In command

The approaches of Yankees righthanders Mike Mussina and Jon Lieber differed in Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS, but the results were very similar: Both completely shut down the Red Sox in their first two turns through the batting order. Mussina retired the first 18 batters; Lieber gave up only a single to Orlando Cabrera and a walk to David Ortiz. In the first six innings of the two games, the Red Sox were 1-for-37 with an .019 on-base percentage.

Mussina used a low to mid-90s fastball and an assortment of breaking pitches to overwhelm the Sox in the first six innings. Lieber, on the other hand, outsmarted Boston. The Sox were the most patient team in baseball during the season, but Lieber consistently worked ahead in the count after throwing first-pitch strikes and was able to keep the Sox from getting the good part of the bat on the ball. In Lieber's second trip through the order, only Ortiz and Jason Varitek took a called Strike 1.--S.M.

Mussina notables:

* He struck out Johnny Damon, Mark Bellhom and Manny Ramirez on called third strikes in the fourth inning.

* He went to a 3-ball count six times in his first two trips through the order.

* Ortiz, Varitek and Kevin Millar took called first strikes in their first two at-bats.

Liber notables:

* In Damon's third at-bat, Lieber's 19th batter of the night, Damon extended Lieber to 16 pitches. Damon took the first two pitches for strikes and later fouled off 10 pitches before lining to center on a full count. The 16 pitches to Damon were more than Lieber threw in any of the first five innings.

* Lieber threw six pitches total to Varitek and Bill Mueller in the first two times through the order and got four outs.

* Other than the walk to Ortiz, he did not go to a 3-ball count in his first two trips through the order.

Mussina   78/49   4.33   5/4   10   1   0   7   0   7   4
Lieber    47/32   2.61   3/2    5   4   1   2   1   8   6

* To the games' first 18 batters.

PLAYOFF DISH

KEN ROSENTHAL

Through the Red Sox figure to make strong pitch to re-sign RHP Pedro Martinez, the team generally opposes long-term contracts for free-agent pitchers, believing the risk exceeds the potential reward. The Sox could seek less expensive. alternatives to Martinez and RHP Derek Lowe; Twins RHP Brad Radke is Boston's top target among other free-agent pitchers, according to a rival general manager.... Don't be surprised if the Cardinals trade RHP Jeff Suppan even if they lose RHPs Matt Morris and Woody Williams as free agents. Suppan, 29, has $5 million remaining on his contract ($4 million for 2005 and a $1 million buyout if his team does not exercise his $4 million option for 2006). Trading Suppan would increase the Cardinals' flexibility to pursue a top starter, though few are available. RHP Dan Haren and LHP Rick Ankiel could join RHPs Chris Carpenter and Jason Marquis in the rotation.... Two scouts say they were stunned by how Red Sox C Jason Varitek kept shifting positions behind the plate in the early innings of Game 2 of the ALCS, trying to prevent the Yankees from stealing pitch locations. Varitek says the frequency with which the Red Sox play the Yankees and other A.L. East opponents forces him to make such adjustments. "You have to be conscious of it--a lot of teams do a great .job of it," Varitek says.

"Toronto is one of the best. Baltimore is getting good. It's part of the game." Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is particularly adept at relaying locations when he is a runner at second base, players and scouts say.... Yankees leadoff man SS Derek Jeter drew five walks in the first three games of the ALCS, his most in three games since July 13-15, 2002. "The Yankees go through transitions--there are times they are free swingers and times they are very selective," a scout says. "They're such professionals. They don't want patterns. They want to make sure they're not the same every time out." ... The Astros' bullpen problems might have been less severe had they not lost RHP Scott Linebrink to the Padres on a waiver claim on May 29, 2003. Since then, Linebrink is 9-4 with a 2.43 ERA in 116 games. The Padres resisted trading him to the Diamondbacks for OF Steve Finley in July, a move that might have influenced the N.L. West race. Finley instead went to the Dodgers.... The Cubs, who were expected to make the playoffs, dampened all sorts Of happy occasions with their late-season collapse. Gary Hughes, special assistant to Chicago G.M. Jim Hendry, had his daughter Blaire on his arm on September 25, ready to walk her down the aisle. Just then, his son Sam, a scout for the Cubs, delivered news of Mets RF Victor Diaz's game-tying, 3-run homer with two out in the ninth liming off RHP LaTroy Hawkins. Crushed, Gary Hughes told his daughter he loved her, then added, "I'll try to smile for the pictures." The Cubs lost in 11 innings, 4-3.

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