~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SPORTSTICKER 1993 BASEBALL PREVIEW ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AMERICAN LEAGUE CAPSULES BY VICTOR SPARACCIO STAFF WRITER EASTERN DIVISION ---------------- TORONTO BLUE JAYS -- Manager: Cito Gaston (331-248), entering fifth season with the Blue Jays. 1992 Finish - 96-76 (1st). STRENGTHS -- The top of the lineup has speed with Devon White, Roberto Alomar and Paul Molitor; Joe Carter will be going for fifth straight 100 R-B-I season; despite the loss of David Cone and Jimmy Key, the rotation consists of Juan Guzman, Jack Morris and free agent pickup Dave Stewart. WEAKNESSES -- Third base is a question mark with Ed Sprauge; bullpen depth is short with closer Tom Henke gone; power will be down from last season with the departures of Dave Winfield and Candy Maldonado. NEW FACES -- Signed free agent infielder-outfielder Darnell Coles (Cincinnati), designated hitter-first baseman Paul Molitor (Milwaukee), pitcher Dave Stewart (Oakland), shortstop Dick Schofield (New York Mets); acquired infielder Luis Sojo (California). ------ MILWAUKEE BREWERS -- Manager: Phil Garner (92-70), entering second season with the Brewers. 1992 Finish - 92-70 (2nd). STRENGTHS -- Last season's Rookie of the Year Pat Listach stole 54 of Milwaukee's club-record 256 bases; added power hitters Tom Brunansky and Kevin Reimer to take burden off Greg Vaughn; return four starters from a pitching corps that led the league in earned run avergae. WEAKNESSES -- Lack depth in several areas; middle relief is questionable; made fewest errors in league in 1992 but have B.J. Surhoff moving from catcher to third and Bill Spiers, who is coming off back problems, at second base; Joe Kmak is untried at catcher. NEW FACES -- Acquired outfielder Kevin Reimer (Texas), infielder Bill Doran (Cincinnati); signed outfielder Tom Brunansky (Boston), infielder Dickie Thon (Texas). ------ BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Manager: Johnny Oates (143-144), entering second full season with the Orioles. 1992 Finish - 89-73 (3rd). STRENGTHS - Pitching and defense; rotation features three promising pitchers, Mike Mussina, Ben McDonald and Arthur Rhodes; added veteran second baseman Harold Reynolds to a defense that became the first team in major league history to compile less than 100 errors four straight seasons; good speed at top of the lineup; closer Gregg Olson is the youngest pitcher ever to record 100 saves; good offensive production from outfielders Mike Devereaux and Brady Anderson. WEAKNESSES -- Need to set up R-B-I men, Cal Ripken and Harold Baines; injury-plagued first baseman Glenn Davis has not produced; rightfield is unsettled; lack fifth starter. NEW FACES -- Signed second baseman Harold Reynolds (Seattle), acquired outfielder-designated hitter Harold Baines (Oakland). ------ CLEVELAND INDIANS -- Manager: Mike Hargrove (108-137), entering second full season with the Indians. 1992 Finish - 76-86 (T4th). STRENGTHS -- Young, promising lineup well stocked with speed and power (Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle and Paul Sorrento); strong up the middle with second baseman Baerga, center fielder Lofton, shortstop Felix Fermin and catcher Sandy Alomar; depth in the outfield. WEAKNESSES -- Big hole in the bullpen caused by the tragic death of Steve Olin; big dropoff in the starting rotation after staff ace Charles Nagy. NEW FACES -- Signed pitcher Bob Ojeda (Los Angeles), pitcher Mike Bielecki (Atlanta), second baseman Jeff Treadway (Atlanta). ------ NEW YORK YANKEES -- Manager: Buck Showalter (76-86), entering second season with the Yankees. 1992 Finish - 76-86 (T4th). STRENGTHS -- The rotation has solid first three with Melido Perez, Jim Abbott and Jimmy Key; good bullpen combination with Steve Farr and Steve Howe and middle relief is good; solid infield with Don Mattingly, Pat Kelly, Spike Owen and Wade Boggs; if healthy, Danny Tartabull can carry the offense. WEAKNESSES -- The catching is suspect with Matt Nokes and Mike Stanley; lost productive bats Mel Hall and Roberto Kelly and replaced them with Paul O'Neill; depending heavily on bullpen ace Steve Howe, who has been suspended seven times for drug abuse; bullpen is aging; lineup lacks speed. NEW FACES -- Acquired outfielder Paul O'Neill (Cincinnati), pitcher Jim Abbott (California); signed shortstop Spike Owen (Montreal), pitcher Jimmy Key (Toronto), third baseman Wade Boggs (Boston), pitcher Neal Heaton (Kansas City). ------ DETROIT TIGERS -- Manager: Sparky Anderson (1,996-1,611), entering 15th season with the Tigers. 1992 Finish - 75-87 (6th). STRENGTHS -- A lineup filled with power led by Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Mickey Tettleton, Rob Deer and Lou Whitaker; staff ace Mike Moore and Bill Gullickson, coming off knee and shoulder surgery, should provide solid innings and are steady performers; good bullpen anchored by ace Mike Henneman. WEAKNESSES -- After Moore and Gullickson, the pitching rotation is filled with question marks (John Doherty, Bill Krueger, David Haas); depending on aging, injury-prone Alan Trammell, who switches from short to third base; lack team speed, lineup does not hit for average and strikes out too much. NEW FACES -- Signed pitcher Mike Moore (Oakland); pitcher Tom Bolton, pitcher Bill Krueger (Montreal), outfielder Kirk Gibson (Pittsburgh). ------ BOSTON RED SOX -- Manager: Butch Hobson (73-89), entering second season with the Red Sox. 1992 Finish - 73-89 (7th). STRENGTHS -- The one-two combination of staff ace Roger Clemens and Frank Viola is as good as any in the league; solid depth in bullpen with additions Jeff Russell, Jose Melendez and Scott Bankhead; added power in Andre Dawson and Ivan Calderon to a lineup that will have Carlos Quintana and Mike Greenwell back from injury. WEAKNESSES -- Spots 3-4-5 in the starting rotation are weak; defense, which combined for 139 errors last season, is shaky; no team speed and no legitimate leadoff hitter. NEW FACES -- Signed infielder Scott Fletcher (Milwaukee), pitcher Scott Bankhead (Cincinnati), outfielder Andre Dawson (Chicago Cubs), catcher Bob Melvin (Kansas City), pitcher Jeff Russell (Oakland); acquired outfielder Ivan Calderon (Montreal) and pitcher Jose Melendez (San Diego). WESTERN DIVISION ---------------- OAKLAND ATHLETICS -- Manager: Tony LaRussa (1,134-949), entering eighth season with the Athletics. 1992 Finish - 96-66 (1st). STRENGTHS -- A-L Most Valuable Player and Cy Young winner Dennis Eckersley anchors the bullpen; Rickey Henderson is playing for a new contract so the Athletics should get an All-Star season from him; Mark McGwire and Ruben Sierra are an awesome power combination in the middle of the lineup. WEAKNESSES -- The losses of pitchers Dave Stewart and Mike Moore weakens a staff that now lacks an ace; Dave Henderson, coming off an injury-plagued 1992 season, is a question mark in center field. NEW FACES -- Signed pitcher Curt Young (New York Yankees), pitcher Storm Davis (Baltimore), outfielder Gary Pettis (Detroit), third baseman Kevin Seitzer (Milwaukee). ------ MINNESOTA TWINS -- Manager: Tom Kelly (527-468), entering eighth season with the Twins. 1992 Finish - 90-72 (2nd). STRENGTHS -- The lineup, led by Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield, Chuck Knoblauch and Shane Mack, should provide plenty of runs; catcher Brian Harper has hit no lower than .294 since joining the team in 1988; solid at the top of rotation with Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson; bullpen, anchored by Rick Aguilera, is solid and dependable. WEAKNESSES -- the Twins could use a left-handed pitcher to replace departed John Smiley and Bill Krueger in the rotation; inexperience in rotation; lineup lacks left-handed batters. NEW FACES -- Acquired outfielder Pat Howell (New York Mets), pitcher Mike Hartley (Philadelphia); signed pitcher Jim Deshaies (San Diego), signed designated hitter Dave Winfield (Toronto), pitcher Bert Blyleven (California). ------ CHICAGO WHITE SOX -- Manager: Gene Lamont (86-76), entering second season with the White Sox. 1992 Finish - 86-76 (3rd). STRENGTHS -- The middle of order: Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas and George Bell combined for 65 home runs and 320 R-B-I last season; staff ace Jack McDowell is among the best pitchers in the league; speedy outfield. WEAKNESSES -- Bo Jackson, Ozzie Guillen and Ellis Burks are coming off major injuries; hole in top of order due to benching of leadoff man Steve Sax; pitching staff has question marks after 20-game winner Jack McDowell; bullpen is questionable; outfield lacks power. NEW FACES -- Signed pitcher Dave Stieb (Toronto), outfielder Ellis Burks (Boston), pitcher Chuck Cary (Japan). ------ TEXAS RANGERS -- Manager: Kevin Kennedy, entering first season with the Rangers. 1992 Finish - 77-85 (4th). STRENGTHS -- Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, Jose Canseco and Dean Palmer provide power; staff ace Kevin Brown is a steady performer; improved defense up the middle with the additions of shortstop Manny Lee and second baseman Bill Ripken to along with Ivan Rodriguez; Tom Henke is among the best closers in the game. WEAKNESSES -- The pitching staff is aging and mediocre; outfielders Juan Gonzalez and Canseco are below-average defensive players; bullpen is shaky. NEW FACES -- Signed pitcher Bob Patterson (Pittsburgh), relief pitcher Tom Henke (Toronto), outfielder Doug Dascenzo (Chicago Cubs), infielder Manny Lee (Toronto), first baseman Gary Redus (Pittsburgh), pitcher Craig Lefferts (Baltimore), infielder Bill Ripken (Baltimore); acquired pitchers Charlie Leibrandt (Atlanta). ------ KANSAS CITY ROYALS -- Manager: Hal McRae (138-146), entering second full season with the Royals. 1992 Finish - 72-90 (T5th). STRENGTHS -- David Cone and Kevin Appier anchor a solid staff; Jeff Montgomery has saved 72 games the two seasons; one of the better defensive teams with shortstop Greg Gagne, second baseman Jose Lind, center fielder Brian McRae and first baseman Wally Joyner. WEAKNESSES -- Despite the addition of Felix Jose, the Royals lack power. NEW FACES -- Acquired second baseman Jose Lind (Pittsburgh); pitchers Mark Gardner (Montreal); outfielder Felix Jose and Craig Wilson (St. Louis); signed shortstop Greg Gagne (Minnesota), pitcher David Cone (Toronto), outfielder Hubie Brooks (California), ------ CALIFORNIA ANGELS -- Manager: Buck Rodgers (697-655), entering second full season with the Angels. 1992 Finish - 72-90 (T5th). STRENGTHS -- Aggressive baserunning team that will steal bases at every opportunity; good one-two duo of starters Mark Langston and Chuck Finley. WEAKNESSES -- Inexperienced team; other than Langston and Finley, the rotation is shaky; lack power. NEW FACES -- Acquired first baseman J.T. Snow and pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen (New York Yankees), third baseman Kelly Gruber (Toronto); signed outfielder Chili Davis (Minnesota), outfielder Stan Javier (Philadelphia), outfielder Jerome Walton (Chicago Cubs), signed pitcher Scott Sanderson (New York Yankees). ------ SEATTLE MARINERS -- Manager: Lou Piniella (434-376), entering first season with the Mariners. 1992 Finish - 64-98 (7th). STRENGTHS -- Center fielder Ken Griffey and third baseman Edgar Martinez are two of the top hitters in the game and both are excellent fielders, too; outfielder has power with Jay Buhner, Lee Tinsley and Mike Felder; the signings of starter Chris Bosio and Norm Charlton bolster the pitching staff. WEAKNESSES -- Inexperienced bullpen; unproven Bret Boone at second base; starting pitchers Dave Fleming and Brian Holman on disabled list. NEW FACES -- Acquired pitcher Norm Charlton (Cincinnati); signed outfielder Mike Felder (San Francisco), pitcher Chris Bosio (Milwaukee), catcher Mackey Sasser (New York Mets), infielder Greg Litton (San Francisco), catcher Mike Fitzgerald (California).