BASEBALL 1993 : Twins Get Most With the Least

They are never the best team. They never have the best players. They never have the exorbitant payroll.

They are the Minnesota Twins, the grunts of the American League, representing the working class.

“I’ve never seen a club in my life get so much out of so little,” one American League scout said. “They are the classic overachievers, year after year. You’ve got to give all the credit in the world to (Manager) Tom Kelly.

“You look at that roster, and you wonder how the hell they could have won two World Series in the last six years. I’ll tell you one thing about that team: You better beat them, because they’re not going to beat themselves.”

In a division race that is wide open, with every team except the Angels and Seattle Mariners capable of winning, the Twins will find a way to be the last one standing in October.

A look at the division in order of predicted finish:

MINNESOTA TWINS

1992 finish: 90-72, second.

Outlook: What is it about these guys? They lose top free agents year after year--starter John Smiley and shortstop Greg Gagne departing last winter--and they still recover. They simply moved move Scott Leius from third to short and are going with a platoon at third with Terry Jorgensen and Mike Pagliarulo. To replace Smiley’s 16 victories, left-hander Jim Deshaies was added to the rotation. Designated hitter Chili Davis was replaced by local hero Dave Winfield. The key to the Twins’ season might be first baseman Kent Hrbek, who underwent off-season surgery on his left shoulder. There still is a question whether he will open the season at first base or as the designated hitter. He played in only 112 games last season, failing to hit 20 homers for the first time since 1983. The Twins will rely heavily on youthful starting pitching. Right-handers Scott Erickson and Kevin Tapani will be the first two starters, and Mike Trombley, Willie Banks and Pat Mahomes are making strong bids to fill at least two of the vacancies.

New faces: Designated hitter Winfield, pitchers Deshaies and Mike Hartley, outfielders Pat Howell and Derek Lee, infielder Dave McCarty and catcher Mike Maksudian.

Must have: A healthy Hrbek at first base.

Don’t have: Any proof from their opposition that they are stealing signs in the Metrodome.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

1992 finish: 86-76, third place.

Outlook: The White Sox have been the best non-playoff team in baseball the last three years. Their 267 victories trail only Pittsburgh, Oakland and Toronto. This might be their breakthrough season. If only they could nullify their trade of two years ago with the Yankees--when they gave away pitchers Melido Perez, Bob Wickman and Domingo Jean for Steve Sax--they would certainly be overwhelming favorites to win the division. They are left with an aging Sax, who still is guaranteed $7.8 million for the next three seasons. The White Sox are left with a rotation of Jack McDowell, Kirk McCaskill, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez and Dave Stieb. McDowell was a 20-game winner last season, and the only other returning starter with a winning record is Alvarez, who was 5-3 with a 5.20 ERA. Their greatest asset is first baseman Frank Thomas, who, at 24, is being acclaimed as one of the finest players in the game. He batted .323 with 24 homers, 115 RBIs and 108 runs scored last season and is considered the greatest bargain in baseball, earning $900,000. Looming as one of the biggest obstacles in the White Sox’s drive toward their first division title in 10 years is the distracting return of Bo Jackson. Although Jackson is going to be a utility player, designated hitter George Bell is wondering whether he will be traded. The public-relations move could backfire. There also might be another controversy with Sax sitting on the bench in place of Craig Grebeck, and the ongoing feud between catcher Carlton Fisk and owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

New faces: Outfielder Ellis Burks, pitchers Stieb and Barry Jones, catcher Rick Wrona.

Must have: A new advertising campaign for Bo.

Don’t have: Any team willing to take overpaid Sax off their hands.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

1992 finish: 72-90, tied for fifth.

Outlook: The Royals by far improved themselves the most in the division, but they were the farthest from being a contender. Owner Ewing Kauffman, in failing health and hoping for one more World Series title, spent a franchise-record $40 million for the club payroll. He bought starter David Cone and shortstop Greg Gagne and acquired $2-million second baseman Jose Lind. The Royals’ looming concern is their lack of power. They are relying on right fielder Felix Jose, who did not drive in more than 77 runs in any season with the St. Louis Cardinals. They also need left fielder Kevin McReynolds to produce; their outfielders combined for only 23 homers last season.

New faces: Pitchers Cone and Mark Gardner, infielders Lind and Gagne, outfielders Jose and Hubie Brooks.

Must have: Cone to enjoy the quiet life of Kansas City and live up to his potential.

Don’t have: A bona fide cleanup hitter.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

1992 finish: 96-66, first place.

Outlook: The Athletics still have the swagger, but missing is the flamboyance of Jose Canseco and the leadership of Dave Stewart and Carney Lansford. Gone are eight pitchers who accounted for 47 victories and 671 innings. Two years ago they dumped Storm Davis; Now, they want him as their fourth starter. The Athletics have won four division titles, three pennants and a World Series in the last five years. Manager Tony La Russa can motivate this bunch all he wants, but they simply are missing talent this time around.

New faces: Pitchers Davis, Joe Boever, Scott Baker and Kirt Ojala, infielder Kevin Seitzer, designated hitter Troy Neel.

Must have: Pitching coach Dave Duncan perform his greatest miracle--revitalizing Davis and Bobby Witt.

Don’t have: Someone to tell Ricky Henderson to shut up about his contract.

TEXAS RANGERS

1992 finish: 77-85, fourth place.

Outlook: The pitching staff is expected to provide plenty of headaches for Manager Kevin Kennedy and pitching coach Claude Osteen. They saw eight of a club-record 25 pitchers spend time on the disabled list last season, and have lost starter Bobby Witt in their trade with Oakland and starter Jose Guzman through free agency. They are left with ace Kevin Brown, who has a stress fracture in his rib cage, and Nolan Ryan, 46, who has been on the disabled list four times the last three seasons. They have attempted to bolster the staff with Craig Lefferts, who has one complete game during his career, and Charlie Leibrandt, who won five games the last time he pitched in the American League. If they didn’t have enough problems, 1991 batting champion Julio Franco is still bothered by a tender knee, and shortstop Jeff Huson probably will sit out the season because of shoulder surgery. The Rangers will open the season with at least eight players on the disabled list. The good news? They still have one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball with Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzales, Dean Palmer, Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez and Franco.

New faces: Starters Leibrandt and Lefferts, relievers Tom Henke and Bob Patterson, infielders Manuel Lee, Benji Gil and Billy Ripken, outfielders Doug Dascenzo and Gary Redus.

Must have: Someone else they can depend on, other than Kevin Brown. The Rangers were 24-11 in games he started last season, 53-74 without him.

Don’t have: Much belief that this year’s pitching staff will be any different than its predecessors.

SEATTLE MARINERS

1992 finish: 64-98, last place.

Outlook: New Mariner Manager Lou Piniella opened spring training with a nicotine patch on his shoulder and a vow that he would be much more patient and understanding. That lasted two weeks. Piniella is smoking again, screaming at his pitchers and telling the world that he won’t be satisfied unless the Mariners establish a franchise record with at least 84 victories. Piniella’s patience might be tested more in Seattle than it ever was while working for George Steinbrenner in New York and Marge Schott in Cincinnati. The Mariners are going with four rookies on their pitching staff, including two in the starting rotation until Dave Fleming returns in mid-May from shoulder injury. Cummings has been the surprise of camp after never having pitched above Class A. Free agent starter Chris Bosio, who gave up the fewest walks per nine innings (1.71) of any pitcher with at least 100 innings, should bolster a staff that yielded a league-high 661 walks. Left-handed stopper Norm Charlton, acquired for Kevin Mitchell, should help turn around a bullpen that was in disarray last season. Mariner relievers were 14-28 with a 4.47 ERA last season, blowing 21 saves, including a league-high 17 games when leading after the seventh inning.

New faces: Manager Piniella, pitchers Bosio, Charlton, John Cummings, Jim Converse, Mike Hampton and Dave Wainhouse, outfielders Mike Felder and Lee Tinsley, infielder Fernando Vina, catcher Mackey Sasser.

Must have: Plenty of antacid tablets for Piniella.

Don’t have: A clue how the young pitchers will fare.

ANGELS

1992 finish: 72-90, tied for fifth place.

Outlook: The Angels spent the entire off-season raving about their youth. Then they spent the spring boasting about their veterans, saying the kids will eventually come around. The Angels might be improved defensively, as advertised, but the bullpen had a horrendous spring and the offense was on vacation. It’s not a good sign when your entire team hits only five homers all spring, while Mo Vaughn of Boston has nine.

New faces: Designated hitter Chili Davis, first baseman Tim Snow, pitchers Scott Sanderson and Gene Nelson, outfielders Stan Javier, Jerome Walton and Ty Van Burkleo, third baseman Kelly Gruber.

Must have: A good sense of humor.

Don’t have: A left-handed pitcher named Jim Abbott.