AMERICAN LEAGUE

By MIKE DiGIOVANNA

April 2, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

EAST

In predicted order of finish

NEW YORK TANKESS

WHO’S NEW: OF Roberto Kelly.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Darryl Strawberry, Chad Curtis. DH--Chili Davis. C--Joe Girardi. IF--Luis Sojo. P--Hideki Irabu.

STRENGTHS: The Yankees showed in the postseason last year that their rotation can match up with anyone’s. Cuban right-hander Orlando Hernandez, no matter what his age, has emerged as one of baseball’s best pitchers, and David Cone, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte provide quality depth. Mariano Rivera is the game’s best closer and Derek Jeter one of the best shortstops.

WEAKNESSES: There is concern that Cone and Clemens, both 37, may not have much left. Hernandez has been slowed by back injuries. The Yankees need Paul O’Neill to rebound from a subpar year (.285, 19 homers) and for left-handed-hitting Ricky Ledee to fill the void left by Strawberry (suspension) and Davis (retirement).

OUTLOOK: The two-time defending World Series champion Yankees stunk up the Grapefruit League, causing owner George Steinbrenner to grumble and some to conclude they’ll be vulnerable this season, but when the games count, look for New York, with its versatile and lethal lineup and premier pitching, to return to its dominant form and win the division.

AT EDISON FIELD: Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 11-13.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Chuck Knoblauch

SS Derek Jeter

RF Paul O’Neill

CF Bernie Williams

1B Tino Martinez

C Jorge Posada

DH Shane Spencer

LF Ricky Ledee

3B Scott Brosius

STARTING PITCHERS

Orlando Hernandez

Roger Clemens

Andy Pettitte

David Cone

Ramiro Mendoza

RELIEF PITCHERS

Mariano Rivera

Mike Stanton

Jeff Nelson

Jason Grimsley

BOSTON RED SOX

WHO’S NEW: OF--Carl Everett. P--Jeff Fassero. IF--Manny Alexander.

WHO’S GONE: P--Pat Rapp, P--Kent Mercker, 1B--Reggie Jefferson. OF--Butch Huskey, Damon Buford. IF--Lou Merloni.

STRENGTHS: There is no better pitcher in baseball than Pedro Martinez, who has led the Red Sox to consecutive wild-card berths and who gave up more than two runs in only five starts last year. The bullpen, led by new closer Derek Lowe, is fairly deep, and the Sox have one of the best shortstops (Nomar Garciaparra) in the game.

WEAKNESSES: Beyond Pedro Martinez, there are serious questions in the rotation. Ramon Martinez returned last September after missing 18 months because of shoulder surgery, Fassero is coming off the worst year of his career, Bret Saberhagen is out for several months because of rotator cuff surgery, and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield can be unpredictable.

OUTLOOK: If Ramon Martinez holds up, Fassero rebounds well and Saberhagen returns strong, the hard-nosed Red Sox, who may have the best team chemistry in the league and one of the game’s most underrated managers in Jimy Williams, could overtake the Yankees. If not, another wild-card berth is possible.

AT EDISON FIELD: Friday-April 9, Aug. 7-9.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Jose Offerman

3B John Valentin

CF Carl Everett

SS Nomar Garciaparra

LF Troy O’Leary

DH Mike Stanley

1B Brian Daubauch

C Jason Varitek

RF Trot Nixon

STARTING PITCHERS

Pedro Martinez

Ramon Martinez

Jeff Fassero

Tim Wakefield

Brian Rose

RELIEF PITCHERS

Derek Lowe

Rod Beck

Rich Garces

Rheal Cormier

John Wasdin

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Raul Mondesi, Marty Cordova. DH--Brad Fullmer. P--Pedro Borbon.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Shawn Green, Brian McRae. 3B--Tony Fernandez. 1B--David Segui. P--Pat Hentgen, Graeme Lloyd, Paul Spoljaric. C--Mike Matheny.

STRENGTHS: There is excellent speed at the top of the lineup with Shannon Stewart, Homer Bush and Mondesi, a trio Manager Jim Fregosi would like to combine for 100 stolen bases. The top three starting pitchers should be strong as long as Chris Carpenter recovers from post-operative swelling in his elbow, and closer Billy Koch, whose fastball has hit 101 mph, leads a solid bullpen.

WEAKNESSES: With Joey Hamilton (shoulder surgery) opening the season on the disabled list, the fifth rotation spot probably will be filled by a non-roster invitee, Frank Castillo. The bench is filled with several capable defensive players but no one who will strike fear in opposing pitchers in a pinch-hitting situation.

OUTLOOK: Mondesi, who had several run-ins with Dodger management and was deemed a malcontent in Los Angeles, has been a model citizen in Toronto, running out every ground ball and hustling in the field, and with a good attitude, he could be a capable replacement for Green in right field. A second-place finish is possible.

AT EDISON FIELD: April 10-12, Aug. 28-30.

LF Shannon Stewart

2B Homer Bush

RF Raul Mondesi

1B Carlos Delgado

DH Brad Fullmer

3B Tony Batista

C Darrin Fletcher

CF Jose Cruz

SS Alex Gonzalez

STARTING PITCHERS

David Wells

Chris Carpenter

Roy Halladay

Kelvim Escobar

Frank Castillo

RELIEF PITCHERS

Billy Koch

Paul Quantrill

Pedro Borbon

John Frascatore

Lance Painter

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

WHO’S NEW: P--Mike Trombley, Buddy Groom, Chuck McElroy. C--Greg Myers.

WHO’S GONE: P--Arthur Rhodes, Jesse Orosco, Scott Kamieniecki, Mike Fetters. IF--Jeff Reboulet.

STRENGTHS: The Orioles have three strong starters in Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson and Sidney Ponson, though Erickson starts the season on the disabled list. Four-time Gold Glove winner Charles Johnson has solved the club’s long-standing defensive problems behind the plate, and there is plenty of power in the heart of the order.

WEAKNESSES: The bullpen was 8-18 with a 5.91 earned-run average in the first half of 1999 before recovering slightly in the second half, and though Trombley is a solid addition, he can’t solve the team’s relief woes. First baseman Will Clark and second baseman Delino DeShields are coming off injury-marred seasons, and third baseman Cal Ripken turns 40 in August.

OUTLOOK: You can’t discount the offensive potential of any lineup that includes Brady Anderson, B.J. Surhoff, Albert Belle, Clark and Harold Baines, but the Orioles do not appear to have the overall pitching depth to contend for a playoff berth.

AT EDISON FIELD: May 16-17, Sept. 8-11.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Brady Anderson

SS Mike Bordick

LF B.J. Surhoff

RF Albert Belle

1B Will Clark

DH Harold Baines

3B Cal Ripken

C Charles Johnson

2B Delino DeShields

STARTING PITCHERS

Mike Mussina

Scott Erickson

Sidney Ponson

Pat Rapp

C. Maduro/J. Mercedes

RELIEF PITCHERS

Mike Timlin

Mike Trombley

B.J. Ryan

Chuck McElroy

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Greg Vaughn. 3B--Vinny Castilla. P--Juan Guzman, Steve Trachsel, Chad Ogea. OF--Gerald Williams.

WHO’S GONE: P--Rolando Arrojo, Bobby Witt. 3B--Wade Boggs. IF--Aaron Ledesma. OF--Terrell Lowery. 1B--Paul Sorrento.

STRENGTHS: Closer Roberto Hernandez, who converted 38 of 42 save opportunities, and setup man Jim Mecir, who has recovered from a broken elbow, lead a talented bullpen. Jose Canseco believes the heart of the order-- Canseco, Fred McGriff and Vaughn--has the potential to combine for 120 home runs, and Castilla adds more power at third.

WEAKNESSES: Left-hander Wilson Alvarez probably will open the season on the disabled list because of a sore left shoulder. The Devil Rays hope their new artificial surface, which has the softness of grass and doesn’t play as fast as artificial turf, negates their primary defensive shortcoming--a lack of range in the infield.

OUTLOOK: A winter spending spree that boosted the payroll from $37 million to $62 million has raised Devil Ray hopes, and the addition of Guzman gave the pitching staff a shot in the arm, but Tampa Bay does not appear to have the kind of starting pitching to challenge for a playoff berth.

AT EDISON FIELD: April 27-30, Sept. 12-13.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Gerald Williams

RF Dave Martinez

DH Jose Canseco

1B Fred McGriff

LF Greg Vaughn

3B Vinny Castilla

C John Flaherty

2B Miguel Cairo

SS Kevin Stocker

STARTING PITCHERS