N.L

Minnesota Twins

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BRINGING HEAT: RHP Matt Kinney impressed team officials in his big-league debut in 2000, but he spent all of 2001 in the minors. A sore shoulder caused early problems a year ago, but he appears ready to make a run at a rotation spot. Kinney is the organization's hardest thrower but needs to be more consistent with his location.... RHP Kyle Lohse is the from-runner to win the No. 5 rotation spot. He also needs to improve his location.

FRESH START: The club hasn't given up on RHP LaTroy Hawkins, despite the ex-closer's 10.70 ERA in the second half of 2001. Hawkins has unveiled a revamped delivery and could benefit from the fresh start and new ideas afforded by new pitching coach Rick A. Hawkins is expected to focus on two pitches (fastball and slider) in an attempt to regain his control and confidence.... Travis Miller and Mike Duvall, two candidates for the lefthanded setup job, were set back by sore elbows early in camp, adding more uncertainty to a bullpen that is the team's weakest link. Duvall is expected to be out until mid-March. J.C. Romero also is competing for the lefty setup role. --Dennis Brackin

New York Yankees

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PAINFUL STARTS: 1B Jason Giambi and OF Rondell White--two of the team's most notable offseason additions--are nursing injuries. Giambi tweaked his left hamstring, which was a problem for him all of last year. He will be fine, but the injury might convince him to play more DH and let the defensively superior Nick Johnson cover first. White is out for a few weeks with a strained rib cage. He was a risk from the start, especially with his injury history.... Johnson played the outfield in a few games and looked decent. If he can play outfield, it will affect some of the team's roster moves.

ONE MORE SHOT: OF Shane Spencer enters his fourth season with a chance to play every day. Now, with OF Paul O'Neill retired, manager Joe Torte says the starting right field job is Spencer's to lose. Spencer has power, and he plays fine defense. He just has a history of getting injured, and it might not be realistic to expect Spencer to produce a breakout season. Spencer won't hurt the team, but look for OFs John Vander Wal and Ruben Rivera to get a good deal of playing time. --Ken Davidoff

Oakland Athletics

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SAFETY NET: RHP Mike Fyhrie, usually a reliever, will get starter's innings this spring so he can cover for RHP Tim Hudson in the unlikely event Hudson (sprained left ankle) isn't ready for the regular season. The team also is lacking a long reliever, and, by stretching himself out, Fyhrie may be able to handle that role. He retired 14 of 17 batters after being called up last September.... After throwing 40 pitches of simulated-game action on flat ground, Hudson said he was not pain-free but used his entire repertoire. The next step for Hudson, who is ahead of schedule, is to throw off a slope.

SPEED AT THE TOP: Eric Byrnes, a major contender for a backup outfielder job, will bat leadoff a lot this spring. Byrnes is the only traditional leadoff-type hitter with a real roster shot now that manager Art Howe wants CF Terrence Long to hit in a spot with more RBI opportunities.... New closer RHP Billy Koch didn't retire any of the eight batters he faced in his spring debut, but the Brewers' five runs against him came mostly on choppers and bloops.... OF Jermaine Dye, who broke his left leg last October, is doing some light jogging and agility work, and he is taking batting practice. --Susan Slusser

Seattle Mariners

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INCREASED VERSATILITY: 3B Jeff Cirillo is getting some work at first base, another indication of manager Lou Piniella's request that all his players be versatile. When the team faces a tough lefthander, Piniella can give 1B John Olerud a break by using Cirillo at first and the switch-hitting Desi Relaford at third.... In an effort to make Relaford a bit more versatile, the team will give him some time in the outfield.... Because the bunt was such a staple in the offense last year, the team again has set up special bunting stations behind the batting cages. Every hitter bunts between 10 and 20 pitches each day under the supervision of a coach.

MR. COOL: OF Ichiro Suzuki is more relaxed than he was last spring, when he rarely pulled a ball during games. In his second at-bat this spring, he pulled a long home run. Ichiro credited the wind; there was none.... Matt Jarvis, a career minor leaguer, continues to impress the coaches as a possible lefthanded relief specialist, Jarvis, 30, isn't overpowering but has a nice mix of pitches, good control and the ability to change speeds. In Class AAA last season, he was 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in the same type of specialist role. --Larry LaRue

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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TAKING HIS CUTS: Steve Cox is not the prototypical first baseman. He is a talented gap hitter who rarely gets cheated out of at-bats, but he does not hit many home runs. The team wants about 15 homers from Cox. Last year, he finished with 12, all off righthanders. Cox could hit in the third or the sixth spot in the order. To hit third, however, Cox needs to improve his on-base percentage.... OF Jason Tyner has the potential to steal 50 bases and is shooting for that mark this season. Though he did not join the club until its 41st game last year, Tyner still stole 31 bases, a franchise record. Tyner has the green light about 95 percent of the time.