AMERICAN LEAGUE PREVIEWS

(In order of predicted finsh)

WEST

SEATTLE MARINERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Jeff Fassero, P--Scott Sanders, P--Dennis Martinez.

WHO’S GONE: P--Sterling Hitchcock, P--Mike Jackson, P--Terry Mulholland, 3B--Dave Hollins, C--Chris Widger.

STRENGTHS: A lineup that broke two 60-year-old major league records, for extra-base hits (607) and total bases (2,741), returns intact. The Mariners also hit 245 home runs, scored 993 runs and set major league records for grand slams (11) and back-to-back home runs (19). The rotation should be stronger with the return of 1995 Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson and Fassero and Sanders.

WEAKNESSES: Johnson is still a question after sitting out most of ’96 because of back surgery. Middle relief is a major concern because of the loss of Jackson. The Mariners don’t have much speed, but who needs it when you trot around the bases as often as these guys?

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Joey Cora, SS--Alex Rodriguez, CF--Ken Griffey Jr., DH--Edgar Martinez, RF--Jay Buhner, 1B--Paul Sorrento, C--Dan Wilson, 3B--Russ Davis, LF--Lee Tinsley/Rich Amaral. SP--Fassero, Jamie Moyer, Randy Johnson, Sanders, Martinez; RP--Norm Charlton, Bobby Ayala, Greg McCarthy, Bob Wells.

OUTLOOK: The Mariners should win the division if they avoid injury, but that isn’t a sure thing--they had 952 days on the disabled list last season, fifth most in the league. If Johnson makes a strong comeback, Seattle could reach its first World Series.

*

TEXAS RANGERS

WHO’S NEW: P--John Wetteland, INF--Billy Ripken, P--Xavier Hernandez, OF--Mike Devereaux.

WHO’S GONE: SS--Kevin Elster, CF--Darryl Hamilton, P--Mike Henneman, P--Jeff Russell, P--Mike Stanton.

STRENGTHS: The rotation accounted for 75 wins in 1996, most in baseball, and each starter is durable enough to pitch 180 innings. The Rangers, who last season lost 11 games when they were leading with three outs to go, addressed a major need by signing Wetteland. Texas is sound defensively.

WEAKNESSES: Juan Gonzalez, the 1996 AL most valuable player, tore a ligament in his left thumb in in winter league play and is not expected back until early May, and the loss of Hamilton at the top of the order and Elster at the bottom leave major voids. Getting to Wetteland might be a problem--Ranger set-up men are shaky.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Mark McLemore, C--Ivan Rodriguez, LF--Rusty Greer, 3B--Dean Palmer, 1B--Will Clark, DH--Mickey Tettleton, RF--Devereaux/Warren Newson, CF--Damon Buford, SS--Benji Gil. SP--Ken Hill, John Burkett, Darren Oliver, Roger Pavlik, Bobby Witt; RP--Wetteland, Hernandez.

OUTLOOK: Everything went right for Texas last season, Seattle suffered numerous injuries and Texas still led the Mariners by only one game in the last week of the season. Starting pitching will keep the Rangers in the wild-card hunt, but they don’t have enough offense to overcome Seattle.

*

ANGELS

WHO’S NEW: P--Allen Watson, P--Mark Gubicza, P--Shigetoshi Hasegawa, 3B--Dave Hollins, C--Jim Leyritz, DH--Eddie Murray, 2B--Luis Alicea, M--Terry Collins.

WHO’S GONE: 1B--J.T. Snow, DH--Chili Davis, INF--Rex Hudler, P--Shawn Boskie.

STRENGTHS: The bullpen is loaded with talent from the right (closer Troy Percival, set-up man Mike James) and left (Mike Holtz, Chuck McElroy) sides. Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds and Garret Anderson make up one of baseball’s best outfields, Darin Erstad should provide more production from the leadoff spot and Jorge Fabregas is a more-than-adequate defensive catcher.

WEAKNESSES: Jason Dickson began camp as one of three pitchers bidding for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. He leaves camp as the No. 2 starter. That says a lot about Dickson . . . and the rotation, which is one of the league’s weakest and will open without ace Chuck Finley, who suffered a roken bone below his right eye. Middle relief is a sore spot, and Leyritz has struggled defensively.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1B--Erstad, 2B--Alicea, CF--Edmonds, RF--Salmon, 3B--Hollins, DH--Murray, LF--Anderson, C--Fabregas/Leyritz, SS--Gary DiSarcina. SP--Mark Langston, Dickson, Watson, Hasegawa, Gubicza; RP--Percival, James, Holtz, McElroy.

OUTLOOK: There is very little pitching depth, so the Angels are a key injury or two from another dreadful season like 1996.

*

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

WHO’S NEW: DH--Jose Canseco, 2B--Scott Spiezio, INF--Dave Magadan, C--David Valle.

WHO’S GONE: SS--Mike Bordick, C--Terry Steinbach, P--Jim Corsi, OF--Pedro Munoz.

STRENGTHS: The power void left by Steinbach, who signed with Minnesota after hitting 35 homers last season, should be filled by Canseco, so there’s no reason the Mark McGwire-led A’s, who hit 243 homers in 1996, shouldn’t be just as potent in ’97.

WEAKNESSES: This could be one of baseball’s worst defensive outfields, a trio that won’t run down many balls in the gaps or bail out pitchers with spectacular plays. The A’s don’t really have a closer, though they claim Billy Taylor, who had a brutal spring, will fill the role.

PROJECTED LINEUP: SS--Tony Batista, 3B--Scott Brosius, DH--Canseco, 1B--McGwire, RF--Geronimo Berroa, LF--Jason Giambi, CF--Ernie Young, 2B--Spiezio, C--George Williams/Izzy Molina. SP--Ariel Prieto, Willie Adams, Steve Karsay, Mike Mohler, Dave Telgheder; RP--Taylor, Richie Lewis, Buddy Groom.

OUTLOOK: A team many expected would lose 95-100 games went 78-84 last year, and the A’s will have to overachieve again to finish third in the West. A .500 record would be a considerable achievement.

CENTRAL

CLEVELAND INDIANS

WHO’S NEW: 3B--Matt Williams, CF--Marquis Grissom, RF--David Justice, P--Mike Jackson, P--Terry Clark, 2B--Robby Thompson, OF--Kevin Mitchell, INF--Tony Fernandez.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Albert Belle, CF--Kenny Lofton, P--Julian Tavarez, P--Alan Embree, INF--Jeff Kent, INF--Jose Vizcaino, C--Tony Pena.

STRENGTHS: Grissom gives the Indians more power at the top of the order, and Justice solidifies an outfield that would have been suspect with Kevin Mitchell in left. With Williams at third and Jim Thome moving from third to first, the infield should be stronger defensively. The rotation is solid, and the bullpen has led the league in ERA and save conversions for two years.

WEAKNESSES: There’s a lot less tension in the clubhouse without Belle, but you don’t just let 48 homers and 148 RBIs slip away and not feel the loss. “Albert could cause some distractions,” Manager Mike Hargrove said of the temperamental slugger, “but I’ll miss him at 7:30.” The Indians will miss Lofton’s speed, as well.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Grissom, SS--Omar Vizquel, 1B--Thome, 3B--Williams, RF--Justice, DH--Julio Franco, LF--Ramirez, C--Sandy Alomar, 2B--Fernandez. SP--Charles Nagy, Orel Hershiser, Jack McDowell, Chad Ogea, Albie Lopez; RP--Jose Mesa, Jackson, Eric Plunk.

OUTLOOK: Injuries are a problem--Vizquel sat out several weeks this spring because of rotator cuff tendinitis, and Fernandez (strained rotator cuff), Ramirez (pulled thigh) and Franco (back) missed significant time. Once sound, the Indians, because of their rotation and bullpen, have a slight edge over the White Sox.

*

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

WHO’S NEW: OF--Albert Belle, P--Doug Drabek, P--Jaime Navarro, P-Roger McDowell.

WHO’S GONE: P--Alex Fernandez, P--Kevin Tapani, OF--Danny Tartabull.

STRENGTHS: Neither had a home run entering the final week of spring training, but Frank Thomas and Belle, who combined for 88 homers and 282 RBIs last season, could be baseball’s most formidable one-two punch. Roberto Hernandez, a first-round pick of the Angels in 1986, emerged last season as one of baseball’s best closers, with 38 saves and a 1.91 ERA.

WEAKNESSES: Third baseman Robin Ventura, who was being counted on to provide protection behind Thomas and Belle in the lineup, is out for about four months after shredding his ankle while sliding in a recent spring game. Catcher Ron Karkovice is a concern after undergoing the fifth operation on his right knee during the winter.

PROJECTED LINEUP: RF--Tony Phillips, CF--Dave Martinez, 1B--Thomas, LF--Belle, DH--Harold Baines, 3B--Chris Snopek, 2B--Ray Durham, C--Karkovice, SS--Ozzie Guillen. SP--Jaime Navarro, Wilson Alvarez, James Baldwin, Doug Drabek, Danny Darwin; RP--Hernandez, McDowell, Bill Simas, Matt Karchner.

OUTLOOK: The White Sox will have a potent offense even without Ventura, but their rotation drops off considerably after Navarro and Alvarez.

*

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Joel Adamson, P--Jeff Ware.

WHO’S GONE: INF--David Hulse, INF--Pat Listach.

STRENGTHS: The starting rotation, with Ben McDonald, Cal Eldred, Scott Karl and Jeff D’Amico, is the best the Brewers have had in years, and the bullpen, thanks to last season’s Greg Vaughn and Graeme Lloyd trades--which netted Bob Wickman, Ron Villone and Bryce Florie--is much improved. John Jaha (34 homers, 118 RBIs in 1996) is one of the game’s most underrated first basemen.

WEAKNESSES: There is no real leadoff hitter, so the Brewers have been experimenting with Jeromy Burnitz and Chuck Carr. Milwaukee isn’t expecting much offense from the catching platoon of Jesse Levis and Mike Matheny. The Brewers are still unsure who will be their fifth starter.

PROJECTED LINEUP: RF--Burnitz, 3B--Jeff Cirillo, DH--Dave Nilsson, 1B--Jaha, LF--Marc Newfield, SS--Jose Valentin, 2B--Fernando Vina, CF--Carr, C--Levis/ Matheny. SP--McDonald, Eldred, Karl, D’Amico; RP--Mike Fetters, Wickman, Florie, Villone.

OUTLOOK: The Brewers are light years behind the Indians and White Sox, but they got more for their money last season than most teams--with a payroll of $24 million, they went 80-82.

*

MINNESOTA TWINS

WHO’S NEW: C--Terry Steinbach, P--Bob Tewksbury, 1B--Greg Colbrunn.

WHO’S GONE: INF--Chip Hale, INF--Jeff Reboulet, C--Matt Walbeck.

STRENGTHS: The pesky Twins were second in the league in batting last season, and the offense should only get better with Steinbach, who will also be a major upgrade behind the plate. Minnesota has one of baseball’s best managers in Tom Kelly.

WEAKNESSES: Pitching, as usual. The Twins had baseball’s worst staff in 1994 and ‘95, and it’s doubtful Rick Aguilera (sore left knee) will start the season. But even when injury free, the rotation is suspect. There are question marks in the bullpen, where Eddie Guardado, Dan Naulty and Mike Trombley will form a closer-by-committee.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Chuck Knoblauch, CF--Rich Becker, DH--Paul Molitor, C--Steinbach, LF--Marty Cordova, 1B--Scott Stahoviak, RF--Matt Lawton, SS--Pat Meares, 3B--Todd Walker. SP--Brad Radke, Frankie Rodriguez, Tewksbury, Aguilera, Scott Aldred; RP--Guardado, Naulty, Trombley.

OUTLOOK: The overachieving Twins were in the wild-card race until the end of August last season, and if they get decent pitching, they’ll have a chance to remain in contention again.

*

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

WHO’S NEW: SS--Jay Bell, DH--Chili Davis, 1B--Jeff King, C-Tim Spehr.

WHO’S GONE: P--Mark Gubicza, P--Jeff Granger, INF--Joe Randa.

STRENGTHS: Many teams would gladly trade their starting rotations for Kansas City’s, which had the best combined ERA (4.37) in the league in 1996. The offense improves with the addition of Bell, Davis and King, who combined for 71 homers and 277 RBIs last season.

WEAKNESSES: Closer Jeff Montgomery blew 10 saves last season and might be slow to recover from September’s shoulder surgery. He’ll be set up by two rookies, Jaime Bluma and Brian Bevil, so the bullpen is a question. Opponents should have no trouble running on the Royals’ weak outfield arms.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 2B--Jose Offerman, SS--Bell, LF--Bip Roberts, 1B--King, DH--Davis, 3B--Craig Paquette, RF--Michael Tucker, C--Mike Macfarlane, CF--Tom Goodwin/Johnny Damon. SP--Kevin Appier, Chris Haney, Tim Belcher, Jose Rosado, Hipolito Pichardo; RP--Montgomery, Bevil, Bluma, Jason Jacome.

OUTLOOK: The Royals have added some power to a speed-oriented lineup and have good pitching, but third place would be a major accomplishment.

EAST

NEW YORK YANKEES

WHO’S NEW: P--David Wells, P--Mike Stanton, OF--Mark Whiten.

WHO’S GONE: P--Jimmy Key, P--John Wetteland, C--Jim Leyritz, P--Scott Kamieniecki, INF--Tony Fernandez, OF--Mike Aldrete.

STRENGTHS: Mariano Rivera, who went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings in 1996, should have no problem moving from set-up man to closer. Center fielder Bernie Williams and shortstop Derek Jeter have emerged as two of the best young players in baseball. The rotation, led by David Cone and Andy Pettitte, is outstanding.

WEAKNESSES: The Yankees were totally selfless during their 1996 World Series championship run, but they do not appear as unified this spring. Cecil Fielder’s trade demand, which was eventually withdrawn, was a distraction, and there have been contract disputes with Williams and Jeter.

PROJECTED LINEUP: SS--Jeter, 3B--Wade Boggs, CF--Williams, DH--Fielder, 1B--Tino Martinez, RF--Paul O’Neill, LF--Darryl Strawberry, 2B--Mariano Duncan, C--Joe Girardi. SP--Cone, Pettitte, David Wells, Dwight Gooden, Kenny Rogers; RP--Rivera, Stanton, Jeff Nelson, Graeme Lloyd.

OUTLOOK: They don’t have much team speed, but the Yankees have one of the most balanced lineups in baseball and should benefit from having Fielder and Strawberry for the whole season. But it’s their pitching depth, in the rotation and bullpen, that makes them division favorites.

*

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

WHO’S NEW: P--Jimmy Key, SS--Mike Bordick, OF--Eric Davis, P--Shawn Boskie, INF--Kelly Gruber, INF--Jeff Reboulet, C--Lenny Webster, C--Tim Laker.

WHO’S GONE: P--David Wells, 3B--Todd Zeile, OF--Bobby Bonilla, OF--Mike Devereaux, DH--Eddie Murray, C--Mark Parent, INF--Manny Alexander.

STRENGTHS: The Orioles were too much of a one-dimensional team last season, so they exchanged some power (Bonilla, Zeile) for speed and defense (Bordick, Davis). Cal Ripken Jr. has made a smooth transition from shortstop to third base, and Bordick will make Baltimore even stronger at shortstop. The rotation is strong, and the bullpen should be improved.

WEAKNESSES: Any outfield injury could be devastating, because the Orioles don’t have much depth. Unfortunately, the injury-prone Davis has played 120 games or more only once in the last six years. Baltimore will also miss some of those three-run homers that Bonilla and Zeile provided.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Brady Anderson, SS--Bordick, 2B--Roberto Alomar, 1B--Rafael Palmeiro, RF--Davis, 3B--Ripken, LF--B.J. Surhoff, DH--Pete Incaviglia, C--Chris Hoiles. SP--Mike Mussina, Key, Scott Erickson, Rocky Coppinger, Boskie; RP--Randy Myers, Jesse Orosco, Armando Benitez, Alan Mills.

OUTLOOK: Alomar missed almost all of spring training because of an ankle injury and will sit out the first five games of the season because of his 1996 suspension. But once at full strength, the Orioles should contend for the division title or wild-card berth.

*

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

WHO’S NEW: P--Roger Clemens, C--Benito Santiago, P--Dan Plesac, OF--Orlando Merced, INF--Carlos Garcia.

WHO’S GONE: 1B--John Olerud.

STRENGTHS: Don’t look now, Brave fans, but Toronto may just have the best rotation in baseball, a group that features Juan Guzman, who led the league in ERA (2.93) last year; Pat Hentgen, the ’96 Cy Young Award winner, and Roger Clemens, who led the league in strikeouts (257). Guzman, Clemens and Hentgen also finished 1-2-3 in opponents’ batting average.

WEAKNESSES: Joe Carter is moving from the outfield to first base, where he is not expected to win a Gold Glove. Overall defense is weak, and Otis Nixon has no arm in center field. There is a general lack of power, and shortstop Alex Gonzalez strikes out way too often (127 in ‘96).

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Nixon, 2B--Carlos Garcia, RF--Merced, 1B--Carter, 3B--Ed Sprague, DH--Carlos Delgado, C--Santiago, LF--Shawn Green, SS--Gonzalez. SP--Hentgen, Clemens, Guzman, Erik Hanson, Woody Williams; RP--Mike Timlin, Plesac, Tim Crabtree.

OUTLOOK: If New York or Baltimore falters, the Blue Jays could jump into the wild-card picture. But Toronto had great pitching in ’96 and went 74-88, and it doesn’t appear the Blue Jays have added enough offense to finish too far over .500.

*

BOSTON RED SOX

WHO’S NEW: P--Steve Avery, SS--Nomar Garciaparra, OF--Shane Mack, P--John Wasdin, P--Chris Hammond, M--Jimy Williams.

WHO’S GONE: P--Roger Clemens, DH--Jose Canseco, P--Stan Belinda, OF--Mike Greenwell, OF--Dwayne Hosey, OF--Lee Tinsley.

STRENGTHS: First baseman Mo Vaughn is one of baseball’s most-feared hitters, as he showed again in 1996, batting .326 with 44 homers and 143 RBIs. Tim Naehring is a potential Gold Glove winner at third, the rookie Garciaparra has excellent range at short, and John Valentin has made a smooth transition from short to second, so Boston’s infield should be good defensively.

WEAKNESSES: Avery, signed from Atlanta, has looked like a $4.5-million bust in spring training, and the rotation is ace-less. There is no other power hitter to protect Vaughn in the lineup. Outfield defense is shaky, and the Red Sox are so desperate for a leadoff batter they’re using Mack in the spot.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Darren Bragg/Mack, 3B--Naehring, 2B--Valentin, 1B--Vaughn, DH--Reggie Jefferson/Mike Stanley, LF--Wil Cordero, RF--Pemberton/Troy O’Leary, C--Bill Haselman, SS--Garciaparra. SP--Tom Gordon, Tim Wakefield, Aaron Sele, Avery, Wasdin; RP--Heathcliff Slocumb, Hammond, Mike Maddux.

OUTLOOK: The Red Sox last won a World Series in 1918, and the drought for New England fans is sure to reach 69 years this season.

*

DETROIT TIGERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Doug Brocail, P--Willie Blair, OF--Brian Hunter, C--Brian Johnson, P--Todd Jones, C--Matt Walbeck, SS--Orlando Miller, 2B--Jody Reed, P--Dan Miceli, OF--Vince Coleman.

WHO’S GONE: SS--Alan Trammel, C--Brad Ausmus, P--Joey Eischen, INF--Mark Lewis, P--Jose Lima, P--C.J. Nitkowski, OF--Ruben Sierra.

STRENGTHS: First baseman Tony Clark hit 27 homers after being called up June 1, and the only AL players to hit more homers after June 1 were Mark McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Ken Griffey, Brady Anderson and Jim Thome. Add Travis Fryman and Bobby Higginson, and the middle of the order looks OK.

WEAKNESSES: Take heart, Angel fans. There is a rotation in worse shape--Tiger starting pitchers combined for 11 wins last year, and opening-day starter Brocail has a 6-18 record for his career.

PROJECTED LINEUP: CF--Hunter, 2B--Damion Easley, 3B--Fryman, 1B--Clark, LF--Higginson, RF--Melvin Nieves, DH--Bubba Trammell, C--Brian Johnson/Matt Walbeck, SS--Orlando Miller. SP--Brocail, Justin Thompson, Willie Blair, Brian Moehler, Omar Olivares; RP--Jones, Mike Meyers, Miceli.

OUTLOOK: The toughest job in baseball may be Tiger marketing director--how the heck do you sell this team? Well, at least there’s a new stadium on the way, which will replace aging and decrepit Tiger Stadium in 1999.