Second base: Luis Castillo vs. Brandon Phillips.

Comment: Except for driving in the winning run in the World Series clincher Saturday, Castillo had a terrible postseason. During the regular season, however, he hit .314, scored 99 runs and played Gold Glove defense. Phillips played some defense and that was it.

Edge: Marlins.

Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez vs. Omar Vizquel.

Comment: After watching the postseason, it is clear that Vizquel's defense has been wasted the last two years in Cleveland. The man deserves to be on center stage in October.

That being said, he's 36 and coming off two knee operations. Gonzalez, from Venezuela like Vizquel, is a good defender and has more power.

Edge: Marlins.

Third base: Mike Lowell vs. Casey Blake.

Comment: Lowell is a bonafide power-hitting third baseman (32 HR, 102 RBI). Blake is bridging a gap until the Indians find someone better.

Edge: Marlins.

Catcher: Pudge Rodriguez vs. Victor Martinez and Josh Bard.

Comment: A 10-time Gold Glove winner like Rodriguez should be head and shoulders above two rookies. Rodriguez was.

Edge: Marlins.

Outfield: Juan Pierre, Miguel Cabrera, Juan Encarnacion vs. Milton Bradley, Jody Gerut and Coco Crisp.

Comment: Pierre stole 65 bases, the Indians stole 86 as a team. Bradley might be the best player in the group, but what does it mean if he can't stay healthy? Gerut showed some power with 22 homers. The Indians haven't had a young power hitter like Cabrera since Manny Ramirez.

Edge: Marlins.

Starting pitching: Josh Beckett, Carl Pavano, Brad Penny, Mark Redman and Dontrelle Willis vs. C.C. Sabathia, Jason Davis, Cliff Lee, Jake Westbrook and Jason Stanford.

Comment: Nobody on the Marlins staff won more than 15 games, but three of them won 14. Sabathia led the Indians with 13 wins. The other four starters are all about potential, not results.

Edge: Marlins.

Closer: Ugueth Urbina and Braden Looper vs. Danys Baez and David Riske.

Comment: If Riske had been pitching for the Red Sox this postseason, they might have been in the World Series instead of the Yankees. If he'd been pitching for the Yankees, they might be celebrating another world championship.

Edge: Even. Um, Marlins win at every position other than closer, where it's even. I'd still take Omar at short, I think the starting pitching is closer than Hoynes does, and if Bradley stays healthy (a very big IF), the Tribe outfield could be tough next year as well, but Hoynes's point is made.