The Subway Series is Back...

...with a new twist this year as all six games will be played in new stadiums. The first three will take place this weekend at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. First the pitching match-ups and which team has the edge in that game:

Friday - 7:05 PM - YES/SNY
Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79) vs. Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88)
Edge: Yankees. This is tough because Livan has been very good so far this year, a pleasant surprise for Mets fans. However, Joba has had two solid starts in a row and still has the better stuff to tame the Mets line-up. Livan's also 0-3 in his career against the Yanks with a plus-6 ERA.

Saturday - 4:10 PM - FOX
Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22) vs. Fernando Nieve (0-0, -.--)
Edge: Yankees - Pettitte has struggled at points but is still better against a weak offensive line-up than a guy who hasn't started in the majors since 2006. However, the Yanks often struggle against guys they haven't seen before.

Sunday - 1:05 PM - YES/WPIX/TBS
A.J. Burnett (4-3, 4.89) vs. LHP Johan Santana (8-3, 2.39)
Edge: Mets - The ace, and arguable best pitcher in baseball, goes against Mr. Inconsistent, who just got beat by the Red Sox...again!

Now, one of the things I always like to do around this time is look at each position and part of a team and see which of the New York teams has the edge. So, here we go:

Catcher:
Jorge Posada vs. Omir Santos/Brian Schneider
Edge: Yankees - Santos has been great for the Mets this season, but Posada still has the better bat and veteran presence that Santos lacks.

First Base:
Mark Teixeira vs. Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis
Edge: Yankees - This is simple. Teixeira is one of the hottest hitters in baseball now and has been the best Yankee of the first half. No one in baseball other than Pujols is better at 1st.

Second Base:
Robinson Cano vs. Luis Castillo
Edge: Yankees - Cano has been much better this year than last, and though he's tailed off some, he's still got a good bat and glove. Castillo gets on base, but injuries have also been a problem.

Shortstop:
Derek Jeter vs. Alex Cora
Edge: Yankees - There is no question Jeter is losing both his offensive and defensive prowess. However, he's still the best leader in baseball, hits close to or over .300 still, and has actually improved defensively from last year. Cora isn't bad, but he's nowhere near the type of player and presence Jeter is.

Third Base:
Alex Rodriguez vs. David Wright
Edge: Yankees - Mets fans will cry over this, saying A-Rod's a cheater and can't hit in the clutch. Maybe so, but he still has one of the best bats in baseball and best arms among infielders. He's arguably the best player in the game, despite recent struggles at the plate. Don't forget: Wright was struggling bag too!

Left Field:
Johnny Damon vs. Gary Sheffield
Edge: Even - Damon has a good bat and gets on base, but has a very poor arm. Sheffield still has some pop and has been a force in a very weak offensive line-up. Because of this, I say they are even right about now. Damon has surprised with his offense but so has Sheff.

Centerfield:
Carlos Beltran vs. Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner
Edge: Mets - No doubt Beltran is one of the best CF's, offensively and defensively, in the game. He's had some injury problems, but he's still superior. Both Melky and Gardner are solid defensively, and Melky has impressed offensively, but neither are near Beltran.

Rightfield:
Nick Swisher vs. Ryan Church/Fernando Martinez
Edge: Yankees (slightly) - Swisher has been a surprise with how good he has been hitting, though he did have a slump in May. However, Church has been hurt and hasn't impressed much, and F-Mart hasn't played enough to gauge how good he is. Both Church and Swisher have issues running the bases though. I give the edge to the Yanks here.

Starting Pitching:
Edge: Even - Yes, Johan Santana is the best pitcher in baseball. CC's not as good, but he's pitched like an ace should. After that, both teams have a lot of questions. Burnett's underachieved, and so has Maine. Wang's been terrible, and so has Redding. Livan's been surprising, and so has Pettitte. Joba's been good and bad, and so has Pelfrey. To me, they are just very even among the starters the way they have played.

Bullpen:
Edge: Even - Earlier in the year, I would've said Mets with no questions asked. However, lately, the Yanks have closed the gap. With Putz going down and Parnell starting to struggle, the Mets have dropped. The Yanks have gotten a small boost with Hughes and Aceves in the pen. K-Rod's been better than Mo, so if I had to choose one, I'd go slightly to the Mets.

Managers:
Joe Girardi vs. Jerry Manuel
Edge: Yankees - I give Manuel credit for keeping this team in the chase despite all the injuries, but it seems to me Girardi's club has more chemistry and confidence right now. Manuel's had issues with Church and Reyes that have stuck out, though Girardi hsa had some too with veterans. I still give the edge slightly to Girardi.

And, just for fun, we'll match the stadiums up against each other:
Yankee Stadium vs. Citi Field
Edge: Even - Both buildings have many positive attributes, and both have many flaws. The Yanks have made a grand stadium with a great video board, wonderful tribute to their history, and overall feel similar to the old Yankee Stadium. However, the food is still not anything amazing, prices are high, and people are still complaining over the abundance of homers.

Citi Field is a very nice ballpark with some of the best food around, an intimate feel, and quirky features. However, fans are complaining about a lack of tribute to Met history and the fact that there are almost no home runs hit.

I couldn't honestly give an edge. They are two different things. One's a stadium, and one's a ballpark. It all depends on what a person wants more in a game.

With that, enjoy the Subway Series: Part 1!