By Jorge Arangure Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 3, 2006

NEW YORK -- In one corner of the clubhouse a legend stands -- well, hunches, really, because the muscles in his back have long given out after 81 years of wear. Former catcher Yogi Berra, who barely reaches the shoulders of the gargantuan men who wear New York Yankees pinstripes, slowly shuffles from place to place, offering handshakes and smiles to those who say hello.

Such a sight is not uncommon in the Yankees' clubhouse, where legends appear daily. A former Cy Young winner, Ron Guidry, is the pitching coach. The beloved Don Mattingly, once an American League MVP, is the hitting coach. Hidden in the corner, with ice taped to his knees, another Yankees legend emerges, this one still in uniform. Bernie Williams reluctantly approaches Mattingly and says that he can't possibly hit batting practice on this afternoon, with a few days remaining until the regular season finale. Though he needs the swings to stay sharp, Williams's 38-year-old body aches, so he must use the time to recover.

On any other team, Williams, possibly the most decorated postseason Yankee of all-time, would be getting treated so he could hit in the middle of the batting order. But on this team, Williams's role is to sit on the bench, because there are plenty of other New York legends in the lineup.

"In all honesty, I don't know that there would be a better lineup than that in postseason play," Baltimore Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said. "It doesn't mean that it can't be beaten, but when you look at that on paper [and] you have to figure out which one of those guys you put on to get to the next guy, it makes it a little difficult."

When the Yankees begin postseason play Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, their lineup will feature nine all-stars, two former MVPs, a former batting champion and the major league leader in walks this season. Three of those in the lineup -- shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and right fielder Gary Sheffield -- are almost certain Hall of Famers; another -- second baseman Robinson Cano -- is a budding batting champion.

That Williams -- the all-time postseason leader in runs, doubles, total bases, home runs and RBI -- is on the bench speaks to just how deep the Yankees' lineup is and how difficult they will be to beat.

"I don't know what's going to happen and I can't control that," Williams said. "This lineup is so strong and the objective is to get to the World Series. The playoffs haven't started and I don't know what is going to happen. I'm just happy to be on this team. This is the team with whom I've played 16 years. To be part of this team is an honor."

Only their own insecurities, and perhaps a strong opposing pitching staff, seem to stand a chance of stopping the Yankees. In one part of the clubhouse, Rodriguez, recently the subject of an unflattering feature in Sports Illustrated, broods. Last season, Rodriguez hit just .133 against the Los Angeles Angels in the playoffs, one of the reasons the Yankees did not advance past the first round. Should his psyche be fragile again, the Yankees could stumble. That might be true of any Yankee, though these confidence problems only seem to haunt Rodriguez.

"It doesn't mean anything to me," Rodriguez said tersely in response to a question about the lineup. "I couldn't care less. We just got to go out and play. I don't want to predict anything. I can't think for other people."

Injuries to Sheffield and left fielder Hideki Matsui gave playing time to Williams and Melky Cabrera, whom Mattingly thinks one day can be a star player. But like Williams, Cabrera will be a bench player and possible defensive substitution for Matsui. Since being activated from the disabled list on Sept. 12, Matsui, who broke his wrist in early May, hit .412 with three home runs and appears to have healed. Sheffield returned from a season-long wrist injury on Sept. 22 and hit .250 with two home runs in 28 at-bats.

"All I need is 30 at-bats to get ready," Sheffield said. "That's been my history. I don't really like to do like most players and hit for hours in the cage and overexert myself. I have enough talent to get by."

That's certainly true of the entire lineup. Cano, who hit .342 this year, hits ninth. Center fielder Johnny Damon, who hit 24 home runs, hits first. Jeter (.343, 14 home runs, 97 RBI) had one of the best statistical seasons of his career, is an MVP candidate and hits second. Williams's .281 batting average was his best since 2002 and he sits.

"It's a problem," Mattingly said of trying to fit so many stars into a lineup. "But it's a good problem. It's going to be tough for [Manager Joe Torre] to make a decision on where everyone plays."

Those who think the deep Detroit pitching staff will solve the New York batting order forget that the Yankees hit .302 against the Tigers this season, mostly without Matsui and Sheffield. Even Williams posted a .313 average against Detroit in 16 at-bats.

What role Williams will have in the playoffs has yet to be determined. On this afternoon, he was treated in the trainer's room for his sore knees. When he was done, Berra walked in and got a rubdown. One legend replaces another in the trainer's room. This happens every day at Yankee Stadium.