A.L

Sporting News, The, Feb 18, 2002

Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels

JOB OPENINGS: The team will enter spring training with only a few questions regarding everyday players. David Eckstein seemed to have won the starting shortstop job with his performance last season, but the Angels might give Benji Gil a chance at the job. Gil also might challenge Adam Kennedy at second base.... With the starting rotation of RHPs Kevin Appier, Aaron Sele and Ramon Ortiz and LHPs Jarred Washburn and Scott Schoeneweis set, the most competitive battles will come in the bullpen. RHPs Bart Miadich, who saved a Pacific Coast League-leading 27 games last year, Brendan Donnelly and veteran Donne Wall will compete for the spot left vacant by Shigetoshi Hasegawa's departure. RHP Lou Pote figures to return to his role as the Angels' top long reliever, but the club will give LHP Mark Lukasiewicz a good look at the spot.... IF/OF Clay Bellinger figures to compete for the final bench spot with OF Jeff DaVanon and IF Jose Nieves.

BREAKOUT PLAYER: Scott Spiezio and Shawn Wooten are expected to share time at first base, but both are setting up for breakout seasons. The switch-hitting Spiezio should get most of the starts, with Wooten sharing DH with Brad Fullmer. Spiezio hit a career-high .271 last season, including .296 after the All-Star break. He also quickly picked up the defensive demands at first. In parts of two major league seasons, Wooten has a .322 average. If he gets enough at-bats, he can be an offensive force. Defensively, he also can play third base and catcher.

UPDATE: For the first time in many seasons, the Angels will enter a season nearly healthy. The team will be eager to see how CF Darin Erstad and RF Tim Salmon look in training camp. Erstad was bothered last season by strained ligaments in his right knee. He has focused his workouts this offseason on bulking up and gaining strength. Salmon also was bothered last season by the effects of arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. Like Erstad, Salmon has worked out hard this offseason and has added the muscle needed to withstand a long season.

MANAGER ANALYSIS: Mike Scioscia has only two years of big-league managerial experience, but he carries himself as though he has been doing the job for a decade. His 13 years playing in the majors earned him instant respect from his players. He further enhanced his standing with an open-door policy and honest approach. Scioscia doesn't model himself after any one manager, and he isn't afraid to be unconventional on the field. As a former catcher, his main influence is how he deals with his pitchers and catchers. Scioscia maintains an even keel, which rubs off on his players. --Joe Haakenson

BURNING ISSUE Mike Scioscia has all the pieces; he just has to get them in a batting order. One issue: Darin Erstad had a huge season in 2000, batting leadoff, but Scioscia might bat Erstad No. 2 and have David Eckstein hit leadoff.

Baltimore Orioles www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/orioles

JOB OPENINGS: The biggest competition will be for spots in the first base/DH/corner outfield rotation, where veterans Jeff Conine, Marty Cordova, David Segui and Melvin Mora could be challenged by youngster Jay Gibbons. Manager Mike Hargrove has said he is leaning toward using Segui mostly as a DH, which means Conine could get the bulk of his playing time at first base. Conine, who was easily the team's most productive hitter in 2001, virtually is assured of playing every day somewhere.... The other competition will be for the fifth starter's job, behind RHPs Jason Johnson, Sidney Ponson, Scott Erickson and Josh Towers. Among those in the running are RHPs Rick Bauer, Sean Douglass and John Stephens and LHP Matt Riley.

BREAKOUT PLAYER: Although the Orioles have been anticipating it for several years, this really could be the breakout year for Ponson, a pitcher whose career has been plagued by arm troubles and weight issues. But he still has excellent stuff--including an upper-90s fastball. Ponson's 2001 season was his worst in the majors, as he missed almost half the year with arm ailments and finished with a 5-10 record and 4.94 ERA. The Orioles have discussed converting Ponson to closer, but for now it appears the organization is willing to remain faithful to Ponson's promise as a starter and hope he finally rewards that faith.

INJURY UPDATE: OF Chris Richard underwent shoulder surgery that will keep him out until midseason, and Mora broke his finger playing winter ball in Venezuela. Richard could return sooner than expected as a DH, but it will be awhile before he plays in the field.... Gibbons is a question mark after he stopped playing winter ball because of discomfort in his surgically repaired wrist.... The Orioles believe Erickson, 16 months removed from reconstructive elbow surgery, is 100 percent, but RHP Pat Hentgen, who underwent the same surgery, is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season.

MANAGER ANALYSIS: It is next to impossible to evaluate the job Hargrove did in 2001, given the lack of materials he had to work with. Things were so bad that in September, a time when other teams were calling up youngsters to bolster their lineup, the Orioles were forced to go with rookies, such as Larry Bigbie and Willie Harris, who clearly weren't ready for the majors. Not surprisingly, Hargrove's most noticeable characteristic in 2001 was his ever-changing lineup, which kept players guessing on a daily basis. Hargrove has the credentials to turn a team around, but given that the talent will be only slightly better, if at all, another challenge awaits him. --Dave Sheinin