, McPherson and DaVanon in the lineup, the Angels' bench is not as deep as they would like. Amezaga plays multiple infield positions and has some speed of the bench. Boston has former Dodgers outfielder Roberts, who is probably better suited to a reserve role. Doug Mientkiewicz has playoff experience the past two seasons in Minnesota. Pokey Reese started at short for the first two months while Garciaparra was on the DL.

MANAGER Edge: Angels

When Terry Francona was hired there was fear that he was too nice. That tag buried him at his last stop in Philadelphia, but in Boston he managed superior talent. His patience was rewarded with a white-hot August and September. Scioscia has the Angels back in the postseason for the second time in three seasons. They trailed Oakland by three games with nine to play when Scioscia threw Guillen off the team for disciplinary reasons. The team rallied and has a good chance to get back to the World Series.

PREDICTION: ANGELS IN FIVE

CAPTION(S):

27 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) DARIN ERSTAD

(2) KEVIN MILLAR

(3) CHONE FIGGINS

(4) MARK BELLHORN

(5) DAVID ECKSTEIN

(6) ORLANDO CABRERA

(7) DALLAS McPHERSON

(8) BILL MUELLER

(9) JEFF DaVANON

(10) MANNY RAMIREZ

(11) GARRET ANDERSON

(12) JOHNNY DAMON

(13) VLADIMIR GUERRERO

(14) GABE KAPLER

(15) BENGIE MOLINA

(16) JASON VARITEK

(17) TROY GLAUS

(18) DAVID ORTIZ

(19) JARROD WASHBURN

(20) CURT SCHILLING

(21) TROY PERCIVAL

(22) KEITH FOULKE

(23) ALFREDO AMEZAGA

(24) DAVE ROBERTS

(25) MIKE SCIOSCIA

(26) TERRY FRANCONA

(27) Angels fans know how to make noise, which could be an advantage with three games scheduled at Angel Stadium.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Box:

(1) ANGELS: AL West champion

(2) RED SOX: AL Wild card