American League Preview

WEST

HOT TOPIC

Are Suzuki’s days in Seattle numbered?

Ichiro Suzuki took America by storm six years ago, when the Seattle Mariners won 116 games and he was the American League most valuable player. Suzuki still does his thing every year -- 200 hits, 100 runs, 30 stolen bases, All-Star appearance, Gold Glove winner. But the Mariners haven’t returned to the playoffs since the 2001 season, finishing last three years running as clusters of empty seats sprout at Safeco Field.

Is a divorce between Suzuki and the Mariners in the offing? The question would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but he can file for free agency this fall and has hinted he’s tired of losing. And he’s not the only one: Mariners Chairman Howard Lincoln said late last season that General Manager Bill Bavasi and Manager Mike Hargrove “are on my hot seat.”

Rebuilding wouldn’t impress Suzuki -- or save any jobs -- so Seattle imported veterans Jose Guillen, Jose Vidro, Jeff Weaver and Miguel Batista in what appears to be a push for .500. The Mariners look good enough for mediocrity, probably not good enough for Suzuki.

So would Lincoln sacrifice Bavasi and Hargrove in an effort to keep his franchise player in town?

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IMPACT PLAYER

Harden is facing high expectations

Even before Barry Zito found his $126-million pot of gold at the other end of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, some A’s fans rationalized away his departure. Zito would be overrated and overpaid, or so they said, and Rich Harden would be better anyway.

Zito has seven years to prove his worth, but Harden had better prove his this year. Zito has a terrific curveball, Harden an otherworldly fastball, but Zito got the big bucks in large part because of his durability. Zito never has missed a start, while Harden’s innings pitched dropped from 190 to 128 to 47 over the last three years.

He’s 25, and with another injury-filled season, he’ll find his name next to Mark Prior in the “brilliant flash” category. The A’s could be doomed too, because their offense isn’t strong enough to carry a rotation of Dan Haren and question marks. Harden did look amazing in the Cactus League, striking out 25 of 53 batters and posting a 1.32 earned-run average.

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1. Angels (89-73)

On stuff alone, you’d take John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver over anyone in Yankees rotation.

2. Texas (80-82)

Power at the corners, and elsewhere. Home runs from infielders last season: Rangers 82, Angels 43.

3. Oakland (93-69)

Mike Piazza won’t catch, so he can DH every day. He homered once every 18 at-bats last season, same as Vladimir Guerrero.

4. Seattle (78-84)

Closer J.J. Putz faced 303 batters last season, struck out 101, walked 13, and gave up four home runs.

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CENTRAL

IMPACT PLAYER

Sheffield gives Tigers the big bat they need

By his standards, Gary Sheffield had a quiet spring. He called baseball’s steroid investigation a “witch hunt” aimed at Barry Bonds, testified against his former agent, Scott Boras, in a hearing over disputed commissions, and proclaimed he wanted to sign with the Boston Red Sox had the rival New York Yankees declined to exercise the $13-million option in his contract.

The Yankees didn’t dare afford him that chance, so they picked up the option, then traded him to Detroit for three prospects. The Tigers extended Sheffield’s contract through 2009, when he will be 40, adding two seasons at $28 million.

That should buy relative tranquillity this season. That also should ensure a menacing bat in an already potent lineup, all in support of the pitching staff with baseball’s best ERA last year. No one on the Tigers hit 30 home runs last season; Sheffield has done that in every season with 500 at-bats.

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HOT TOPIC

Work awaits Twins’ bullpen

Even the most devoted fantasy league players might have a tough time with this one: What are the first names of these Minnesota relievers: Nathan, Crain, Rincon and Neshek?

The Twins had baseball’s best bullpen earned-run average last year, but can they weather the decimation of their starting rotation?

As they shoot for their fifth division title in six years, with a lineup that led the majors in batting average last season, they’ll lean on their relievers every day that Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana does not start.

With Brad Radke retired and Francisco Liriano injured, the Twins must patch four spots in the rotation, picking for now from veterans Sidney Ponson, Carlos Silva and ex-Angel Ramon Ortiz and youngster Boof Bonser.

The Twins don’t need complete games from those guys -- good thing, because there’s no chance -- but they do need five or six decent innings so their relievers aren’t exhausted by the All-Star game.

Their names: Joe Nathan, Jesse Crain, Juan Rincon and Pat Neshek.

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1. Cleveland (78-84)

New closer Joe Borowski had 36 saves in 43 chances for Marlins last season; Indians had 24 in 47.

2. Detroit (95-67)

Growing pains for young arms? Jeremy Bonderman threw 234 innings last season, Justin Verlander 208, including playoffs.

3. Minnesota (96-66)

The defending AL MVP, Cy Young and batting champion all play here: Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, Joe Mauer.

4. Chicago (90-72)

It has been 120 at-bats -- and 19 months -- since the last time Darin Erstad hit a home run.

5. Kansas City (62-100)

Another 100-loss season would be the fourth in a row, last done by Casey Stengel’s New York Mets from 1962 to 1965.

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EAST

HOT TOPIC

Red Sox rolling the dice

The story line is not new: The pitcher arrives from Japan, highly acclaimed for his work there, eager to test his skill against major leaguers. Will Daisuke Matsuzaka inspire mania in Boston, or just maniacal screams?

Nomomania blossomed in Los Angeles in 1995. This was Hideo Nomo’s resume in his major league debut season for the Dodgers: All-Star, rookie of the year, National League strikeout leader.

And this was Hideki Irabu’s resume for the New York Yankees: a 7.09 ERA in his debut season in 1997, with owner George Steinbrenner dismissing him as a “fat toad” two years later, then banishing him to Montreal.

Nomo made his debut at 26, Irabu at 27. Matsuzaka is 26.

In Boston, there will be no patience, no allowance for an adjustment period. The Red Sox spent $51 million for the right to negotiate with him and another $52 million to sign him. They expect their investment in Matsuzaka to pay off immediately -- in sponsorship deals with Japanese corporations, and in taming the Yankees, not necessarily in that order.

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IMPACT PLAYER

Burnett could turn out to be a real bargain for Blue Jays

The Kansas City Royals signed Gil Meche for five years and $55 million over the winter, and everyone snickered. Toronto signed A.J. Burnett for five years and $55 million during the previous winter, and no one snickered. In that class of free agents, he was the ace.

With Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, Frank Thomas and Troy Glaus in the middle of the lineup, the Blue Jays can mash. B.J. Ryan led the East in saves last season, and Roy Halladay is the top starter in the division. If Burnett can stay healthy, Toronto has the best 1-2 punch in the division, two power arms to stop New York and Boston. If he can’t -- he sat out two months last season with elbow trouble -- then Joe Carter will remain the last Toronto player with a hit in the postseason, the home run that won the 1993 World Series.

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1. New York (97-65)

Robinson Cano hit .342 last year, third in the league to Joe Mauer and Derek Jeter. He could bat eighth for the defending division champ.

2. Boston (86-76)

The magic of free agency: Julio Lugo transformed from bench for the Dodgers to $36-million leadoff hitter for the Red Sox.

3. Toronto (87-75)

Royce Clayton’s jersey collection now includes a team from each of baseball’s six divisions.

4. Baltimore (70-92)

Owner Peter Angelos calls Brian Roberts “a special kind of player, just like Cal Ripken was for the Orioles.”

5. Tampa Bay (61-101)

Games out of first place, from last year to Rays’ first year: 36, 28, 30 1/2 , 38, 48, 34, 18, 29, 51.