Team previews are listed in Gordon Edes' predicted order of finish.
* Player is injured and may not be ready for start of season.
LINEUP
HR
RBI
Avg.
LF
Chuck Knoblauch
5
26
.283
SS
Derek Jeter *
15
73
.339
RF
Paul O'Neill
18
100
.283
CF
Bernie Williams
30
121
.307
DH
David Justice
41
118
.286
C
Jorge Posada
28
86
.287
1B
Tino Martinez
16
91
.258
2B
Alfonso Soriano
2
3
.180
3B
Scott Brosius
16
64
.230
ROTATION
W-L
ERA
RH
Roger Clemens
13-8
3.70
LH
Andy Pettitte
19-9
4.35
RH
Mike Mussina
11-15
3.79
RH
Orlando Hernandez
12-13
4.51
RH
Christian Parker
2001
rookie
CLOSER
Svs.
ERA
RH
Mariano Rivera
36
2.85
1. NEW YORK YANKEES Manager: Joe Torre (sixth year) 2000 finish: 87-74, first place (world champions)
Schedule | Team directory
The Yankees, coming off their fourth World Series title in five years, lilted their advantage further their way by signing Mussina, who makes the Bomber rotation four deep in elite arms. Some Yankees are aware that this may be a last hurrah for this particular group, and the spring hasn't been without its bumps, namely injuries to Jeter, Hernandez and Shane Spencer. But there is never any doubt that the Yanks have the talent to weather any crisis, as they showed yet again by resolving Knoblauch's throwing funk by moving him to left field and installing rookie Soriano at second.
LINEUP
HR
RBI
Avg.
3B
Chris Stynes
12
30
.334
2B
Jose Offerman
9
41
.255
SS
Nomar Garciaparra *
21
96
.372
RF
Manny Ramirez
21
96
.351
CF
Carl Everett
34
108
.300
DH
Dante Bichette
23
90
.294
LF
Troy O'Leary
13
70
.261
C
Brian Daubach
21
76
.248
C
Jason Varitek
10
65
.248
ROTATION
W-L
ERA
RH
Pedro Martinez
18-6
1.74
RH
Hideo Nomo
8-12
4.74
RH
Frank Castillo
10-5
3.59
RH
Tomo Ohka
3-6
3.12
RH
Paxton Crawford
2-1
3.41
CLOSER
Svs.
ERA
RH
Derek Lowe
42
2.56
2. BOSTON RED SOX Manager:Jimy Williams (fifth year)
2000 finish:85-77, second place
Schedule | Team directory
This isn't a team, it's a med-school primer. Garciaparra's wrist. John Valentin's knee. Bret Saberhagen's and David Cone's shoulders. Manny Ramirez's hamstring. Carl Everett's brain. Any extended absence by Garciaparra will mean a bad summer for scalpers trying to hawk those $55 box seats on Yawkey Way. Sox fans have heard this one before, but this time a Saberhagen comeback appears to be more real than imagined, which would give a big boost to a rotation that should be better with Nomo and sleeper Castillo. With Everett and Ramirez both prone to leg problems, Trot Nixon should get plenty of playing time, even if O'Leary isn't traded. Bullpen remains a strength, especially if Hipolito Pichardo makes a quick return.
LINEUP
HR
RBI
Avg.
LF
Shannon Stewart
21
69
.319
SS
Alex Gonzalez
15
69
.252
RF
Raul Mondesi
24
67
.271
1B
Carlos Delgado
41
137
.344
3B
Tony Batista
41
114
.263
DH
Brad Fullmer
32
104
.295
C
Darrin Fletcher
20
58
.320
CF
Jose Cruz
31
76
.242
2B
Homer Bush
1
18
.215
ROTATION
W-L
ERA
LH
Mike Sirotka *
15-10
3.79
RH
Chris Carpenter
10-12
6.26
RH
Joey Hamilton
2-1
3.55
RH
Steve Parris
12-17
4.81
RH
Esteban Loaiza
5-7
3.62
CLOSER
Svs.
ERA
RH
Billy Koch
33
2.63
3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS Manager:Jim Fregosi (second year) 1999 finish:84-78, third
Schedule | Team directory
A healthy Sirotka at the top of the rotation would have made a huge difference for new manager Martinez, but the former White Sox lefty showed up in camp with a bad shoulder, hardly the kind of tradeoff you want for a 20-game winner like David Wells. But assuming Sirotka is able to return, the Blue Jays are the type of team that could put it altogether, fast. The Jays hit a franchise-record 244 home runs last season, and that was even without Mondesi, who played just 96 games last season because of a bad shoulder. Delgado has MVP credentials and made a long-term commitment to stay; he is the emerging leader of this club. Koch has blow-'em-away velocity as closer.
LINEUP
HR
RBI
Avg.
CF
Gerald Williams
21
89
.274
2B
Bobby Smith
6
26
.234
RF
Ben Grieve
27
104
.279
1B
Fred McGriff
27
106
.277
LF
Greg Vaughn
28
74
.254
DH
Steve Cox
11
35
.283
3B
Vinny Castilla
6
42
.221
C
John Flaherty
10
39
.261
SS
Felix Martinez
2
17
.214
ROTATION
W-L
ERA
RH
Albie Lopez
11-13
4.13
LH
Wilson Alvarez *
DNP-
injured
RH
Ryan Rupe
5-5
6.92
RH
Paul Wilson
1-4
3.35
RH
Travis Harper
1-2
4.78
CLOSER
Svs.
ERA
RH
Esteban Yan
0
6.21
4. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS Manager: Larry Rothschild (fourth season)
2000 finish:69-92, fifth place
Schedule | Team directory
The Devil Rays have loaded up with players who will take turns hitting balls off the catwalk in Tropicana Field, with newcomers Vinny Castilla and Greg Vaughn joining holdovers Jose Canseco and Fred McGriff. The four of them combined to hit 144 home runs, or one fewer than the Devil Rays hit as a team last season. But at 32, Castilla is the baby of the bunch, and Canseco has the back of an octogenarian. But while the big boppers may spin the turnstiles, the team's record will depend on how much new additions Juan Guzman and Steve Trachsel upgrade the starting rotation, which remains dependent on injury-prone Wilson Alvarez. The team was prone to breaking down last season. Ten players spent time on the disabled list.
LINEUP
HR
RBI
Avg.
DH
Brady Anderson
19
50
.257
SS
Mike Bordick
20
80
.285
LF
Delino DeShields
10
86
.296
RF
Chris Richard
13
36
.276
1B
David Segui
19
103
.334
3B
Cal Ripken
15
56
.256
C
Brook Fordyce
14
49
.301
2B
Jerry Hairston
-
-
rookie
CF
Melvin Mora
8
47
.275
ROTATION
W-L
ERA
RH
Jose Mercedes
14-7
4.02
RH
Pat Hentgen
15-12
4.72
RH
Sidney Ponson
9-13
4.82
RH
Jay Spurgeon
1-1
6.00
LH
John Parrish
2-4
7.18
CLOSER
Svs.
ERA
RH
Ryan Kohlmeier
13
2.39
5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES Manager:Mike Hargrove (second season)
2000 finish:74-88, fourth place
Schedule | Team directory
Hargrove said he knew Albert Belle was in trouble when he walked into the trainers' room where Belle was riding an exercise bike and Belle said he didn't know if he could give it a go. The next day Belle limped out of camp for good, without another word to the manager who was on the Indians' bench for Belle's glory days in Cleveland. Without Belle, whose degenerative hip condition brought his career to a premature end, there are only dark days ahead for the Orioles. Even with him, the Orioles would have been in trouble after letting ace Mike Mussina escape to the Yankees. Ripken, 40, whose spring training was shortened by a fractured rib, is in last hurrah mode.
The Yankees, coming off their fourth World Series title in five years, lilted their advantage further their way by signing Mussina, who makes the Bomber rotation four deep in elite arms. Some Yankees are aware that this may be a last hurrah for this particular group, and the spring hasn't been without its bumps, namely injuries to Jeter, Hernandez and Shane Spencer. But there is never any doubt that the Yanks have the talent to weather any crisis, as they showed yet again by resolving Knoblauch's throwing funk by moving him to left field and installing rookie Soriano at second.
This isn't a team, it's a med-school primer. Garciaparra's wrist. John Valentin's knee. Bret Saberhagen's and David Cone's shoulders. Manny Ramirez's hamstring. Carl Everett's brain. Any extended absence by Garciaparra will mean a bad summer for scalpers trying to hawk those $55 box seats on Yawkey Way. Sox fans have heard this one before, but this time a Saberhagen comeback appears to be more real than imagined, which would give a big boost to a rotation that should be better with Nomo and sleeper Castillo. With Everett and Ramirez both prone to leg problems, Trot Nixon should get plenty of playing time, even if O'Leary isn't traded. Bullpen remains a strength, especially if Hipolito Pichardo makes a quick return.
A healthy Sirotka at the top of the rotation would have made a huge difference for new manager Martinez, but the former White Sox lefty showed up in camp with a bad shoulder, hardly the kind of tradeoff you want for a 20-game winner like David Wells. But assuming Sirotka is able to return, the Blue Jays are the type of team that could put it altogether, fast. The Jays hit a franchise-record 244 home runs last season, and that was even without Mondesi, who played just 96 games last season because of a bad shoulder. Delgado has MVP credentials and made a long-term commitment to stay; he is the emerging leader of this club. Koch has blow-'em-away velocity as closer.
The Devil Rays have loaded up with players who will take turns hitting balls off the catwalk in Tropicana Field, with newcomers Vinny Castilla and Greg Vaughn joining holdovers Jose Canseco and Fred McGriff. The four of them combined to hit 144 home runs, or one fewer than the Devil Rays hit as a team last season. But at 32, Castilla is the baby of the bunch, and Canseco has the back of an octogenarian. But while the big boppers may spin the turnstiles, the team's record will depend on how much new additions Juan Guzman and Steve Trachsel upgrade the starting rotation, which remains dependent on injury-prone Wilson Alvarez. The team was prone to breaking down last season. Ten players spent time on the disabled list.
Hargrove said he knew Albert Belle was in trouble when he walked into the trainers' room where Belle was riding an exercise bike and Belle said he didn't know if he could give it a go. The next day Belle limped out of camp for good, without another word to the manager who was on the Indians' bench for Belle's glory days in Cleveland. Without Belle, whose degenerative hip condition brought his career to a premature end, there are only dark days ahead for the Orioles. Even with him, the Orioles would have been in trouble after letting ace Mike Mussina escape to the Yankees. Ripken, 40, whose spring training was shortened by a fractured rib, is in last hurrah mode.