AMERICAN LEAGUE

WEST

In predicted order of finish

WHO’S NEW: 1B John Olerud. OF--Mike Cameron, Stan Javier. IF/OF--Mark McLemore. P--Brett Tomko, Aaron Sele, Arthur Rhodes, Kazuhiro Sasaki.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Ken Griffey Jr., Brian Hunter, Butch Huskey. P--Jeff Fassero. IF--Mike Blowers.

STRENGTHS: Pitching depth prevented the Mariners from reaching the World Series the last five years, but they finally appear to have the arms to complement a lineup that should still be productive despite the loss of Griffey. The bullpen will be vastly improved with the addition of Rhodes and Sasaki, and Seattle’s infield defense should be much stronger.

WEAKNESSES: As deep as the rotation is--Jamie Moyer is very dependable, and Freddy Garcia, Gil Meche and John Halama are considered three of the better young starters in the league--the Mariners don’t have that dominant, No. 1-type starter who can be counted on to stop a four-game losing streak. There will also be a reduction in power with Griffey gone.

OUTLOOK: In new, pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, the Mariners--once a team that relied almost exclusively on the long ball--have diversified, adding better pitching, defense and speed. There’s no Griffey, but the heart of an order featuring Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, Olerud and a healthy Jay Buhner is still good enough to return the Mariners to the top of the West.

AT EDISON FIELD: July 3-6, Sept. 29-Oct. 1

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PROJECTED LINEUP

LF Mark McLemore

3B Carlos Guillen

SS Alex Rodriguez

DH Edgar Martinez

1B John Olerud

RF Jay Buhner

CF Mike Cameron

2B David Bell

C Dan Wilson

STARTING PITCHERS

Jamie Moyer

Freddy Garcia

Aaron Sele

John Halama

Gil Meche

RELIEF PITCHERS

Jose Mesa

Paul Abbott

Frankie Rodriguez

Arthur Rhodes

Kazuhiro Sasaki

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Jeremy Giambi. P--Mike Magnante, Scott Service.

WHO’S GONE: P--Tim Worrell, Jimmy Haynes, Buddy Groom. OF--Tim Raines. IF--Tony Phillips. C--Mike Macfarlane.

STRENGTHS: Keep that tape measure handy, because the A’s, second in the league in homers last season, should blast plenty of balls over the walls. They are especially strong from the left side with Giambi, Matt Stairs, Ben Grieve and Eric Chavez. There is no Pedro Martinez, but the rotation is very solid, from one through five.

WEAKNESSES: A predominantly left-handed-hitting lineup leaves the A’s vulnerable against left-handed pitchers--they hit only .258 against them last season. There is a considerable dropoff from the starting lineup to the bench, so the A’s can’t afford any major injuries. The outfield defense is substandard, and there is little speed.

OUTLOOK: For the A’s to build on their breakthrough year in 1999 and challenge for the division title, several players will have to repeat their career years of last season, and pitchers such as Gil Heredia and Tim Hudson, who combined for 22 wins, will have to continue to improve. If team chemistry counts for anything, the A’s should contend.

AT EDISON FIELD: May 8-10, June 30-July 2.

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PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Rich Becker

2B Randy Velarde

1B Jason Giambi

DH John Jaha

RF Matt Stairs

LF Ben Grieve

3B Eric Chavez

C Ramon Hernandez

SS Miguel Tejada

STARTING PITCHERS

Kevin Appier

Omar Olivares

Tim Hudson

Gil Heredia

Ron Mahay

RELIEF PITCHERS

Jason Isringhausen

Mike Magnante

T.J. Mathews

Doug Jones

Scott Service

TEXAS RANGERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Kenny Rogers, Justin Thompson, Darren Oliver. OF--Gabe Kapler, Chad Curtis. IF--David Segui, Frank Catalanotto. C--Bill Haselman.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Juan Gonzalez, Roberto Kelly, Tom Goodwin. P--John Burkett, Jeff Fassero, Aaron Sele, Danny Patterson, Eric Gunderson. 3B--Todd Zeile. 2B--Mark McLemore. 1B--Lee Stevens.

STRENGTHS: Despite significant turnover, the Rangers should have a strong rotation, and they have one of the league’s deepest and most talented bullpens, anchored by closer John Wetteland. They have the best catcher in baseball, 1999 MVP Ivan Rodriguez, and a very productive first baseman in Rafael Palmeiro.

WEAKNESSES: Texas will not be as good defensively at second base, third base and in the outfield, and they will be relying on several young and unproven players in center fielder Ruben Mateo, third baseman Tom Evans and right fielder Gabe Kapler. The loss of slugger Gonzalez leaves a considerable void in the middle of the order.

OUTLOOK: Thompson, recovering from shoulder surgery, should be ready by May 1. The Rangers will need all the pitching they can get, because they won’t be nearly as lethal offensively as they’ve been in the past. If one or two of their young players have breakout years, they could challenge for the division title.

AT EDISON FIELD: May 11-14, July 19-20.

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PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Royce Clayton

LF Rusty Greer

C Ivan Rodriguez

1B Rafael Palmeiro

DH David Segui

CF Ruben Mateo

RF Gabe Kapler

3B Tom Evans

2B Luis Alicea

STARTING PITCHERS

Kenny Rogers

Rick Helling

Darren Oliver

Esteban Loaiza

Mark Clark

RELIEF PITCHERS

John Wetteland

Jeff Zimmerman

Tim Crabtree

Mike Venafro

ANGELS

WHO’S NEW: P--Kent Bottenfield, Kent Mercker, Tom Candiotti, Derrick Turnbow. 2B--Adam Kennedy, Scott Spiezio. IF--Benji Gil. OF--Edgard Clemente.

WHO’S GONE: P--Chuck Finley, Steve Sparks, Mike Magnante. C/DH--Todd Greene. CF--Jim Edmonds, IF--Jeff Huson.

STRENGTHS: A lineup that many believed was good enough to propel the Angels to a division title in 1999 returns healthy and, with the exception of Edmonds, intact. With Darin Erstad, Mo Vaughn, Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus, the Angels should be able to outslug some opponents. Even without a dependable left-hander, the Angel bullpen is deep and talented.

WEAKNESSES: The Angels will have to be among the league’s top offensive teams to overcome the shortcomings in their rotation. Ken Hill, the staff ace, has been hit hard this spring, and Tim Belcher will open the season on the disabled list. The pitching will improve if Bottenfield can come close to repeating last year’s 18-7 season.

OUTLOOK: Despite Manager Mike Scioscia’s gushing optimism about his rotation this spring, the Angels--even with Bottenfield--do not have enough quality arms to contend in the West. A great offense can carry a club for a while, but consistent pitching and defense wins more games in the long run.

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PROJECTED LINEUP

LF Darin Erstad

2B Adam Kennedy

1B Mo Vaughn

RF Tim Salmon

CF Garret Anderson

3B Troy Glaus

DH S. Spiezio

C B. Molina/M. Walbeck

SS Gary DiSarcina

STARTING PITCHERS

Ken Hill

Kent Bottenfield

Scott Schoeneweis

Jason Dickson

Ramon Ortiz

RELIEF PITCHERS

Troy Percival

Shigetoshi Hasegawa

Mark Petkovsek