AMERICAN LEAGUE BASEBALL PREVIEWS

Here’s a team-by-team look at the American League, with teams listed in order of predicted finish:

WEST

SEATTLE MARINERS

WHO’S NEW: 1B--Paul Sorrento, 3B--Russ Davis, P--Sterling Hitchcock, Mike Jackson.

WHO’S GONE: 1B--Tino Martinez, 3B--Mike Blowers, OF--Vince Coleman, P--Andy Benes, Tim Belcher, Jeff Nelson, Bill Risley.

STRENGTHS: The middle of the lineup, with Ken Griffey, Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner, may be baseball’s best. The lead-off platoon of Darren Bragg/Rich Amaral and No. 2 hitter Joey Cora provide speed. Randy Johnson is the league’s dominant pitcher and Norm Charlton is a top-notch closer.

WEAKNESSES: Beyond Johnson, there are questions in the rotation: Can Chris Bosio recover from a knee injury? Can rookie Bob Wolcott fool opponents the second and third time he faces them? Who is Paul Menhart, and why is he here? The bullpen is shaky in set-up spots.

PROJECTED LINEUP: LF--Bragg/Amaral, 2B--Cora, CF--Griffey, DH--Martinez, RF--Buhner, 1B--Sorrento, 3B--Davis, C--Dan Wilson, SS--Alex Rodriguez. SP--Johnson, Wolcott, Hitchcock, Edwin Hurtado, Menhart. RP--Charlton, Jackson, Bobby Ayala.

OUTLOOK: The absence of Martinez and Blowers appears significant, but Sorrento had 25 homers and 79 RBIs in 104 games for Cleveland in ‘95, and Davis was a highly touted Yankee prospect who finally got a break. The club’s comeback effort in winning the West title and the division series victory in ’95 over the Yankees were huge confidence boosts.

*

CALIFORNIA ANGELS

WHO’S NEW: 2B--Randy Velarde, 3B--George Arias, P--Steve Ontiveros, Bryan Harvey.

WHO’S GONE: 3B--Tony Phillips, P--Bob Patterson, C--Greg Myers.

STRENGTHS: The Angels led the major leagues in runs until their swoon last season and can score in bunches. The defense, led by Gold Glove-winning first baseman J.T. Snow, shortstop Gary DiSarcina and outfielders Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon, is above average. What the Angels lack in speed they make up for with aggressive baserunning.

WEAKNESSES: With Ontiveros starting the season on the disabled list, the rotation looks ordinary. Troy Percival is one of the game’s top relievers, but the Angels will regret the day they let Patterson, a highly effective left-handed set-up man, go because of a contract difference of $200,000.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Velarde, CF--Edmonds, RF--Salmon, DH--Chili Davis, 1B--Snow, LF--Garret Anderson, 3B--Arias, C--Jorge Fabregas, SS--DiSarcina. SP--Chuck Finley, Mark Langston, Jim Abbott, Shawn Boskie, Scott Sanderson. RP--Lee Smith, Percival, Mike James, Mark Holzemer.

OUTLOOK: If closer Smith is sound after off-season knee surgery, Ontiveros bounces back from elbow problems, Finley, Langston and Abbott have strong seasons, and the rest of the team avoids injuries, the Angels could win the division title.

*

TEXAS RANGERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Ken Hill, Mike Henneman; OF--Darryl Hamilton.

WHO’S GONE: P--Kenny Rogers, Bob Tewksbury; OF--Otis Nixon, Candy Maldonado; 2B--Jeff Frye.

STRENGTHS: Slugger Juan Gonzalez went to camp in great shape and good spirits and has set a positive tone. He anchors a potent lineup that includes four players who have combined for 13 All-Star game appearances.

WEAKNESSES: Manager Johnny Oates would like 15 victories from each of his top four starters but might be asking too much. Hill has done it twice, Kevin Gross and Bobby Witt once, and Roger Pavlik not at all.A marginal bullpen anticipates the return of Jeff Russell, eligible to rejoin the team May 1.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Hamilton, 2B--Mark McLemore, 1B--Will Clark, RF--Gonzalez, DH--Mickey Tettleton, C--Ivan Rodriguez, 3B--Dean Palmer, LF--Rusty Greer, SS--Kevin Elster. SP--Hill, Pavlik, Gross, Witt, Darren Oliver. RP--Mike Henneman, Russell, Matt Whiteside, Ed Vosberg.

OUTLOOK: The Rangers must overcome the loss of shortstop Benji Gil, who had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back and figures to miss at least six weeks of play. They Rangers will score, but unless their pitching comes up superior, they won’t keep up with Mariners and Angels.

*

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Pedro Munoz, Ernie Young, Phil Plantier; manager--Art Howe.

WHO’S GONE: P--Todd Stottlemyre, Steve Ontiveros; OF--Stan Javier, Rickey Henderson; 2B--Mike Gallego.

STRENGTHS: Even without first baseman Mark McGwire, out until mid-May because of a torn arch, the A’s have power in Geronimo Berroa, Munoz, Terry Steinbach and Jason Giambi. Catcher Steinbach, shortstop Mike Bordick and second baseman Brent Gates give the A’s solid defense up the middle.

WEAKNESSES: McGwire has missed 262 of the A’s last 465 games since August, 1992, his absence coinciding with the decline of the once-proud franchise. The pitching rotation is so young that Todd Van Poppel is the staff leader in victories with 17.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Young, 2B--Gates, RF--Berroa, LF--Phil Plantier, DH--Munoz, C--Steinbach, 1B--Giambi, 3B--Scott Brosius, SS--Bordick. SP--Carlos Reyes, Ariel Prieto, Van Poppel, Doug Johns. RP--Corsi, Mike Mohler, Don Wengert.

OUTLOOK: Clubhouse chemistry is at all-time high since the departure of malcontents Henderson and Sierra. Lack of expectations should make for a pressure-free environment for the youngsters on this team.

CENTRAL DIVISION

CLEVELAND INDIANS

WHO’S NEW: 1B--Julio Franco, P--Jack McDowell.

WHO’S GONE: 1B--Paul Sorrento, P--Ken Hill.

STRENGTHS: Cleveland had the league’s best offense, starting rotation and bullpen in ‘95, and two of those three departments improve with Franco and McDowell. Eight starters hit .300 or better last season--Franco in Japan--and the outfield features one of baseball’s most exciting players, speedy Kenny Lofton, and one of the most potent sluggers, Albert Belle.

WEAKNESSES: The Indians made 34 errors in their first 22 spring games, and Franco’s struggles won’t help scatter-armed third baseman Jim Thome, who needs a first baseman who can dig balls out of dirt. Could the Indians be complacent? Right fielder Manny Ramirez and second baseman Carlos Baerga reported overweight, Ramirez by 29 pounds, but both have trimmed down.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Lofton. SS--Omar Vizquel. 2B--Baerga. LF--Belle, DH--Eddie Murray, 1B--Franco. 3B--Thome, RF--Ramirez, C--Sandy Alomar, SP--Dennis Martinez, Orel Hershiser, McDowell, Charles Nagy, Mark Clark. RP--Jose Mesa, Julian Tavares, Eric Plunk.

OUTLOOK: The Indians, who made their first postseason appearance in 41 years and lost to the Atlanta Braves in the ’95 World Series, should win the division title in a landslide. Anything short of another World Series berth would be disappointing to Cleveland fans, who have bought every Jacobs Field ticket.

*

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

WHO’S NEW: OF--Tony Phillips, Danny Tartabull; DH--Harold Baines, CF--Darren Lewis.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Lance Johnson, Tim Raines; P--Scott Radinsky.

STRENGTHS: If Phillips, an August-September flameout last season with the Angels, paces himself better and Frank Thomas, Baines and Robin Ventura have productive seasons, the White Sox should have an excellent offense. A young pitching rotation has shown signs this spring that it will bounce back from a horrendous ’95.

WEAKNESSES: Outside of Lewis and second baseman Ray Durham, there is no speed in this aging lineup. Closer Roberto Hernandez blew a league-leading 10 saves in ’95 and must be more effective.

PROJECTED LINEUP: LF--Phillips, 2B--Durham, 1B--Thomas, RF--Tartabull, DH--Baines, 3B--Ventura, C--Ron Karkovice, CF--Lewis, SS--Ozzie Guillen. SP--Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez, Jason Bere, Kevin Tapani, Kirk McCaskill. RP--Hernandez, Matt Karchner, Bill Simas.

OUTLOOK: If the pitching holds up and the White Sox play well early--they were buried in an 11-19 start in ‘95--they will have an outside shot at a wild-card playoff berth.

*

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

WHO’S NEW: P--Tim Belcher, C--Mike Macfarlane, SS--Jose Offerman, 2B--Bip Roberts.

WHO’S GONE: 3B--Gary Gaetti, SS--Greg Gagne, 1B--Wally Joyner, P--Tom Gordon, Gregg Olson.

STRENGTHS: The Royals may be baseball’s fastest team and hope to pressure defenses with an array of bunts and hit-and-run plays. Expectations are high for center fielder Johnny Damon, 22, who was the top prospect in every minor league he played in and hit .283 with 23 RBIs in 47 games in ’95.

WEAKNESSES: The infield that produced 229 RBIs in ’95 is gone, replaced by a weaker fielding group. Offerman led major league shortstops with 35 errors in ‘95, Roberts is average defensively, and first baseman Bob Hamelin has limited range.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Roberts, SS--Offerman, CF--Damon, 1B--Hamelin, DH--Joe Vitiello, RF--Michael Tucker, C--Macfarlane, 3B--Joe Randa, LF--Tom Goodwin. SP--Kevin Appier, Mark Gubicza, Chris Haney, Belcher. RP--Jeff Montgomery, Hipolito Pichardo, Rusty Meacham.

OUTLOOK: If Hamelin, who hit .168 in ‘95, returns to his ’94 rookie-of-the-year form, Appier bounces back from shoulder problems that derailed a potential 30-victory season and youngsters play up to potential, the Royals could finish at .500 or better.

*

MINNESOTA TWINS

WHO’S NEW: P--Rick Aguilera, DH--Paul Molitor, C--Greg Myers, OF--Roberto Kelly, 3B--Dave Hollins.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Pedro Munoz.

STRENGTHS: Homer hankies of 1987 and ’91 are souvenirs but the Twins still have the offense--and a home-park launching pad--to give opponents fits. Chuck Knoblauch is a pesky lead-off batter, Kirby Puckett shows no signs of aging, and Marty Cordova was ’95 rookie of the year.

WEAKNESSES: Pitching, as usual. The twins had baseball’s worst ERAs in ’94 and ’95 and allowed a major league-high 210 homers last season. Staff ace Rick Aguilera hasn’t started since 1989. No. 2 Brad Radke led the majors in homers allowed, 32.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Knoblauch, CF--Rich Becker, DH--Molitor, RF--Puckett, LF--Cordova, 3B--Hollins, 1B--Scott Stahoviak/Ron Coomer, C--Matt Walbeck/Myers, SS--Pat Meares. SP--Aguilera, Radke, Frank Rodriguez, Rich Robertson. RP--Dave Stevens.

OUTLOOK: Opposing players and managers marveled at how hard the Twins played in ‘95, even as they dropped 40 games back. But even if they overachieve, their best hope is for third place.

*

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Ben McDonald, OF--Chuck Carr.

WHO’S GONE: C--Joe Oliver, IF--B.J. Surhoff, OF--Darryl Hamilton, P--Bill Wegman.

STRENGTHS: With the speedy Carr, who can catch up to balls in the gaps, and the outstanding double-play combination of shortstop Jose Valentin and second baseman Pat Listach, the Brewers should be strong up the middle. Greg Vaughn, John Jaha and Dave Nilsson have power potential, and McDonald’s acquisition boosts the staff.

WEAKNESSES: Mike Fetters is adecent closer, but without quality set-up men, the Brewers will have problems getting to him. A lack of depth--there are lots of first base-designated hitter types--limit Manager Phil Garner’s options.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Carr, 2B--Listach, 1B--Nilsson, LF--Vaughn, DH--Jaha, RF--Matt Mieske, 3B--Jeff Cirillo, C--Mike Matheny, SS--Valentin. SP--McDonald, Ricky Bones, Scott Karl, Steve Sparks, Angel Miranda. RP--Fetters, Kevin Wickander, Mark Kiefer.

OUTLOOK: Not good, but a planned $250-million, retractable-roof stadium that should be ready for 1999 bodes well for the future.

EAST

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

WHO’S NEW: 2B--Roberto Alomar, P--David Wells, Kent Mercker, Randy Myers, Roger McDowell; 3B--B.J. Surhoff, OF--Mike Devereaux, Tony Tarasco; manager--Davey Johnson.

WHO’S GONE: P--Ben McDonald, Kevin Brown, Doug Jones; DH--Harold Baines.

STRENGTHS: Defense up the middle is outstanding with shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., second baseman Alomar and center fielder Brady Anderson. An offense that has relied on the long ball in cozy Camden Yards adds speed with Alomar, Tarasco and Devereaux. Rafael Palmeiro, who has averaged 33 homers and 95 RBIs the last three seasons, Bobby Bonilla and Ripken provide pop.

WEAKNESSES: Armando Benitez hasn’t developed into the closer the Orioles envisioned, so Myers was imported from the Chicago Cubs. But is a lefty the answer? He led the National League with 38 saves in ’95 but had a 5.61 ERA after the All-Star break. The team will rely on aging set-up men McDowell and Jesse Orosco, which means the bullpen could be vulnerable.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Anderson, 2B--Alomar, 1B--Palmeiro, RF--Bonilla, SS--Ripken, 3B--Surhoff, DH--Tarasco/Devereaux, C--Chris Hoiles, LF: Jeffrey Hammonds. SP--Mike Mussina, Wells, Scott Erickson, Mercker, Jimmy Haynes. RP--Myers, Orosco, McDowell.

OUTLOOK: The rotation thins out after Mussina and Wells, Haynes is an untested rookie, and there are questions in the bullpen. But a potent offense and a sound defense should carry the Orioles to the playoffs for the first time since 1983.

*

NEW YORK YANKEES

WHO’S NEW: 1B--Tino Martinez, P--Kenny Rogers, Doc Gooden, Jeff Nelson; IF--Mariano Duncan; C--Joe Girardi, OF--Tim Raines, manager--Joe Torre.

WHO’S GONE: 1B--Don Mattingly, P--Jack McDowell, Sterling Hitchcock; C--Mike Stanley, IF--Randy Velarde, 3B--Russ Davis.

STRENGTHS: You know you have great rotation when Jimmy Key and Melido Perez are competing for the No. 5 spot. The top six batters are dangerous and Bernie Williams has emerged as one of the game’s bright young center fielders. Don Mattingly is gone, but Martinez should find Yankee Stadium’s short right-field fence to his liking.

WEAKNESSES: The bullpen is outstanding from the right side, but Torre may go without a left-handed reliever. Catcher Girardi is strong defensively but won’t match Stanley’s offense. Shortstop Derek Jeter is a rookie. The bottom third of the order is weak.

PROJECTED LINEUP: LF--Raines, 3B--Wade Boggs, 1B--Martinez, DH--Ruben Sierra, RF--Paul O’Neill, CF--Williams, C--Girardi, SS--Jeter, 2B--Tony Fernandez. SP--David Cone, Rogers, Gooden, Andy Pettitte, Key/Perez. RP--John Wetteland, Nelson, Bob Wickman, Mariano Rivera.

OUTLOOK: Yankees lost a lot from the ’95 team but George Steinbrenner’s winter spending spree should keep them in playoff contention. Raines, second baseman Pat Kelly and Rogers have been slowed by spring injuries.

*

BOSTON RED SOX

WHO’S NEW: DH--Kevin Mitchell, P--Heathcliff Slocumb, Tom Gordon, Jamie Moyer; C--Mike Stanley, 2B--Wil Cordero.

WHO’S GONE: P--Erik Hanson, Rick Aguilera, Ken Ryan; C--Mike Macfarlane, OF--Lee Tinsley, Mark Whiten.

STRENGTHS: First baseman Mo Vaughn, voted the league’s most valuable player with 39 homers and 126 RBIs in ‘95, leads a potent offense that includes six players with potential to hit 20 home runs. Relievers Slocumb, Mike Stanton and Stan Belinda have closing ability. Stanley should be an improvement over Macfarlane behind the plate.

WEAKNESSES: Boston committed 33 errors in the first 19 spring games. Cordero has never played second and the Red Sox outfield includes butcher Jose Canseco. Ace Roger Clemens has won only 30 games in the last three years, and any rotation that includes Moyer isn’t deep.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Dwayne Hosey, SS--John Valentin, 1B--Vaughn, RF--Canseco, DH--Mitchell, LF--Greenwell, 2B--Cordero, C--Stanley, 3B--Tim Naehring. SP--Clemens, Gordon, Tim Wakefield, Aaron Sele, Moyer. RP--Slocumb, Belinda, Stanton.

OUTLOOK: Pitching is a major concern. Clemens isn’t the stopper he was in the ‘80s, Sele is coming off shoulder injury, Wakefield had a rocky spring, and Moyer yields homers in bunches. But offense should keep the Red Sox in the playoff hunt.

*

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Otis Nixon, P--Erik Hanson, Bill Risley; C--Charlie O’Brien.

WHO’S GONE: 2B--Roberto Alomar, CF--Devon White, DH--Paul Molitor, P--Al Leiter.

STRENGTHS: Nixon, an accomplished lead-off batter who is faster than White, fills the center-field void nicely. Third baseman Ed Sprague is coming off his best season--18 homers, 74 RBIs--Joe Carter is still a force in left, and the bullpen should be better.

WEAKNESSES: How thin is the rotation? Juan Guzman, the No. 3 starter, won only four games in ’95 and Paul Quantrill is a converted reliever. And rookie second baseman Domingo Cedeno has to replace Alomar, one of best to ever play the position.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Nixon, SS--Alex Gonzalez, LF--Carter, 1B--John Olerud, 3B--Sprague, RF--Shawn Green, DH--Carlos Delgado, C--Sandy Martinez/O’Brien, 2B--Cedeno. SP--Hanson, Pat Hentgen, Guzman, Quantrill, Jeff Ware. RP--Risley, Mike Timlin, Tony Castillo.

OUTLOOK: World Series champions of ’92 and ’93 are rebuilding but if Olerud bounces back from a subpar year, and Nixon, Carter, Sprague and Green produce, the Blue Jays could win 70-80 games.

*

DETROIT TIGERS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Melvin Nieves; IF--Eddie Williams; C--Mark Parent, manager--Buddy Bell.

WHO’S GONE: 2B--Lou Whitaker, P--David Wells, Mike Henneman, Sean Bergman; OF--Kirk Gibson, Phil Plantier; DH--Juan Samuel.

STRENGTHS: The Tigers couldn’t unload first baseman Cecil Fielder and his $9-million salary, so they’re stuck with his usual 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Fielder, Travis Fryman and Curtis provide power from the right side.

WEAKNESSES: Same ol’ story, pitching. Staff ace, Felipe Lira, wasn’t even in Detroit’s rotation at the start of last season. Scott Aldred is trying to come back from an elbow injury. An inexperienced bullpen won’t provide much support.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Chad Curtis, RF--Bobby Higginson, 3B--Travis Fryman, 1B--Fielder, LF--Melvin Nieves, DH--Williams, 2B--Mark Lewis, C--John Flaherty, SS--Chris Gomez. SP--Lira, Sean Bergman, Aldred, Greg Gohr. RP--Brian Williams, Mike Myers, John Doherty.

OUTLOOK: Grim. Detroit has been trading veterans for prospects since the end of last season and hopes to be competitive by the time a new stadium opens in 1998.