BASEBALL PREVIEW : Pack Improved, but Can A’s Be Had? : American League: La Russa says defending champion Oakland is ready for the test.

Oakland Athletics Manager Tony La Russa said his club enjoyed being in a race with the Angels and Kansas City Royals for the American League West pennant two years ago, and wouldn’t mind being tested again.

“Our guys like to compete,” La Russa said.

The A’s, winners of the last three AL championships, might get serious competition this season.

“I definitely think the division is going to be real rough, and I’m not saying that to be cute,” said La Russa, whose club pulled away from the White Sox late last summer to win the West by nine games and swept the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs. “I think any team in the division can win 90 games.”

With an expected starting lineup that averages over 30 years old, there’s no question the Angels have experience. Manager Doug Rader correctly predicted it would take 100 victories to win the West last season--the A’s had 103 to 94 for Chicago--but he’s not sure anyone will reach 100 this season.

“I think the division is going to be more competitive this year, and the more competitive it is, the fewer games will win it,” he said.

In the East, the Toronto Blue Jays have tried to trade their way to the pennant, while the Red Sox tried to assemble the best team money could buy.

A bold trade with the Padres brought second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Joe Carter to the Blue Jays for shortstop Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff.

The Red Sox paid $21.5 million to extend Roger Clemens’ contract, $8.7 million to sign Jack Clark for three years, $11.8 million to sign Danny Darwin, and $6.35 million to sign left-hander Matt Young, who has a 51-78 career record.

A look at each division in order of projected finish:

WESTERN DIVISION OAKLAND A’S

* 1990 finish: 103-59, first.

* Outlook: Manager Tony La Russa’s patience will be tested this season. Rickey Henderson, who is four stolen bases away from the all-time record, said during training camp his salary of only $3 million per year might not be enough to motivate him, because so many other players make more.

Jose Canseco, recovered from the back problems that led to his benching in Game 4 of the World Series, got another speeding ticket in the off-season and is in the midst of a divorce. How much turbulence can the A’s withstand if they find themselves in a two- or three-way race?

* New faces: Outfielder Willie Wilson, infielders Ernest Riles, Vance Law, pitcher Eric Show.

* Must have: More victories from Show than the six he won for the Padres last season. Show will be the fourth starter and rookie Kirk Dressendorfer the fifth, behind Dave Stewart, Cy Young winner Bob Welch and Mike Moore. Stewart is going for his fifth straight 20-victory season, which no one has done since Catfish Hunter in 1971-75.

The A’s also need big years from Stewart and Welch and another superb year from Dennis Eckersley, who had an earned-run average of 0.96 and walked only four batters in 73 1/3 innings while earning 48 saves.

* Don’t have: The air of invincibility they had in winning the last three division titles. Third baseman Carney Lansford, a stabilizing force in the infield, will be idled by knee surgery, the result of an off-season snowmobile accident.

Law, who played in Japan last season, is expected to replace him. They also lack left-hander Rick Honeycutt, who underwent shoulder surgery during spring training. If Henderson lacks commitment, the A’s will have problems.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

* 1990 finish: 94-68, second.

* Outlook: With former Oakland scout Ron Schueler as their general manager and Manager Jeff Torborg’s astute handling of his pitchers, the White Sox might avoid the letdown that often hits after a team takes huge strides. Their bullpen is deep, led by Bobby Thigpen and his record 57 saves.

* New faces: Outfielders Tim Raines, Cory Snyder, pitcher Charlie Hough. And Comiskey Park, reincarnated across the street from the Sox’s old home.

* Must have: More victories from their starters--none won more than 14 games in 1990. Maturity from Sammy Sosa, the talented but sometimes undisciplined outfielder. A big year from first baseman Frank Thomas, 22. Another Gold Glove year from shortstop Ozzie Guillen. More production from their left-handed hitters.

* Don’t have: Setup man Barry Jones, dealt to Montreal in the Raines trade. A .300 hitter: the closest were Lance Johnson and the seemingly ageless Carlton Fisk, who hit .285. They don’t have much power but their speed might compensate. They don’t have to settle for less than what they accomplished last season.

CALIFORNIA ANGELS

* 1990 finish: 80-82, fourth.

* Outlook: They’ll score a lot of runs but might give many back through questionable defensive play. The middle of the batting order is potentially formidable, as long as Lance Parrish, Wally Joyner and 39-year-olds Dave Winfield and Dave Parker stay healthy.

Luis Polonia earned the leadoff spot by hitting .335 last season and showed much-needed defensive improvement this spring. Manager Doug Rader hopes to have a set lineup, a luxury denied him last season by injuries and a lack of depth.

* New faces: Infielders Gary Gaetti, Luis Sojo, outfielders Junior Felix, Dave Gallagher, pitchers Jeff Robinson, Floyd Bannister, designated hitter Dave Parker.

* Must have: Better defensive play than 1990, when their 142 errors and .978 fielding percentage ranked 13th in the AL. More offensive dimensions than power--they stole only 69 bases last season, four more than Henderson by himself. A rebound from Gary Gaetti, whose offensive statistics faded in Minnesota while he struggled with injuries. Another big season from Chuck Finley (18-9 last year), 15 or 16 victories from Kirk McCaskill, healthy after elbow surgery, and 12 to 15 victories from Jim Abbott.

* Don’t have: Much in the bullpen besides Bryan Harvey; only Scott Bailes had an impressive spring and no one excelled in the long-relief role. Guarantees that Sojo is a major league second baseman and that Felix, who has played right field more than center, is an everyday center fielder.

SEATTLE MARINERS

* 1990 finish: 77-85, fifth.

* Outlook: A formidable starting staff and the exploits of Ken Griffey Jr. could make the Mariners a contender. Griffey hit .300 with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs last year at age 20, and his father hit .377 in 21 games. But Ken Sr.’s status was clouded by injuries he sustained in a preseason car accident.

* New faces: Pitcher Bill Krueger.

* Must have: Better defensive play from third baseman Edgar Martinez, who has little range but a good bat. Big years from Erik Hanson (18-9) and 6-foot-10 left-hander Randy Johnson (14-11) are also essential--and within reason.

* Don’t have: A winning season to their credit in 14 years. Developing a strong bullpen could change that. They don’t have any chance of contending unless Mike Schooler is healthy. He had 30 saves in 34 opportunities last season despite missing the final six weeks because of a shoulder problem.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

* 1990 finish: 75-86, sixth.

* Outlook: They’re being touted to contend on the theory they can’t be as bad as they were last season. After signing a four-year, $13-million contract, Mark Davis went 2-7 with a 5.11 ERA and six saves. To salvage him, the Royals hired Pat Dobson, who helped Davis win the NL Cy Young Award in 1989 for San Diego.

George Brett’s second-half charge to the AL batting title was stirring, but at 38, he’s likely to see more time at DH than at first base.

* New faces: Pitchers Mike Boddicker, Dan Schatzeder, outfielder/DH Kirk Gibson.

* Must have: A typical odd-numbered year from Bret Saberhagen. The right-hander is a combined 61-22 with two Cy Young awards in 1985, ’87 and ’89 but only 36-48 in even-numbered years, ‘84, ‘86, ’88 and ’90. A quick recovery from rotator cuff surgery from Mark Gubicza. A big year from center fielder Brian McRae, who hit .286 in 46 late-season games.

* Don’t have: Bo Jackson, whose defensive play in left will be missed after a hip injury led the Royals to release him.

TEXAS RANGERS

* 1990 finish: 83-79, third.

* Outlook: Nolan Ryan and Bobby Witt, who finished 1-2 in strikeouts last season, and Kevin Brown make the Rangers long-shot contenders. Ryan, who turned 44 in January, is a marvel: He pitched his sixth no-hitter last season and held opponents to a .188 average, lowest among AL pitchers.

* New faces: Designated hitter Brian Downing (now out with a broken hand).

* Must have: Fewer strikeouts. Ranger hitters struck out a league-high 1,054 times last season. Another outstanding season from first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who hit .314 with 89 RBIs. Better defense from left fielder Ruben Sierra, a solid year from second baseman Julio Franco, who missed a fifth consecutive .300 season by .004, and a good season from closer Jeff Russell, who missed most of 1990 because of elbow surgery.

* Don’t have: Much bench strength. A capable shortstop--Jeff Huson has a weak arm and limited range. Bullpen depth.

MINNESOTA TWINS

* 1990 finish: 74-88, seventh.

* Outlook: Three years after winning the World Series, the Twins hit bottom. They traded or lost Frank Viola, Gaetti, Tom Brunansky and Jeff Reardon and also lost their enthusiasm. Inexperienced starting pitchers and pitching in the offense-oriented Metrodome will be tough to overcome.

* New faces: Third baseman Mike Pagliarulo, pitchers Jack Morris, Steve Bedrosian.

* Must have: More than the 13 complete games their starters produced last season. More power: Kent Hrbek led them in homers with 22 last season and Kirby Puckett’s 80 RBIs was a five-year low. Puckett will move from center to right to accommodate Shane Mack.

* Don’t have: Speed. A reliable third baseman. Depth in the starting rotation. Only Kevin Tapani (12-8) hit double figures in victories, and he won only one game after mid-season.

EASTERN DIVISION TORONTO BLUE JAYS

* 1990 finish: 86-76, second.

* Outlook: They’ve got pitching, power, speed, defense and the best stadium in the league, the Sky Dome. GM Pat Gillick’s bold trades at the winter meetings turned over a team that had gone stale.

* New faces: Outfielders Joe Carter, Devon White, pitchers Willie Fraser, Ken Dayley, infielders Roberto Alomar, Pat Tabler.

* Must have: Manager Cito Gaston needs a way to blend so many new players into a cohesive team. Another good showing from Dave Stieb, who got his no-hitter last season and a career-high 18 victories. They also need a healthy Jimmy Key, who was 13-7 last season, and clutch performances from Tom Henke, who had 32 saves in 1990. If Kelly Gruber stays at his current level--31 homers, 188 RBIs--they could win easily.

* Don’t have: George Bell, lost to free agency. This might be addition by subtraction--he was renowned for his griping. They don’t have a regular DH, so Gaston will rotate it among several players.

BOSTON RED SOX

* 1990 finish: 88-74, first.

* Outlook: Roger Clemens was dominant last season, when he was 21-6 with a league-leading 1.93 ERA and 209 strikeouts. The drop-off after Clemens is dramatic. Greg Harris won 13 games but tired late in the year.

* New faces: Designated hitter Jack Clark, pitchers Matt Young, Danny Darwin.

* Must have: Solid outfield play from Brunansky, Ellis Burks and Mike Greenwell. More speed, but that’s true every year on this traditionally power-hitting team. A strong season by reliever Jeff Reardon, who had back surgery.

* Don’t have: Mike Boddicker, who took his 17 victories to Kansas City. A big loss. Darwin and Young will try to fill his role as the No. 2 starter. The Red Sox don’t have much speed and no semblance of a bullpen, their downfall in last year’s playoffs.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

* 1990 finish: 76-85, fifth.

* Outlook: Manager Frank Robinson’s team is due for an upswing: the Orioles lost 107 in 1988, contended in 1989 and fell to fifth last season. There’s enough talent to expect better in their last season at Memorial Stadium.

* New faces: First baseman Glenn Davis, DH Dwight Evans, pitcher Jeff Robinson.

* Must have: More Ripkens. Shortstop Cal Jr. made three errors last season and extended his consecutive-game streak to 1,411, second to Lou Gehrig’s 2,130. Second baseman Bill Ripken hit .291 and played respectable defense. They also need another season from Jeff Ballard like 1989 (18 victories) and not 1990 (2-11). Other needs: a complement to closer Gregg Olson, who had a club-record 37 saves, and lots of victories from Ben McDonald, who won his first five starts as a rookie last season and was 8-5.

* Don’t have: Much of a bullpen. Production from their catchers, Bob Melvin and Chris Hoiles.

DETROIT TIGERS

* 1990 finish: 79-83, third.

* Outlook: Cecil Fielder stunned everyone by hitting 51 home runs last season. He’s part of a solid infield. Overall, the Tigers have power and a decent outfield, led by Rob Deer in right and youngster Milt Cuyler in center.

* New faces: Deer, catcher Mickey Tettleton, pitcher Bill Gullickson, infielder Tony Bernazard.

* Must have: Another strong year from second baseman Alan Trammell, who hit .304 in a rare healthy season, and third baseman Travis Fryman, who hit .297 in 66 games.

Trammell’s longtime double-play partner, Lou Whitaker, will see more time at DH than at second. Right-hander Mike Henneman and left-hander Jerry Don Gleaton, who combined for 35 saves last season, must be effective again.

* Don’t have: Much of a starting rotation, since Morris’ departure. Frank Tanana, Walt Terrell and John Cerutti aren’t fearsome.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

* 1990 finish: 77-85, fourth.

* Outlook: They’re building their club--and moving back the fences--to show off center fielder Alex Cole, who has dazzling speed and above-average offensive ability. Albert Belle, who changed his name from Joey after going through treatment for alcoholism, can hit for power when he’s focused.

* New faces: Pitchers Eric King, Shawn Hillegas.

* Must have: More starting pitching to back up Tom Candiotti, Greg Swindell and King. Another good year from catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., who hit .290 last season. Support for reliever Doug Jones, who had 43 saves.

* Don’t have: Power. Reliable infield defense.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

* 1990 finish: 74-88, sixth.

* Outlook: The defense that committed a league-worst 149 errors last season might get worse. Paul Molitor will only DH as he comes back from shoulder surgery and Greg Vaughn is sub-par in left field. The pitching is almost as full of holes.

* New faces: Pitcher Edwin Nunez, outfielders Candy Maldonado, Dante Bichette, infielder/outfielder Franklin Stubbs, infielder Willie Randolph, catcher Rick Dempsey.

* Don’t have: Enough starting pitching. Left-hander Teddy Higuera has a tear in his rotator cuff and is on the disabled list, and Chris Bosio and Mark Knudson won’t cut it.

* Must have: The kind of season Bichette seemed poised to have with the Angels but never did. His arm is beyond reproach, but his pouting after he lost his starting job left him open to criticism. More than a .247 season from Robin Yount, who hit a career low.

NEW YORK YANKEES

* 1990 finish: 67-95, seventh.

* Outlook: The post-Steinbrenner Yankees might finally find peace--and another last-place finish. They should do better than last season, their worst since 1912, but the pitching still isn’t there.

* New faces: Pitcher Steve Farrs, Scott Sanderson.

* Must have: A healthy Don Mattingly. Hampered by a bad back, the perennial Gold Glove winner hit .256 with 42 RBIs. Better starting pitching: After signing a $5.7-million contract, Pascual Perez pitched three times before being felled by rotator cuff problems, Tim Leary lost 19 games and former Angel Mike Witt, projected to be the No. 1 starter, had elbow problems and starts the seson on the DL.

* Don’t have: A closer to replace Dave Righetti, who signed with the Giants as a free agent. Farr and Lee Guetterman will share the role. They lack a reliable third baseman, a position that will be split by Mike Blowers and Randy Velarde.