A.L

Anaheim Angels

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REBOUND CHALLENGE: 2B Adam Kennedy and C Bengie Molina enter their third seasons needing to rebound. Molina's struggles stemmed from a hamstring injury that cost him seven weeks. Defense is his strength, and Molina needs to mesh with new RHPs Aaron Sele and Kevin Appier. At times last season, Kennedy sat behind Benji Gil. Gil is back, plus there are rising middle infielders in the system. SS Alfredo Amezaga is ready for the major leagues from a defensive standpoint; when he improves offensively, the club will decide between SS David Eckstein, who also can play second, and Kennedy.

SWING MAN: RHP Matt Wise, who had a 4.38 ERA in 11 games with the Angels last season, could stick as a setup man, a team need. Wise was the sixth starter last season, meaning he spent most of the year at Class AAA, and he finds himself in a similar situation this year. In five pro seasons, Wise has relieved four times.... Shawn Wooten could get into 100-plus games. Wooten, the club's only .300 hitter last season, will get some time as a DH, and he can handle first, third and catcher. --Joe Haakenson

Baltimore Orioles

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FIXING A PROBLEM: Coach Rick Dempsey is working with the catchers to improve their defense, particularly at stopping the running game. The team allowed 157 stolen bases, the second most in the majors, and threw out only 51 runners last year. Part of the problem, especially for Brook Fordyce, is not delivering the ball quickly enough to second. A great catcher makes the throw in 1.8 seconds, and 2.0 seconds is considered the necessary standard. Fordyce's times have tended to be more than 2.1. The catchers don't deserve all the blame; the pitchers were last in the majors with only nine runners picked off.

IN TUNE WITH GROOM: The team signed LHP Buddy Groom to a two-year contract extension, with a club option for 2005. Groom had a team-best 11 saves last year but is expected to be a setup man in '02.... Manager Mike Hargrove says veteran RHP Calvin Maduro has a leg up on the competition for the fifth starter's job. In between stints in the minors the last two years, Maduro has pitched well as a starter and reliever. However, several of the team's top prospects also are pressing for the job. --Dave Sheinin

Boston Red Sox

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NEW GLOVE IN TOWN: 2B Jose Offerman was unhappy about the signing of IF Rey Sanchez. A gifted defensive player, Sanchez eventually will take Offerman's job. Sanchez is not as good a hitter as Offerman, but he anchors the middle of the infield far more effectively. Sanchez is a nice insurance policy considering SS Nomar Garciaparra's right wrist injury. Sanchez's presence makes it difficult for IFs Lou Merioni and Carlos Baerga to win the last utility job.... Still recovering from injuries last season, Garciaparra and C Jason Varitek (right elbow) did not participate in all the early drills and are playing only every other or third game. Team officials say the slow start is not a concern.

NO PAIN, BIG GAIN: RHP Pedro Martinez had a crisp break on his curveball and excellent control in his first appearance in front of live hitters since early September. Best of all, he felt no aches or discomfort immediately and the day after pitching. Hoping to prevent deterioration to the small tear in his rotator cuff, Martinez added muscle mass to his upper body.... RHP Tim Wakefield, who had hoped to start, is surprised the team wants him to work out of the bullpen. --Michael Silverman

Chicago White Sox

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ON THE MEND: After a 10-month layoff following shoulder surgery, LHP Jim Parque reports no pain when he throws. That's good news because Parque is penciled in as the No. 3 starter. The top two starters--LHP Mark Buehrle and RHP Todd Ritchie--should be solid, but the rest are suspect. Most contenders have at least three solid starters. That's why Parque's health is critical.... It looks like one of the final roster spots will be contested by 2B/CF Willie Harris and OF Brian Simmons, a defensive specialist. Harris has more tools and has the early lead.

STAYING PUT: Don't believe the rumors that have RHP Bob Howry headed to the Dodgers. Howry is entrenched in the setup role, and the team has no interest in moving him. Howry had a tough time bouncing back from shoulder surgery last season. His velocity dropped from 95-96 mph to 91-92. Howry expects to be much better in 2002. But he'll probably never throw as hard as he did before the surgery.... DH Frank Thomas wants to get as many spring at-bats as possible after missing most of the 2001 season with a torn right triceps. The only lingering effect of the injury is a nasty scar. He says he's ahead of schedule. --Scot Gregor

Cleaveland Indians

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TIGHT RACE: Manager Charlie Manuel says the candidates for the fifth starter spot--RHPs Ryan Drese, Charles Nagy, Tim Drew, Omar Olivares, Jose Mercedes and Jason Phillips--are even. The team would like Drese, one of its top prospects, to win the job. Nagy has been pitching with a sore elbow for two years. Drew struggled in the majors the last two seasons. Olivares and Mercedes are veteran insurance. Phillips is a long shot.... Manuel wants to get a long look at CF Milton Bradley, but Bradley has missed time because of a sore right shoulder. The job is Bradley's to lose. If that happens, Brady Anderson will play center.