THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

BASEBALL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS

*--* No Team Comment 1 NEW YORK YANKEES Godzilla and a $170-million zoo 2 OAKLAND ATHLETICS Wicked depth in AL West 3 ANGELS Struggling spring but still champs 4 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Trying to delay Social Security 5 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Thome can carry promising cast 6 HOUSTON ASTROS Kent may revitalize Killer Bs 7 ATLANTA BRAVES Hampton key as Glavine sub 8 DODGERS Need to avoid trainer’s room 9 BOSTON RED SOX Wary of closer by committee 10 NEW YORK METS Howe, hope and better chemistry? 11 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Isringhausen’s shoulder a big concern 12 CHICAGO WHITE SOX Got Colon, Koch and title 13 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Alou’s age least of questions 14 MINNESOTA TWINS Can prove ’02 no fluke 15 SEATTLE MARINERS Now have bench Piniella wanted 16 MONTREAL EXPOS Still have lots of talent 17 TORONTO BLUE JAYS Heading in right direction 18 TEXAS RANGERS Showalter may have to pitch 19 FLORIDA MARLINS Will steal games with speed 20 CHICAGO CUBS Dusty shy a mirror or two 21 CINCINNATI REDS New park, same recycled pitching 22 COLORADO ROCKIES Offense of hits and misses 23 PITTSBURGH PIRATES Revenue sharing hasn’t helped 24 CLEVELAND INDIANS Vizquel stuck in generation gap 25 BALTIMORE ORIOLES Coping with the Bechler trauma 26 KANSAS CITY ROYALS Beltran next to leave? 27 DETROIT TIGERS Trammell, Gibby start at bottom 28 SAN DIEGO PADRES Bad before Nevin, Hoffman hurt 29 MILWAUKEE BREWERS Testing even Bud’s love 30 TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS Kids will try Piniella’s patience

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