A.L. spring preview

Anaheim

SPRING SKINNY: The team could have the most prolific offense in franchise history now that slugging 1B Mo Vaughn joins a lineup that features Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds and Garret Anderson. There is potential for more with 3B Troy Glaus, C Todd Greene and 2B Randy Velarde. But the rotation again has questions: Can Chuck Finley (36 years old) and Tim Belcher (37) continue to be productive? Can Ken Hill rebound from elbow surgery that sidelined him for two months in 1998? Can Omar Olivares and Steve Sparks again combine for 18 wins?

TO-DO LIST: If the team can't trade Anderson, Edmonds or Dave Hollins this spring, manager Terry Collins will have to sort out logjams in the outfield and at DH.... New pitching coach Dick Pole will have to shore up a bullpen that, because of elbow injuries, will be without middle reliever Pep Harris for the season and setup man Mike James for at least half the season. Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Rich DeLucia likely will share setup duties, and Mark Petkovsek and Jason Dickson are the candidates to complete the relief staff. Lefthander Mike Holtz needs to regain command of his curveball or face another demotion to the minor leagues.... A key competition will be for the utility infield job, for which Craig Shipley, Luis Rivera, Andy Stankiewicz, Jeff Huson and Tim Unroe are candidates. If speedster Justin Baughman recovers from a broken leg, he could challenge for the job in April or May.... Another big priority: Pacing Salmon and Velarde through spring training so the two, restricted because of injuries last season, remain healthy.--Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

SPRING SKINNY: The Orioles have added some power (Albert Belle), some speed (Delino DeShields), some pitching (Mike Timlin, Heathcliff Slocumb) and a frontline defensive catcher (Charles Johnson), but they still will need a lot of good things to happen to compete with the Yankees in the A.L. East. The focus likely will be on the bullpen and the club's new chemistry. Belle and fellow newcomer Will Clark should inject more attitude into a docile clubhouse.

TO-DO LIST: The starting rotation is largely set--with Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson, Juan Guzman and promising Sidney Ponson--but someone is going to have to step up and fill the No. 5 slot. RHP Scott Kamieniecki, just back from neck surgery, wants to be that guy, but newcomer Ricky Bones and minor league prospect Rocky Coppinger will get some attention.... Manager Ray Miller needs to decide how he wants to configure the top of the lineup. DeShields likely will lead off with Brady Anderson hitting second and Belle third, but Miller also could decide to use B.J. Surhoff or even Mike Bordick second, which would push Anderson into an RBI role. Miller already has decided he wants to use Belle as the No. 3 hitter and Clark at cleanup.... Timlin is going to be the closer, and Slocumb likely will open the season as the No. 1 righthanded setup man, but there still is room for a durable righthanded middle guy to go with Bones (who could work in a swing role). The dub should be solid from the left side, if Arthur Rhodes is healthy and Jesse Orosco can pick up where he left off last season.--Peter Schmuck

Boston

SPRING SKINNY: The team never replaced 1B Mo Vaughn, leaving a huge hole in its lineup and its clubhouse. Its offseason signings (2B/DH Jose Offerman and pitchers Mark Portugal, Pat Rapp and Mark Guthrie) are nice additions to a team that earned a wild-card berth in '98, but the loss of Vaughn will remain the focus as spring training begins. Expect SS Nomar Garciaparra, RHP Bret Saberhagen and 3B John Valentin to grow tired of hearing Vaughn's name mentioned during camp.

TO-DO LIST: Solve the muddled first base/second base/DH mess. The team opens camp with Mike Stanley, Reggie Jefferson and Bob Hamelin taking turns at first and DH, with Offerman a candidate for both. The status of 2B Jeff Frye, a favorite of manager Jimy Williams, will affect Offerman's role. If Frye proves he is recovered from a knee injury, Williams probably will prefer his defense. That likely leaves Stanley at first and Offerman as an expensive DH.... Find a creative lineup. With Vaughn's run-producing bat removed, the team must find offense. Offerman adds a new dimension from the leadoff spot, but the team needs consistency in the middle; if not, Garciaparra will see a steady dose of breaking balls.... See consistency from a veteran pitching staff. Unlike previous seasons, there are few jobs up for contention. The rotation seems set, and four of the bullpen jobs are settled.... Stumble upon a surprise hitter. Maybe it will be rookie OF Trot Nixon. Maybe young C Jason Veritek win blossom. Perhaps Hamelin will rediscover his home run stroke. The offense lost with Vaughn's departure must come from somewhere the club doesn't expect.--Paul Doyle

Chicago

SPRING SKINNY: For the first time in the 1990s, the team basically can be written off before camp begins. Gone from the '98 team are slugging LF Albert Belle and slick 3B Robin Venture. Preparing for '99 are another crop of youngsters and a large group of holdovers still trying to prove they belong in the major leagues. Add it all up, and it's going to be on-the-job training from March through October.

TO-DO LIST: The first order of business in spring training is finding a new home for righthander Jaime Navarro, who has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball over the past two seasons. Navarro, 30, has combined to go 17-30 (6.04 ERA) during that span, at a cost of $10 million. Navarro was banished to the bullpen late last season, and that's probably where he'll spend the '99 season if no deal can be struck.... Find some offense. When Belle (Orioles) and Venture (Mets) exited after receiving lucrative free-agent deals, they took a combined 70 home runs and 243 RBIs with them. Because the team is in a massive payroll purge, don't expect any players with comparable offensive talents to be added to the roster. Rather, the team is hoping youngsters like OFs Jeff Abbott and Magglio Ordonez and 1B Paul Konerko provide enough pop to pick up proven players like DH/1B Frank Thomas and 2B Ray Durham.... There's no question the team's pitching staff, which statistically was among the worst in the major leagues a year ago, is now the strength. That is mainly by default, considering the loss of Belle, Ventura and even Wil Cordero, but there is a chance this trait could become a legitimate strength if it progresses like it did in '98.--Scot Gregor

Cleveland

SPRING SKINNY: With players who have made the All-Star team dotting the roster, it's inconceivable the Indians won't win their fifth straight division title. G.M. John Hart didn't land a No. 1 starter, but he still had a productive offseason. 2B Roberto Alomar fills the only hole in the field and brings a solid bat. LHP Ricardo Rincon and RHP Jerry Spradlin add depth to the bullpen. Barring injuries or trades, the 12th spot on the pitching staff and the last two spots on the bench are the only roster battles.

TO-DO LIST: Although the rotation is better than many people think, someone needs to emerge as a No. 1 starter. Enter new pitching coach Phil Began. Look for Regan, who helped develop Kerry Wood last season, to put in a lot of time with Bartolo Colon and Janet Wright. Colon, who showed flashes of brilliance last season, is the best bet.... The bullpen faltered last season, but better things are expected. The additions of Rincon and Spradlin, along with the return of RHPs Mike Jackson, Paul Shuey and Steve Reed and LHP Paul Aseenmacher could give the team the deepest bullpen in the league.... The status of David Justice will be something to watch. Injuries limited him to 20 starts in the outfield last season. With Brian Giles traded to Pittsburgh, the team needs Justice to play left field.... SS Omar Vizquel's comments that he is unhappy with his contract and might riot report to spring training have put a cloud over the team. GM. John Hart won't renegotiate because he knows there will be a long line of players at his door if he caves in to Vizquel's demands. A team intent on winning the World Series doesn't need that kind of problem.--Steve Herrick

Detroit

SPRING SKINNY: This team is in a much better position to contend than it has been in several years. It spent some money on free agents and made some helpful trades. The young players who have been coming up through the ranks have established themselves and are ready to take the next step. The batting order has balance and power in the middle. The bullpen has depth. And the rotation will be much better if RHP Willie Blair regains the touch that enabled him to win 16 games two years ago.

TO-DO LIST: Trying to find a way to get CF Brian Hunter on base more often is the top priority. Manager Larry Pettish says the leadoff spot is up for grabs between Hunter. and LF Juan Encarnacion, but Parrish would like to see Hunter retain it. Hunter has to show that his on-base percentage is headed in the right direction after reversing itself last year when it dropped from .331 to .298. Part of the problem was he walked 36 times afar a career high of 66 the year before.... The team must decide on a fifth starter between two righthanders, holdover Bryce Florie and Masao Kida, who was signed out of the Japanese League. Kida was more effective in relief last year and probably will end up in the bullpen. It's vital that LHP Justin Thompson regain his effectiveness against lefthanders, starting in the spring. Lefties (.317) hit him much better than righthanders (.254) last year.... The team also must get used to the aggressive style of Parrish, who is a big proponent of the running game. There aren't many natural basestealers in the lineup, Hunter being the only one, but that won't stop Parrish from expecting his players to be aggressive on the bases.--Tom Gage

Kansas City

SPRING SKINNY: Spring training in Baseball City will be an extended tryout where no job is safe, which is befitting of a team living from season to season without an owner. Manager Tony Muser will need name tags for the first month; the Royals have invited 30 non-roster players to camp and will have close to 70 players competing for 25 roster spots. Muser's challenge: field a competitive team from three groups--rookies, players with a few years in the big leagues and second- and third-tier free agents.

TO-DO LIST: Muser must nail down the rotation as quickly as possible. The biggest struggle will be corning up with innings. Candidates range from the obvious (Kevin Appier, Jose Rosado, Glendon Rusch) to the hopeful (Jeff Suppan, Brian Barber, Pete Smith) to the "rising from the ashes" (Erik Hanson). Indecision about the rotation could. drag down the bullpen, which has shown improvement the past two seasons.... Commitments must be made to Carlos Febles, Jeremy Giambi and Carlos Beltran. The rookies have been penciled in as starters at second base, designated hitter and center field, but write it in ink. These are supposed to be the marquee players of the furore. The Royals should put them out there and let them succeed or fail.... Jeff King should not be traded. The team helped its defense with its offseason moves, but King is still a key bemuse he plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at first and would be playing next to a rookie, Febles, at second. King has been saving errors in the Royals' infield for the past two seasons. The team also needs King's bat after losing Dean Palmer and Jose Offerman.--Luciana Chavez

Minnesota

SPRING SKINNY: There is little veteran presence, but the flip side is there are many opportunities for up-and-coming players. Thanks to the return of C Terry Steinbach, a 12-year veteran, the outlook for a young pitching staff is brighter. The team has some excellent minor league prospects, but the strongest group appears to be at least two years away from the major leagues. Patience will be the organizational byword.

TO-DO LIST: Find two starting pitchers. Lefthander Dan Serafini was inconsistent in 28 appearances last year but is considered a favorite for the rotation. Lefty Benj Sampson, who made his debut in September, could become the fifth starter ... A quest for more power. The Twins' 115 homers ranked next-to-last to the Devil Rays' 111 last year. The loss of leadoff hitter Otis Nixon and baserunner extraordinaire Paul Molitor means fewer manufactured runs. Matt Lawton led the team with 21 home runs in '98, but potential power hitters David Ortiz and Marty Cordova must come through.... Settle on a center fielder Chris Latham has the most experience but has hit .164 in 49 big-league games over two years. Torii Hunter has only half a dozen major league games to his credit, and Jacque Jones has never been to the show.... Fill in the infield. SS Pat Meares was let go, meaning utilityman Denny Hocking or minor leaguer Cristian Guzman will fill that spot or share it unless Meares is re-signed as a free agent. The first base/third base/DH situation looks tougher to settle. A cast of four figures into the mix: Ron Coomer, Coney Koskie, Doug Mientkiewicz and Ortiz. Coomer will be in the lineup, whether it be first, third or DH.--John Millea

New York

SPRING SKINNY: The Yankees return virtually all of the deep and talented team that put together one of the best seasons in baseball history in 1998 when it won 125 games. The only player who did not return, in fact, was LF Tim Raines, and his absence should be more than made up for with full seasons from outfield prospects Ricky Ledee and Shane Spencer. Left field is the only spot up for grabs. Remarkably, save for Darryl Strawberry, who is trying to return after colon-cancer surgery, there are no serious health concerns. Ledee, Spencer, Strawberry and Chad Curtis will vie for time in left.

TO-DO LIST: The bullpen was more effective than any other bullpen in the American League, but that doesn't mean there aren't worries. The Yankees made bids for Mike Timlin and Scott Radinsky but will have to rely on the same group that served them well for the most part last year. That's not so bad. Mariano Rivers is one of the league's best closers, and Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson are an accomplished setup duo. However, Nelson and long man Darren Holmes, a major disappointment his first year in the Bronx, showed signs of fragility with back injuries. Rivera wasn't quite as dominant as in past years, and Stanton was inconsistent at times. The emergence of hard-throwing RHP Ryan Bradley could provide a boost.... Until the World Series, 2B Chuck Knoblauch did not come close to living up to expectations. He did not seem to relax until a mental lapse contributed to a Game 2 defeat in the ALCS. If he continues playing like he did after making the error, the team could be even tougher in '99.--Jon Heyman

Oakland

SPRING SKINNY: The team enters camp heavy on youth and age, with little in between, but it boasts some of the game's most promising talent. The pitching is shaky, but the everyday lineup has great potential. 3B Eric Chavez could be the club's second consecutive Rookie of the Year.

TO-DO LIST: After No. 1 starter Kenny Rogers, the rest of the pitchers are really old (Tom Candiotti, Doug Jones), really young (Blake Stein, Jimmy Haynes) or really mediocre (Gil Heredia). Heredia is the fourth starter but could face a challenge from Stein, Jay Witasick or top draft pick Mike Mulder, a hard-throwing lefty. Brad Rigby, a surprise in '97, is said to be fully recovered from back problems and could be in the mix for the fifth spot, along with last season's No. 5 starter, Mike Oquist, who received an invite to camp.... In the bullpen, T.J. Mathews has to learn to throw his slider for strikes to lefthanders, and closer Billy Taylor must resolve his problem against lefties, who hit .424 against him last season. Lefthanded relief is a huge concern. Mark Holzemer (six saves at Edmonton) and Juan Perez (eight saves at Huntsville) are the only candidates in camp.... The team was last in the league in defense last season, and it could be more of the same; the average age of the projected infielders, who average less than two years of big-league experience, is 24.... Catcher is a worry. A.J. Hinch isn't the answer unless his hitting improves. His Capable defense and handling of pitchers can't make up for a .231 average with 35 RBIs last season. The dub could go with Mike Macfarlane or prospect Ramon Hernandez.--Susan Slusser

Seattle

SPRING SKINNY: The projected rotation has plenty of experience in lefthanded mainstays Jeff Facto and Jamie Moyer and potential righthanded starters Mark Leiter and Bill Swift. One area of uncertainty is the bullpen, which for now is anchored by closer Jose Mesa. The outfield situation is unclear because no one knows how Jay Buhner's surgically-repaired right elbow will respond. Buhner says he hopes to begin the season in left field, allowing David Segui, the best-fielding first baseman in the A.L. last season, to remain at first. Still another big question mark is the leadoff position. 2B Carlos Guillen is a switch hitter, but you have to wonder about his on-base percentage.

TO-DO LIST: Manager Lou Piniella simply must put together a reliable bullpen. Mesa insists he can be the consistent, quality closer he was for the Indians in the mid-'90s. Mesa will have the opportunity to prove it.... Piniella is set on most of the starting position players, and the spring games will give him time to settle on a batting order. Guillen is a key. OF Ken Griffey Jr. won't budge from the three-hole, but SS Alex Rodriguez might be better suited as the cleanup hitter than in the No. 2 spot he has used to put up impressive numbers the past three seasons.... Without a bona fide ace, it is imperative for Fassero and/or Moyer to step forward and determine that role coming out of camp.... Trade efforts failed during the offseason, but team officials insist erratic righthanded reliever Bobby Ayala won't be on the roster when the regular season begins. Where will he go? And for what?--Jim Street

Tampa Bay

SPRING SKINNY: The Rays didn't do much during the winter besides sign free-agent OF/DH Jose Canseco but still feel they will open their second camp with a better team than the one that finished the inaugural season 63-99. Their optimism is based on a somewhat risky proposition--that their veteran players (such as Fred McGriff, Paul Sorrento and Wilson Alvarez) will improve from what collectively was a dismal season, and their young players (such as Quinton McCracken, Miguel Cairo, Bobby Smith and Rolando Arrojo) will continue to progress.

TO-DO LIST: The most important task of the spring, according to manager Larry Rothschild, will be determining the fourth and fifth starters. The Rays are satisfied with the front end of their rotation. But they obviously were looking for help at the back end, evidenced by the signings of Bobby Witt Steve Cooke, Steve Ontiveros and Marc Valdes (who will be sidelined until midseason). They are also negotiating with Ben McDonald. Julio Santana is the leading incumbent candidate.... Smith performed well enough in his rookie season that he will get a chance to be the (somewhat) regular third baseman. But the Rays didn't re-sign Wade Boggs just for the excitement (and crowd appeal) of his pursuit of 3,000 hits. They want him to push Smith for playing time and will reward him with it, especially if Smith doesn't maintain his intensity on a daily basis.... Scott Aldred joined the team in mid-May and quietly handled the lefthanded bullpen chores rather well last season. This year, Mike Duvall, Ternell Wade, Ramon Tatis and Alan Newman each will get a long look.--Marc Topkin

Texas

SPRING SKINNY: Despite failing to land a legitimate No. 1 pitcher, the Rangers are a better team than they were last spring. Rafael Pelmeiro gives them more offense and much better defense at first base. Having the range and arm of SS Royce Clayton for half a season made a difference in the 1998 pennant race. The Rangers feel with better defense and more offense, the pitching staff--the team's weak point--should look better, too.

TO-DO LIST: The team's rotation had the highest ERA in the American League last season. It can't afford a similar performance. Rick Helling and Aaron Sale, who combined for 39 wins, will anchor the rotation. The other two will come from John Burkett, last year's opening-day starter who nearly pitched himself out of the rotation; underachieving Esteban Loaiza, who did pitch himself out of the rotation; and Mike Morgan, who tries to pitch for the 11th club of his career.... One of the league's premier closers, John Wetteland, coming off surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow, already has begun throwing off a mound. And some team officials are worried that may be too fast.... Since Dennis Cook and Mike Stanton left after the '96 season, the team has struggled to find stable lefthanded relievers. They'll go to camp with the assorted re-treads--Eric Gunderson, Tony Fossas, Mike Munoz and Rich Robertson--fighting for two spots.... Minor leaguer Scott Sheldon and former Ranger Jon Shave will square off for a middle infield vacancy. Gregg Zaun and career backup John Marzano have the unglorious duty of trying to back up C Ivan Rodriguez.--Evan Grant

Toronto

SPRING SKINNY: Manager Tim Johnson's troubles and the saga of RHP Roger Clemens have marquee billing. G.M. Gord Ash believes Johnson must solidify his relationship with players and the coaching staff after confessing in the offseason he lied about serving in the Vietnam War. Johnson wants to leave the controversy in the past and talk baseball. Whether Clemens is traded could affect two or three other positions. If Clemens stays, will he be welcomed into the clubhouse after basically saying the team is not a contender? The club needs to identify a DH, second baseman and third baseman, and determine if OF Jose Cruz Jr. has the right stuff to play center field and if righthanded closer Robert Person has enough stuff to close out games.

TO-DO LIST: Barring a Clemens deal, free-agent signee Joey Cora and utilityman Craig Grebeck will battle for playing time at second base. Johnson has appointed Grebeck as the starter entering camp, but Grebeck hit .233 on the road last season. A Clemens trade may spawn a deal with Milwaukee in which the Jays ship a young pitcher for 2B Ferando Vina.... The situation is just as unsettled at third base, where incumbent Tony Fernandez, rookie Tom Evans and free-agent signee Willie Greene are vying for lime. Fernandez is going to get his at-bats somehow, after batting .321 with a career-high 72 RBIs last season. He could split time at DH with Geronimo Berroa. Berroa, a former Jays farmhand, must find his Oakland hitting stroke of two seasons ago to win a roster spot.... Cecil Fielder is another possibility at DH; the team invited him to spring training.--Tom Maloney

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