Baseball's big spenders now have a division all to themselves.The budget bullies shipped the Cleveland Indians off to the theCentral Division where they belong. Now the Toronto Blue Jays, NewYork Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles can gohead-to-head, wallet-to-wallet. And don't discount the poorest teamin the division, the Detroit Tigers, when it comes to spending. Newowner Mike Ilitch already has said (and proven) his checkbook is notglued shut. All this is just a simple way of saying the two-timedefending world champion Blue Jays could be in big trouble, at leastif World Series are won at the teller's window. They have donelittle to improve, while the Yankees and Red Sox both betteredthemselves on paper. But the biggest spenders were the Orioles, whoare rolling in money because of new ownership and a new stadium. Canspending $10 million more make up 10 games in the standings? That'show far the Orioles finished behind the Blue Jays last season (tiedwith the Tigers). This might be a division of money, but it also isone of talent. Four of the top six records in the American Leaguereside here. TORONTO BLUE JAYS LAST YEAR: 95-67 MANAGER: Cito Gaston. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because this team has players who know howto win and has a general manager who knows what it takes to win. PatGillick never has been shy about adding pieces where necessary - andhas the money to do it. Jays are getting older (Joe Carter, DevonWhite) and younger (Carlos Delgado, Alex Gonzalez) at the same time,and there are health questions (Carter thumb, closer Duane Ward arm),but this team has an attitude. BALTIMORE ORIOLES LAST YEAR: 85-77 MANAGER: Johnny Oates. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because they're better than the rest, butnot the best. Nucleus is good, but the questions are: Who startsbehind Ben McDonald and Mike Mussina (Sid Fernandez?), is closer LeeSmith completely over the hill, is star-in-waiting Jeffrey Hammondshealthy and can Rafael Palmeiro be as productive in Birdland as inTexas? Best signing was Chris Sabo at third, but everything needs toclick. NEW YORK YANKEES LAST YEAR: 88-74. MANAGER: Buck Showalter. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because George Steinbrenner seems intenton proving he can win without spending big bucks. He wouldn't buy abullpen closer, even though he knows no team can win with Steve Howeas the ace. Starting staff (Jimmy Key, Jim Abbott, Terry Mulholland)OK and lineup is capable of scoring runs, but Steinbrenner'simpatience may ruin it all by time season's over. DETROIT TIGERS LAST YEAR: 85-77. MANAGER: Sparky Anderson. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because Sparky can still manage when hegets enthused, and this team has him charged. Tigers are short instarting pitching (Mike Moore, Tim Belcher, John Doherty, DavidWells) but do have legit ace in pen (Mike Henneman). And the lineupcan bang with any of them (Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, MickeyTettleton and rookie Danny Bautista). BOSTON RED SOX LAST YEAR: 80-82. MANAGER: Butch Hobson. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIFTH: Because someone has to and the Red Soxseem to be the logical candidates. A healthy Roger Clemens couldmove Red Sox up a notch by himself. But bullpen is question (JeffRussell's chronic elbow). Otis Nixon's speed could help but AndreDawson will have to be healthy and Mo Vaughn will have to be forreal. The first month will tell which way team (and Hobson) willturn this season. American League Central
The question here is whether the White Sox really have gone intoan easier division. Most experts thought that was the case becausethe improving Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners were shuttled intothe West Division. But those experts apparently forgot about theyoung, improving and suddenly rich Cleveland Indians. And they mighthave forgotten that the Kansas City Royals have been nearly as goodas the White Sox the past two seasons--if the first three weeks ofeach season were eliminated. But the defending West champion Soxshould be the favorite. They have the best young starting staff inthe league, a bullpen closer and the near-unanimous MVP. TheIndians' lineup might be as good, if not better than the Sox', butthe entire pitching staff is questionable, from the No. 1 starter tothe unknown who will end games. The Royals have the second-beststaff in the division, probably in the league, and and improvedlineup with speed but little power. The chances of the MilwaukeeBrewers or Minnesota Twins appear about as small as their payrolls.They are two of the smallest market-biggest losers in all ofbaseball. And their talent level shows it. CHICAGO WHITE SOX LAST YEAR: 94-68. MANAGER: Gene Lamont. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because they have been there once - andthey are even better this year. That marvelous young starting staff(Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez, Jason Bere) is a yearolder; so is closer Roberto Hernandez. The offense has no holes,since Julio Franco replaced George Bell and Darrin Jackson replacedEllis Burks. No weak spots here, unless it's depth. CLEVELAND INDIANS LAST YEAR: 76-86. MANAGER: Mike Hargrove. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because for a team that's awfully good,the Indians are awful unsettled. There are rumors Hargrove won'tlast the first month, done in by dissension and no one in bullpen toclose games. On the other hand, Indians have tons of talent andhelped themselves with veteran starters Dennis Martinez and JackMorris to help sluggers Albert Belle and Carlos Baerga and speedmerchant Kenny Lofton. KANSAS CITY ROYALS LAST YEAR: 84-78. MANAGER: Hal McRae. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because their pitching (Kevin Appier,David Cone, Tom Gordon) is good enough but their hitting isn't. Evenwith Vince Coleman helping, the offense misses the one big cruncherthan the Sox and Indians have (their leading homer hitter was catcherMike Macfarlane with 20). Royals will have to run and produce runsand hope to be ahead when it's time for closer Jeff Montgomery. MILWAUKEE BREWERS LAST YEAR: 69-93. MANAGER: Phil Garner. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because one year the Brewers have to getlucky with injuries. It hasn't happened in the last decade, but it'spossible that Teddy Higuera really will pitch this year. Robin Yountis gone but he didn't contribute much anyhow. The path has beencleared for Greg Vaughn and Darryl Hamilton to take over. That makesthem better than the Twins. MINNESOTA TWINS LAST YEAR: 71-91. MANAGER: Tom Kelly. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIFTH: Because this is one bad baseball team.Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek are getting very old, Shane Mack andcloser Rick Aguilera probably will be traded to save money and topstarters Scott Erickson and Kevin Tapani are unreliable at best.Other than that, everything's fine under the Dome, nothing that about$10 million wouldn't help. American League West
Welcome to the Texas Two-Step, a dance in a division that hastwo teams stepping forward and two backward. On paper, this looks tobe a division duel to the end between the Texas Rangers and SeattleMariners, neither of whom has sniffed an inning of postseason play.But both could smell a championship this winter in a weak, four-teamdivision. They were among the most active teams in baseball,wheeling-and-dealing in both the trade and free-agent markets intrying to get it right. Both have high-octane offenses, among thebest in baseball, and questionable pitching. The final outcome mightbe decided by which of the two improves its staff most during theseason. The Rangers should be the consensus preseason favoritebecause they have closer Tom Henke and the Mariners have BobbyThigpen. Strangely, the two teams with all the postseason experienceshould be doing the two-step for last place. Both are rebuildingfrom past successes, and it's a toss-up on which is further along inthe process. TEXAS RANGERS LAST YEAR: 86-76. MANAGER: Kevin Kennedy. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because this is (finally!) the year.Rangers have been favored before but pitching has always let themdown. Now they have starters (Kevin Brown, Kenny Rogers, JackArmstrong) and real closer in bullpen (Tom Henke). They have healthyJose Canseco, wonderful Juan Gonzalez and an improved defense. Firstone to 90 victories wins this and Rangers had 86 last year. SEATTLE MARINERS LAST YEAR: 82-80. MANAGER: Lou Piniella. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because they play in Seattle? That seemsto be as good as any other reason. Despite strengths like RandyJohnson, Edgar Martinex and Ken Griffey Jr., this team has oneglaring weakness: Who is going to walk out of the bullpen and closegames? If Mariners have a strength, it's a manager who has beenthrough the pennant wars before - and won. CALIFORNIA ANGELS LAST YEAR: 71-91. MANAGER: Buck Rodgers. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because even the best young talent in theleague can't win with just Chuck Finley and Mark Langston asstarters. But this could be one dangerous team, if it would just letgo of some money for one more starter and someone in the bullpen.The youngsters (Tim Salmon, Chad Curtis, Damion Easley, EduardoPerez, J. T. Snow) need some front-office help, but new front officeis just as inexperienced as them. OAKLAND ATHLETICS LAST YEAR: 68-94. MANAGER: Tony La Russa. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because this is a team right in themiddle of major transition. The question is whether the old guys(Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Welch, Ron Darling, MarkMcGwire) can still hold up their end. The problem is that theone-time rotation of the future now is down to Steve Karsay and ToddVan Poppel. The key to it all is Henderson, whose get-up-and-go maybe gone.
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