A.L. West

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

RHP John Lackey is working on being more consistent but still tends to have innings in which he throws a lot of pitches. This spring, Lackey tried to improve the location of his fastball by shortening his stride, which allows him to throw on a more downward angle.... RHP Kevin Gregg needs to eat up innings as the fill-in for RHP Kelvim Escobar (elbow). Gregg's temporary move from a relief role to the rotation places an extra burden on an already active bullpen. Gregg went five innings in his first start last week. Escobar is expected back later this month.... IF Maicer Izturis quickly has become a key reserve. He is getting playing time as pinch runner and as a late-inning defensive replacement for 3B Robb Quinlan. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Though the Angels have power hitters, they want to put pressure on opposing defenses. They like to put runners in motion and take the extra base. Manager Mike Scioscia will play small ball whenever he gets the chance.--Mike Scarr

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Manager Ken Macha would like to have an everyday lineup, but that'll be almost impossible because he's trying to find playing time for all five outfielders. CF Mark Kotsay will be the mainstay, but left and right could feature a rotation of Nick Swisher, Eric Byrnes, Charles Thomas and Bobby Kielty.... 2B Mark Ellis was a shortstop in college and in the minors, but with Bobby Crosby on the D.L., Marco Scutaro will handle most of the work at shortstop. Ellis, who missed last season because of a shoulder injury, will move to short when Keith Ginter starts at second. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RHP Kiko Calero, acquired from the Cardinals in the Mark Mulder deal, has what pitching coach Curt Young calls a "special pitch." It's actually two pitches. When Calero wants his slider to stay in the strike zone, he throws it about 84 mph. When he wants the batter to chase it out of the zone, he reduces the pitch's velocity by 2 to 3 mph, producing a bigger break that takes it out of the zone.--Mychael Urban

SEATTLE MARINERS

LHP Bobby Madritsch came out of his first start with soreness in his shoulder and was placed on the disabled list a few days later. RHP Ryan Franklin, a starter the past two years, will move from the bullpen to take Madritsch's rotation spot. Franklin throws a nice slider but must improve his command to succeed as a starter.... RHP Joel Pineiro (shoulder) is eager to return to the rotation, but management wants to make sure he's ready before turning him loose. It is better for Pineiro to miss a couple of starts early in the season than to be forced back into the rotation too soon. The team's projected ace is too important to risk a setback. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Manager Mike Hargrove wants his players to be aggressive on the bases. Still, LF Randy Winn might think twice before again trying to steal third base with no outs in a close game. He was thrown out by 2 feet and probably cost the team a run-maybe more-in a loss against the Twins.--Jim Street

TEXAS RANGERS

The decision to make Gary Matthews the everyday center fielder instead of Laynce Nix adds stability to the position. Matthews, a switch hitter, figures to play every day; Nix, a lefthanded batter, probably won't play much against lefthanded pitchers. Not being in a platoon might help Matthews hit better.... 2B Alfonso Soriano's reluctance to take off running from a standing position--a lingering effect of the torn hamstring he suffered last season--might force the club to be more reliant on power. Soriano was expected to be a basestealing threat. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Mark Teixeira, a converted third baseman, rapidly is becoming an outstanding defensive first baseman. The instincts Teixeira had at third come in handy when he fields hard-hit balls down the first base line. Teixeira's ability to scoop low throws improves the other infielders' confidence and gives a boost to the pitching staff, which is trying to get a lot of ground balls.--Robert Falkoff

COPYRIGHT 2005 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning