Cone Should Set The Tone For Yankees

We’ve only seen this playoff matchup before in the movies.

The only time the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees have met for stakes as high as these, actors Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes were starring and starting in “Major League.”

This one probably won’t be a comedy, but with a marquee pitching matchup on opening night, the first round of the best-of-5 A.L. playoffs between Cleveland and New York should have plenty of drama.

“It’s a tough matchup,” said David Cone, who’ll start Game 1 for the Yankees against Cleveland’s Orel Hershiser. “It’s a good team matchup, and a good matchup individually.”

It will be the Indians’ power and offensive balance against the Yankees’ superior starting pitchers. Cleveland’s bullpen vs. New York’s deep bench. A.L. Central champs vs. A.L. wild card. Two World Series titles vs. 23.

Following their Monday workout at Yankee Stadium, New York manager Joe Torre ended the only remaining suspense for the series by naming David Wells his Game 3 starter. The lefthander will face Charles Nagy on Saturday in Cleveland.

Torre chose Wells, who has been inconsistent during his first season in New York, over Dwight Gooden despite Gooden’s 3-0 record against the Indians this season.

“The Boomer (Wells) had more of an advantage because of his durability and his arm strength,” Torre said. “We kind of forewarned Doc about this in Detroit. I think Doc was concerned about making the staff and that was never in question.”

Torre did have a couple of minor surprises when he announced his starting lineup for Game 1.

Tim Raines will bat leadoff as the designated hitter with Chad Curtis, acquired from the Indians this year, batting sixth and playing left field. The decision to use Raines puts Cecil Fielder on the bench.

“It’s tough,” Torre said. “I was battling back and forth. I guess the determining factor was Curtis has been playing well defensively and especially in this ballpark. … I’m fortunate on one hand to have enough players who are capable and playing pretty well right now. But the unfortunate part is telling them they are not playing.”

Fielder appeared to take the news fairly well.

“Deja vu, baby. Whatever, ” said Fielder, who sat for Game 1 of last year’s opening series against Texas. “I’m just going to be ready when the time comes.”

Torre also decided to leave his two most maligned pitchers, Hideki Irabu and Kenny Rogers, off his postseason roster for the first round.

The decision didn’t catch Rogers off-guard.

“It’s disappointing,” said Rogers, “but it’s nothing I have any control over. I didn’t pitch well enough to be on the team.”

Cone’s performance today could be the key to the series and to the Yankees’ ability to defend their title. The right-hander has admitted he’s not 100 percent after being sidelined with tendinities in his shoulder.

For the first time in three years, the Indians are entering the postseason as decided underdogs.

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