AMERICAN LEAGUE PREVIEW : WEST ANGELS.Manager: Terry Collins (1st season). Who's in: P Mark Gubicza
Who's out: DH Chili Davis Worth Watching: Pitcher Jim Abbott For other people with this name, see . James Anthony Abbott (born September 19, 1967), is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the California Angels, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers, from 1989 to 1998. , 2-18 with a league-worst 7.48 ERA, is still around. He'll compete with rookie Jason Dickson Dickson is a graduate of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University. He plays for the Somerset Patriots and was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1994 MLB Amateur for No. 5 spot. OAKLAND ATHLETICS “Philadelphia Athletics” redirects here. For other uses, see Philadelphia Athletics (disambiguation). The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. Manager: Art Howe Arthur Henry Howe Jr. (born December 15, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the bench coach for the Texas Rangers. He is an alumni of the University of Wyoming. During his Major League Baseball career, he played as an infielder and also spent time as a baseball scout and (2nd season). Who's in: OF/DH Jose Canseco, C Dave Valle David Valle (IPA: /'væli/, pronounced "valley") (born October 30, 1960 in Bayside, New York, USA) was a Major League Baseball player from 1984 to 1996. . Who's out: SS Mike Bordick, P John Wasdin, C Terry Steinbach. Worth Watching: The Bash Brothers are back, as Canseco is re-united with Mark McGwire. The duo combined for 416 home runs for Oakland from 1986-92. McGwire is the only player left from 1992 team that won the AL West. SEATTLE MARINERS Manager: Lou Piniella (5th season). Who's in: P Jeff Fassero, P Scott Sanders, 3B Mike Blowers, 3B Chris Sabo. Who's out: P Mike Jackson, OF Mark Whiten, P Sterling Hitchcock, P Terry Mulholland. Worth Watching: Randy Johnson's back. The 6-foot-10 left-hander expects to be ready by early April following surgery last year for a bulging disc. The 1995 Cy Young winner pitched in just eight games last season. TEXAS RANGERS Manager: Johnny Oates (3rd season). Who's in: P John Wetteland, P Xavier Hernandez, OF Mike Devereaux. Who's out: P Mike Stanton, C Dave Valle, SS Kevin Elster, OF Darryl Hamilton. Worth Watching: The time is now for Rangers, who went spending crazy during the offseason by signing free-agent Wetteland and re-signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez, third baseman Dean Palmer and pitcher Roger Pavlik - all three were up for arbitration. CENTRAL CHICAGO WHITE SOX The Chicago White Sox are a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the White Sox have played in U.S. Manager: Terry Bevington (3rd season). Who's in: OF Albert Belle, P Jaime Navarro, P Roger McDowell, P Doug Drabek. Who's out: P Alex Fernandez, DH Danny Tartabull, P Kevin Tapani. Worth Watching: With Tartabull gone, right field is open with rookie Mike Cameron expected to battle Tony Phillips for the job. Phillips has been moved out of left with Belle's arrival. CLEVELAND INDIANS Manager: Mike Hargrove (7th season). Who's in: 3B Matt Williams, P Mike Jackson, OF Kevin Mitchell, OF Chad Curtis, 2B Tony Fernandez, 2B Robby Thompson. Who's out: OF Albert Belle, IF Jose Vizcaino, IF Jeff Kent, P Julian Tavarez, P Dennis Martinez. Worth Watching: Look for Albie Lopez, Brian Anderson and Bartolo Colon to compete for Tribe's No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, which was unproductive last year. Colon had impressive winter season. KANSAS CITY ROYALS The Kansas City Royals are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium. Manager: Bob Boone (3rd season). Who's in: DH Chili Davis, IF Jeff King, SS Jay Bell. Who's out: P Mark Gubicza, 3B Joe Randa. Worth Watching: After getting one save from left-handed relievers last season, Royals' search for help has brought them to Mitch ``Wild Thing'' Williams, who recently signed a minor-league contract. Williams, 32, last pitched in the majors in '95. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Manager: Phil Garner (6th season). Who's in: No major moves. Who's out: No major moves. Worth Watching: Battle for center field is expected between Chuck Carr and Gerald Williams. Carr is rehabilitating his knee following major surgery last year. Williams came over with pitcher Bob Wickman in late-season trade with Yankees. MINNESOTA TWINS Manager: Tom Kelly (12th season). Who's in: C Terry Steinbach, P Bob Tewksbury, 1B Greg Colbrunn. Who's out: C Matt Walbeck. Worth Watching: Steinbach, who is expected to bat clean-up or fifth, provides power to a lineup which ranked last in the majors with only 118 homers in '96. Steinbach hit a career-high 35 for A's last year. EAST BALTIMORE ORIOLES Manager: Davey Johnson (2nd season). Who's in: P Jimmy Key, SS Mike Bordick, OF Eric Davis, P Scott Kamieniecki, P Roger McDowell. Who's out: P David Wells, OF Bobby Bonilla, 1B/DH Eddie Murray, OF Mike Devereaux, 3B Todd Zeile, C Mark Parent. Worth Watching: Bordick's arrival has hastened Cal Ripken's shift from shortstop to third base, a move even the staunchest Ripken supporters now realize is essential. BOSTON RED SOX The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox are a member and currently champions of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League. From to the present, the Red Sox have played in Fenway Park. Manager: Jimy Williams (1st season). Who's in: P Bret Saberhagen, OF Shane Mack, P Steve Avery, P John Wasdin. Who's out: P Roger Clemens, OF/DH Jose Canseco, OF Mike Greenwell. Worth Watching: A battle at shortstop between incumbent starter John Valentin and Nomar Garciaparra, thought to be the favorite of general manager Dan Duquette. DETROIT TIGERS Manager: Buddy Bell (2nd season). Who's in: OF Vince Coleman, P Dan Miceli, P Todd Jones, SS Orlando Miller, OF Brian Hunter, C Brian Johnson, P Willie Blair. Who's out: OF Ruben Sierra, C Brad Ausmus, P Jose Lima, P Joey Eischen, SS Alan Trammell. Worth Watching: Youngsters Justin Thompson and Mike Drumright are seen as Tigers' pitching tandem of the future. Both are hard throwers and spent time last season rehabbing shoulder problems. Thompson, a lefty, is expected to start season in rotation. NEW YORK YANKEES  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism.
Manager: Joe Torre (2nd season). Who's in: P David Wells, P Mike Stanton, OF Mark Whiten. Who's out: P John Wetteland, P Jimmy Key, C Jim Leyritz, 2B Tony Fernandez. Worth Watching: Wells is off to a rocky start with his new team. Less than a month after signing a three-year, $13.5 million deal, Wells suffered a fractured left hand in a brawl outside a nightclub in San Diego. Mr. Steinbrenner can't be too pleased. TORONTO BLUE JAYS "Blue Jays" redirects here. For other uses, see Blue Jay (disambiguation).. The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Manager: Cito Gaston (9th season). Who's in: P Roger Clemens, OF Orlando Merced, 2B Carlos Garcia, P Dan Plesac, C Benito Santiago, P Robert Person. Who's out: 1B John Olerud. Worth Watching: Clemens, Pat Hentgen, the AL's Cy Young winner in '96, and Juan Guzman form one of baseball's best starting trios, and have some thinking Jays will be in playoff hunt. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: JIM ABBOTT: He'll have to show Angels' management he is capable of much more than his 2-18 season in 1996. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion