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1993-04-04
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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).