AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST PREVIEW : ANAHEIM ANGELS.1998: 85-77, 2nd place, three games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. . Manager: Terry Collins (3rd season). He's Here: 1B Mo Vaughn abbr. rated horsepower Tim Belcher LHP Left Hand Path LHP Lighthouse Point (Broward County, Florida city) LHP Left Half-Plane LHP Lead Hollowpoint (bullet) LHP Living History Project LHP Landslide Hazard Program Mike Magnante On August 22, 1997, Magnante struck out three batters on nine pitches in the ninth inning of a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. . He's Outta Here: LHP Allen Watson Allen Kenneth Watson (born November 18, 1970 in Jamaica, New York) is a former left-handed starting pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees. , LHP Trevor Wilson Trevor Wilson may refer to:
Projected Lineup: LF Darin Erstad, 2B Randy Velarde, 1B Mo Vaughn, RF Tim Salmon, CF Jim Edmonds, DH Garret Anderson, 3B Troy Glaus, C Matt Walbeck, SS Gary DiSarcina. Rotation: LHP Chuck Finley, RHP Tim Belcher, RHP Ken Hill, RHP Steve Sparks, RHP Omar Olivares. Closer: RHP Troy Percival. Hot Shot: After a sparkling minor-league career, Glaus looks ready to make an impact on the Angels. He was one of their best hitters this spring. Bottom Line: The starting pitching is aging and that could spell trouble. Finley, bothered by back problems this spring, is 36, and Belcher is 37. Hill, coming back from surgery, is 33. Sparks is also 33 but is a knuckleball pitcher, and they don't seem to be hampered by age. Hitting again should be the strength, and the addition of Vaughn could be the Angels' ticket to the playoffs. TEXAS RANGERS 1998: 88-74, 1st place. Manager: Johnny Oates (5th season). He's Here: 1B Rafael Palmeiro, RHP Mark Clark, RHP Mike Morgan. He's Outta Here: 1B Will Clark, RHP Xavier Hernandez, RHP Todd Stottlemyre. Projected Lineup: CF Tom Goodwin, 2B Mark McLemore, LF Rusty Greer, RF Juan Gonzalez, 1B Rafael Palmeiro, C Ivan Rodriguez, 3B Todd Zeile, DH Lee Stevens, SS Royce Clayton. Rotation: RHP Rick Helling, RHP Aaron Sele, RHP Mark Clark, RHP John Burkett, RHP Esteban Loaiza. Closer: RHP John Wetteland. Hot Shot: Jeff Zimmerman has been the surprise of the spring. After playing in France and Canada, he gave up on baseball in 1996. He came back in 1997 and tore up the independent Northern League, then landed a job with the Rangers last season. He was their minor-league pitcher of the year and now ,at 26, he's poised to break into the big leagues. Bottom Line: The Rangers have won the division two of the last three years but haven't made it past the first round. New owner Tom Hicks isn't spending more than $72 million just to see his team get quickly eliminated by the Yankees again. Management clearly expects more this time around. SEATTLE MARINERS 1998: 76-85, 3rd place, 11-1/2 games behind. Manager: Lou Piniella (7th season). He's here: RHP Jose Mesa, LHP Butch Henry, RHP Mark Leiter, IF-OF John Mabry, OF Butch Huskey, OF Matt Mieske, C Tom Lampkin. He's outta here: RHP Mike Timlin, RHP Heathcliff Slocumb, IF Rich Amaral, C John Marzano, C Joe Oliver, RHP Bob Wells. Projected lineup: 2B Carlos Guillen, SS Alex Rodriguez, CF Ken Griffey Jr., DH Edgar Martinez, 1B David Segui, RF Jay Buhner, 3B Russ Davis, C Dan Wilson, LF John Mabry. Rotation: LHP Jeff Fassero, LHP Jamie Moyer, RHP Freddy Garcia, RHP Butch Henry, RHP Ken Cloude. Closer: RHP Jose Mesa. Hot shot: Guillen, acquired last July 31 along with Garcia and John Halama from Houston for Randy Johnson, has had an eye-opening spring after playing 10 games last September. Guillen, 23, is a natural shortstop. Bottom line: The offense is there with Griffey and Rodriguez leading the way, Martinez still producing at 36 and Buhner, 34, back in right field and apparently healthy after major surgery on his right elbow. The defense appears improved with Guillen at second base and Davis apparently over his fielding woes at third. OAKLAND ATHLETICS 1998: 74-88, 4th place, 14 games behind. Manager: Art Howe (4th season). He's Here: RHP Doug Jones, IF/OF Tony Phillips, OF Tim Raines. He's Outta Here: IF Mike Blowers, IF Rafael Bournigal, OF Rickey Henderson, LHP Mike Mohler. Projected Lineup: LF Tony Phillips, RF Ben Grieve, 1B Jason Giambi, DH Matt Stairs, 2B Scott Spiezio, SS Miguel Tejada, 3B Eric Chavez, CF Ryan Christenson, C A.J. Hinch. Rotation: LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Tom Candiotti, RHP Jimmy Haynes, RHP Brad Rigby, RHP Gil Heredia. Closer: RHP Billy Taylor. Hot Shot: Olemedo Saenz, signed as a minor-league free agent out of the 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. organization, made the team with a sensational spring. He provides depth at third and first base as well as DH and adds power from the right side. Bottom Line: Rogers gives the A's a solid No. 1 starter and Taylor may well be the AL's most underrated closer. Grieve, Giambi and Stairs have shown they can hit for power and average. Chavez has given every indication he can join the hit parade, batting .311 as a September callup. The AL West appears to be wide open, but the A's must shore up their defense to compete. CAPTION(S): 4 Photos PHOTO (1) Tim Salmon (2) Kenny Rogers (3) Jay Buhner (4) Juan Gonzalez |
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