Here is a capsule look at the American League, with teams listed in order of finish last year:
New York Yankees
2000: 87-74, World Series champions.
Manager: Joe Torre (6th season).
Record vs. division: 25-24.
Leading Off: .381 on-base percentage for leadoff hitters; 10 HRs.
He's Here: RHP Mike Mussina, OF Henry Rodriguez, C Joe Oliver.
He's Outta Here: LHP Denny Neagle, RHP David Cone, RHP Jeff Nelson, RHP Jason Grimsley, INF Jose Vizcaino, DH Jose Canseco.
Projected lineup: LF Chuck Knoblauch (.283, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs, 75 runs, 15 errors), SS Derek Jeter (.339, 15, 73, 119 runs, 22 SBs), RF Paul O'Neill (.283, 18, 100), CF Bernie Williams (.307, 30, 121), 1B Tino Martinez (.258, 16, 91), DH David Justice (.286, 41, 118), C Jorge Posada (.287, 28, 86, 107 BBs), 2B Alfonso Soriano (.290, 12, 66 at Triple-A), 3B Scott Brosius (.230, 16, 64).
Rotation: RHP Roger Clemens (13-8, 3.70 ERA, 188 Ks), LHP Andy Pettitte (19-9, 4.35), RHP Mike Mussina (11-15, 3.79, 210 Ks), RHP Orlando Hernandez (12-13, 4.51), RHP Christian Parker (14-6, 3.13 at Double-A).
Bullpen: RHP Mariano Rivera (7-4, 2.85, 36 saves/41 chances), LHP Mike Stanton (2-3, 4.10), RHP Todd Williams (2-3, 2.98, 32 saves in Triple-A).
Hot Spot: Knoblauch's throwing woes have put two players out of position. Knoblauch will shift from second base to left field, while Soriano, a shortstop, moves to second base.
Stat Sheet: The 32 homers from Brosius and Martinez and the corner-infield spots were among the lowest in the league.
Bottom Line: Added best pitcher on the market in Mussina to best rotation in the league. But even the three-time World Series champions have some questions, most notably Hernandez's health. Age and declining production at the power spots on the field also is a concern, but the Yankees remain the class of the AL.
Boston Red Sox
2000: 85-77.
Manager: Jimy Williams (5th season).
Record vs. division: 24-25.
Leading Off: .349 on-base percentage; 10 HRs. He's Here: OF Manny Ramirez, RHP David Cone, RHP Hideo Nomo, RHP Frank Castillo.
He's Outta Here: RHP Ramon Martinez, INF Manny Alexander, 1B Rico Brogna, LHP Jeff Fassero, OF Bernard Gilkey, INF Donnie Sadler.
Projected lineup: 3B Chris Stynes (.334, 12, 40); 2B Jose Offerman (.255, 9, 41); SS Nomar Garciaparra (.372, 21, 96); CF Carl Everett (.300, 34, 108); RF Manny Ramirez (.351, 38, 122); DH Dante Bichette (.294, 23, 90); LF Troy O'Leary (.261, 13, 70); 1B Brian Daubach (.248, 21, 76, 130 Ks); C Jason Varitek (.248, 10, 65).
Rotation: RHP Pedro Martinez (18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks), RHP Frank Castillo (10-5, 3.10), RHP Hideo Nomo (8-12, 4.74), RHP Tomo Ohka (3-6, 3.12 in 13 games; 9-6, 2.96 in Triple-A), RHP Paxton Crawford (2-1, 3.41 in 7 games; 9-7, 3.88 in minors).
Bullpen: RHP Derek Lowe (4-4, 2.56, 42/47 saves), RHP Rich Garces (8-1, 3.25), RHP Rod Beck (3-0, 3.10). Hot Spot: With Garciaparra out indefinitely with a split tendon in his right wrist and 3B John Valentin trying to come back from a ruptured tendon in his right knee, the entire left side of the Red Sox infield is in question. Lou Merloni can play both positions and hit .320 after being called up from Triple-A last year. He's being challenged by veteran Craig Grebeck.
Stat Sheet: Martinez allowed opponents to hit just .167 against him last season, the lowest in the history of the major leagues.
Bottom Line: After Martinez, the Red Sox pitching rotation is in question. Bret Saberhagen is trying to recover from right shoulder surgery that forced him to miss all of last season. Cone injured his right shoulder in spring training. That may force the team to turn to untested younger pitchers like Ohka and Crawford. Offense that was third worst in AL last season should get big boost from Ramirez. Slow start could mean trouble for Williams.
Toronto Blue Jays
2000: 83-79. Manager: Buck Martinez (1st season).
Record vs. division: 28-21.
Leading Off: .313 on-base percentage; 31 HRs. He's Here: LHP Mike Sirotka, RHP Kevin Beirne, LHP Dan Plesac, RHP Steve Parris, LHP Scott Eyre, OF Brian Simmons, RHP Jason Dickson, INF Jeff Frye.
He's Outta Here: LHP David Wells, RHP Frank Castillo, RHP Steve Trachsel, LHP Mark Guthrie, OF Dave Martinez.
Projected lineup: LF Shannon Stewart (.319, 21, 69, 20 SBs), 2B Homer Bush (.215, 1, 18), RF Raul Mondesi (.271, 24, 67), 1B Carlos Delgado (.344, 41, 137, 57 doubles, 123 walks), DH Brad Fullmer (.295, 32, 104), 3B Tony Batista (.263, 41, 114), CF Jose Cruz (.242, 31, 76), C Darrin Fletcher (.320, 20, 58), SS Alex Gonzalez (.252, 15, 69).
Rotation: RHP Esteban Loaiza (10-13, 4.56), RHP Steve Parris (12-17, 4.81), RHP Joey Hamilton (2-1, 3.55 in 6 starts), RHP Chris Carpenter (10-12, 6.26), RHP Roy Halladay (4-7, 10.64).
Bullpen: RHP Billy Koch (9-3, 2.63, 33/38 saves), RHP Kelvim Escobar (10-15, 5.35), LHP Dan Plesac (5-1, 3.15).
Hot Spot: The starting rotation is full of injury questions, following the trade of 20-game winner Wells for Sirotka and his sore left shoulder. Hamilton is coming back from shoulder problems of his own.
Stat Sheet: Toronto led the majors with 244 homers last season, but finished eighth in the league in runs scored. Lack of patience Toronto's 526 walks were second fewest in the AL was the biggest reason why.
Bottom Line: Gave Delgado $68 million, but were forced to trade an unhappy Wells. GM Gord Ash is on the hot seat after getting fleeced in Wells deal. Martinez might find the view of Toronto's sketchy pitching staff better from the broadcast booth than the dugout.
Baltimore Orioles
2000: 78-84.
Manager: Mike Hargrove (2nd season).
Record vs. division: 25-25.
Leading Off: .356 on-base percentage; 21 HRs. He's Here: RHP Pat Hentgen, 1B David Segui, SS Mike Bordick.
He's Outta Here: RHP Mike Mussina, RF Albert Belle, RHP Pat Rapp.
Projected lineup: LF Brady Anderson (.257, 19, 50, 16 SBs), SS Mike Bordick (.297, 16, 59), DH Delino DeShields (.296, 10, 86, 37 SB), 1B David Segui (.334, 19, 103), RF Chris Richard (.276, 13, 36), CF Melvin Mora (.291, 2, 17), 3B Cal Ripken (.256, 15, 56), C Brook Fordyce (.322, 9, 28), 2B Jerry Hairston (.256, 5, 19).
Rotation: RHP Pat Hentgen (15-12, 4.72), RHP Jose Mercedes (14-7, 4.02), RHP Sidney Ponson (9-13, 4.82, 152 SOs), RHP Jason Johnson (1-10, 7.02), LHP Chuck McElroy (3-0, 4.69) OR RHP Willis Roberts (11-8, 5.12 in minors).
Bullpen: RHP Ryan Kohlmeier (0-1, 2.39, 13/14 saves), LHP Buddy Groom (6-3, 4.85, 4), RHP Mike Trombley (4-5, 4.13, 4).
Hot Spot: Richard takes over for the departed, injured Belle in right field. Richard hit 13 homers in 56 games last season but doesn't have anywhere near the power that Belle did.
Stat Sheet: Ripken played in only 169 games over the last two seasons after averaging 162 games from 1996-98, and the 40-year-old star missed most of spring training with a hairline fracture in his right rib cage.
Bottom Line: The Orioles have enough offense to score runs without Belle in the lineup, but the starting rotation is shaky and the bullpen features a 23-year-old closer who never pitched about the Double-A level before last year. Thus, Baltimore will be hard-pressed to avoid a fourth straight losing season and could find itself locked in a battle with Tampa Bay to avoid last place in the AL East.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2000: 69-92.
Manager: Larry Rothschild (4th season).
Record vs. division: 22-27.
Leading Off: .309 on-base percentage; 21 HRs.
He's Here: RF Ben Grieve, 2B Brent Abernathy.
He's Outta Here: RHP Roberto Hernandez, RHP Cory Lidle, 2B Miguel Cairo.
Projected lineup: CF Gerald Williams (.274, 21, 89), DH Steve Cox (.283, 11, 35), LF Greg Vaughn (.254, 28, 74), 1B Fred McGriff (.277, 27, 106), RF Ben Grieve (.279, 27, 104), 3B Vinny Castilla (.221, 6, 42), 2B Bobby Smith (.234, 6, 26) OR Brent Abernathy (.264, 1, 15 at Triple-A), C John Flaherty (.261, 10, 39), SS Felix Martinez (.214, 2, 17).
Rotation: RHP Albie Lopez (11-13, 4.13), RHP Bryan Rekar (7-10, 4.41), RHP Paul Wilson (1-4, 3.35), RHP Ryan Rupe (5-6, 6.92), RHP Travis Harper (1-2, 4.78).
Bullpen: RHP Esteban Yan (7-8, 6.21), RHP Tanyon Sturtze (4-0, 2.56), RHP Ken Hill (5-7, 6.52), LHP Doug Creek (1-3, 4.60, 1).
Hot Spot: Pitching remains the biggest question mark with starters Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman likely to start the season on the disabled list after missing virtually all of last season with shoulder injuries. The bullpen is unsettled, too, after being one of the best in the AL until the middle of last season when Jim Mecir and Rick White were traded. Hernandez, last year's closer, was dealt in the offseason, creating another hole.
Stat Sheet: Yan, a candidate for the closer's job, allowed club-record 26 homers in 2000. Lopez's 110 1-3 innings pitched after the All-Star break were second in the AL behind Pedro Martinez's 111.
Bottom Line: The Devil Rays could improve and still finish last in the rugged AL East. To escape the cellar, Vaughn and Castilla will have to rebound from injuries that limited their production and either Alvarez or Guzman will have to come off the disabled list and have a big year.
Chicago White Sox
2000: 95-67, lost first round of playoffs.
Manager: Jerry Manuel (4th season).
Record vs. division: 29-20.
Leading Off: .353 on-base; 19 HRs.
He's Here: C Sandy Alomar Jr., SS Royce Clayton, LHP David Wells.
He's Outta Here: C Charles Johnson, LHP Mike Sirotka.
Projected lineup: 2B Ray Durham (.280, 17, 75, 25 SBs), CF Jose Valentin (.273, 25, 92), DH Frank Thomas (.328, 43, 143), RF Magglio Ordonez (.315, 32, 126), 1B Paul Konerko (.298, 21, 97), LF Carlos Lee (.301, 24, 92), 3B Herbert Perry (.302, 12, 62), C Sandy Alomar (.298, 7, 42), SS Royce Clayton (.242, 14, 54).
Rotation: LHP David Wells (20-8, 4.11), RHP Cal Eldred (10-2, 4.58), LHP Jim Parque (13-6, 4.28), RHP Jon Garland (4-8, 6.46), RHP James Baldwin (14-7, 4.65).
Bullpen: RHP Keith Foulke (3-1, 2.97, 34/39 saves), RHP Bob Howry, (2-4, 3.17), LHP Kelly Wunsch (6-3, 2.93).
Hot Spots: Questions in the rotation with Baldwin recovering from shoulder surgery and Eldred pitching with a 5-inch screw in his surgically repaired elbow. Wells gives Manuel an ace, but he also needs quality innings from youngsters like Garland and Kip Wells.
Stat Sheet: Valentin made 36 errors at shortstop last season, prompting the trade for Clayton (16 errors) and Valentin's move to center field.
Bottom Line: The White Sox won't sneak up on anyone this season. They still have one of the game's most potent offenses with young stars like Ordonez and Lee. Can Thomas, who boycotted several workouts during spring training, repeat his MVP-like numbers?
Cleveland Indians
2000: 90-72.
Manager: Charlie Manuel (2nd season).
Record vs. division: 21-30
Leading Off: .337 on-base percentage; 15 HRs.
He's Here: OF Juan Gonzalez, OF/DH Ellis Burks, C Ed Taubensee, OF Marty Cordova.
He's Outta Here: OF Manny Ramirez, C Sandy Alomar, 1B/DH David Segui, RHP Jason Bere, RHP Jamie Brewington.
Projected lineup: CF Kenny Lofton (.278, 15, 73, 30 SBs), SS Omar Vizquel (.287, 7, 66), 2B Robbie Alomar (.310, 19, 89), LF Juan Gonzalez (.289, 22, 67), 1B Jim Thome (.268, 37, 106, 171 Ks), RF Ellis Burks (.344, 24, 96), 3B Travis Fryman (.321, 22, 106), DH Wil Cordero (.264, 0 HRs in final 183 at-bats) OR Russell Branyan (.238, 16, 76 Ks in 196 ABs), C Einar Diaz (.272, 4, 25).
Rotation: RHP Bartolo Colon (15-8, 3.88, 212 Ks), LHP Chuck Finley (16-11, 4.17), RHP Dave Burba (16-6, 4.47), RHP Steve Karsay (5-9, 3.76, 72 games), RHP Steve Woodard (3-3, 5.67) RHP Charles Nagy (2-7, 8.21).
Bullpen: RHP Bob Wickman (3-5, 3.10, 30/37), RHP Paul Shuey (4-2, 3.39), LHP Ricardo Rincon (2-0, 2.70), RHP Justin Speier (5-2, 3.29).
Hot Spot: The mound where else? Once again, the Indians have a pitching crisis. But unlike last year when they used a major league record 32 pitchers, the Indians have an abundance of young arms to choose from. C.C. Sabathia, a hard-throwing, 20-year-old lefty, isn't far away from stardom and right-hander Tim Drew, younger brother of St. Louis' J.D. Drew, has solid stuff.
Stat Sheet: Gonzalez signed a one-year, $10 million contract in January, and the Indians are banking on him hitting at Jacobs Field like he did with Texas and Detroit. He's a career .344 (45-of-131) hitter at the Jake with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 30 games .702 slugging percentage.
Bottom Line: Injuries prevented the Indians from winning their sixth straight AL Central title in '00, and a team with as many 30-somethings as this one must stay healthy. Missing the playoffs by one game last year should keep Tribe driven from the start. No team in baseball can match Cleveland's 1-through-9 lineup and if Colon finally becomes the 20-game winner he should be, the Indians the only team to beat the Yankees in the postseason since '96 can unseat New York as AL champions.
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