After purging its team of several veterans and having another, Albert Belle, announce his retirement, the Orioles will be doomed to finish at the bottom of the AL East. 1b David Segui will be counted on to supply a lot of offense. 2b Delino Deshields, coming off perhaps his best season, is also a threat on the bases. SS Mike Bordick, back after a stint with the Mets, is coming off the best season of his career and could hit well in Camden Yards. 3b Cal Ripken, although aging, hit .340 in 1999 with 18 home runs but was slowed in 2000 due to injuries. LF Brady Anderson and RF Chris Richard can hit for power and must do so for this team to compete while CF Melvin Mora must contiune to improve after his trade from the Mets. The starting rotation was anchored by ace Mike Mussina, one of the best pitchers of the last decade. However, he left for the Yankees in the offseason. The Orioles need other pitchers to step up. Scott Erickson is a durable pitcher who can work a ton of innings. Sidney Ponson is also a strong starter. Jose Merceded was a bright spot for Baltimore, winning 14 games last season for a terrible team. Jason Johnson and Doug Johns round out the starting rotation. The bullpen is led by Mike Trombley and rookie Ryan Kohlmeier, who steps in as the new closer.
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The Boston Red Sox are one of the elite teams in the American League and a contender for the World Series. They are led by their pitching staff, which posted the best era in the AL in 2000. Their ace and the best pitcher in the game, Pedro Martinez, continues to dominate games. He won the 2000 Cy Young Award and established himself clearly as the best pitcher of the new era. In the offseason the Red Sox made several acquisitions in an attempt to dethrone the Yankees. They signed Hideo Nomo and David Cone to bolster the rotation. Frank Castillo and Tomo Ohka had solid 2000 seasons and will improve as they get more experience. Tim Wakefield is still a question mark as he can either be strong or a weak link in the rotation. In the bullpen, closer Derek Lowe has turned into a dominant factor for manager Jimy Williams. The Red Sox lineup is also solid. 1b Brian Daubach, one of the best rookies in the AL in 1999, continues to contribute. 2b Jose Offerman, although a defensive liability, can produce at the plate. SS Nomar Garciaparra is one of the elite players in baseball and won his 2nd straight batting title in 2000. 3b Chris Stynes, acqired from the Reds, brings a big bat with him to Boston. The outfield has been improved by the addition of star center fielder Carl Everett. Everett has been a great presence in the Boston lineup, leading the club in home runs. However, the addition that could put the Red Sox over the top is the addition of superstar Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is one of the premier hitters of his era and is an RBI machine. His presence will make the entire lineup more productive. Dante Bichette, Troy O'Leary and Trot Nixon have also contributed to this playoff contender.
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The 3 time defending champion Yankees are primed for another run to the top. After defeating the Mets, Mariners, and Athletics in the 2000 playoffs, the Yankees calmed doubts that they were finished. During the offseason, the addition of RHP Mike Mussina put those doubts to rest. Mussina joins a pitching staff deep in talent. Roger Clemens (13-8, 3.70) had a stellar 2nd half of the 2000 season and threw a 1 hitter against Seattle in game 4 of the ALCS. Andy Pettitte, a 19 game winner, is one of the premier leftys in baseball and pitched great baseball in both World Series contests that he appeared in. Orlando Hernandez, coming off his worst season in pinstripes, look to get back on the path to success. After the departures of Jeff Nelson and Jason Grimsley, the Yankees bullpen is thin. However, Mariano Rivera and Mike Stanton, two of the best performers in playoff history, are still around to shut down opponents in the late innings. Ramiro Mendoza, coming off surgery, looks to fill the last spot in the rotation. Doc Gooden and Adrian Hernandez are also viable candidates to fill the void of 5th starter or long reliever. The offense is aging but still effective. 1b Tino Martinez had his worst season since 1994, driving in only 91 runs. At 2b, rookie Alfonso Soriano steps in for Chuck Knoblauch, whose throwing problems forced a move to left field. SS Derek Jeter, he of the $189 contract, is a fixture at short and will continue to excel. 3b Scott Brosius is in the last year of his contract and must have a good year at the plate after hitting only .230 last season. CF Bernie Williams is one of the best players in the game and will continue to shine at the plate and with the glove. RF Paul O'Neill, in possibly his last season as a Yankee, drove in 100 runs last season and proved he still have some gas in the tank. LF/DH David Justice hit over 40 home runs last season for the 2nd time in his career and provided a needed jolt to the Yankees offense. C Jorge Posada had a great season while making the All Star team and will improve upon last season's strong totals.
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After failing to improve with several big additions in 2000, the Devil Rays look to youth to put them on the right track. However, the pitching has been a wreck so the offensive talent has not been able to help enough. Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman, two of the team's top starters, have both been injured. Albie Lopez stepped up in the 2nd half of the 2000 season and should continue his success. Paul Wilson, the former Mets prospect, is primed for a strong season. Ryan Rupe and Brian Rekar are slotted for the bottom of the rotation but neither have produced on the major league level. The new closer is Tanyon Sturtze after Roberto Hernandez was traded to Kansas City. 1b Fred McGriff continues to spark the team and can be counted on to produce again. 2b Brent Abernathy is a new addition to the Ray's lineup and is unproven. SS Felix Martinez, another young player with potential, could be a good player in the future. 3b Vinny Castilla, one of the best third basemen in the game, anchors the infield. C John Flaherty must improve at the plate to be successful. DH Steve Cox, one of the top power prospects in baseball, could have a good season. The outfield includes slugger Greg Vaughn, the team's best hitter, along with the speedy Gerald Williams and newcomer Ben Grieve, who has 76 home runs and 303 RBI in his 4 career seasons.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have all the makings of a playoff contender. With a powerful lineup and strong pitching, this team is one of the best in the AL. If Mike Sirotka can pitch this season he will be one of the best left handed pitchers in baseball. Steve Parris, acquired from the Reds, could contribute. He had a strong 1999 season but stumbled in 2000. Chris Carpenter has all the tools to become a dominant pitcher. Kelvim Escobar and Roy Halladay are also consistent starters. Joey Hamilton and Esteban Loaiza are reliable starters at the back end of the rotation. Closer Billy Koch can be overpowering. The offense can crush the baseball. 1b Carlos Delgado is a triple crown threat, dominating the league in 2000. 2b Homer Bush, acquired in the Roger Clemens trade with New York, has great speed and is a good hitter. SS Alex Gonzalez has a good glove and can hit as well. 3b Tony Batista is one of the best hitting players in the game at his position and slugged over 40 home runs last year. C Darrin Fletcher can produce at the plate and is a stable presence behind it. In the outfield, there is a lot of young talent. RF Raul Mondesi, acquired from the Dodgers in a trade for Shawn Green, has provided a big bat for Toronto. CF Jose Cruz is developing into a fine player and LF Shannon Stewart is becoming an elite outfielder for this contender.
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