Cleveland Indians
 The defending Central Division champions are not the same team that went to the
World Series two years ago, or even the same team that lost to the Orioles in the
first round of the playoffs last season. Albert Belle, the power center of the
Indians lineup now resides in Chicago, Carlos Baerga, the Indians former
designated hitter was traded last July, and Eddie Murray was traded to Anaheim.
Still, the Cleveland Indians are expected to challenge for the American League
pennant.
For the past two years, the Indians starting rotation held opposing batters to
the lowest ERA in the league. This year, Charles Nagy will lead a staff that
includes Jack McDowell, Orel Hershiser and Chad Ogea, who has turned into a
strong fourth starter. Nagy led the team last season with 17 wins, his best
production in three season, and appears to be regaining much of his previous
dominance. And, while both Hershiser and McDowell have struggled in previous
years, they can consistently dominate late into games. As for the bullpen, Eric
Plunk, Mike Jackson, Paul Assenmacher, and Alan Embree give manager Jim Hargrove
dozens of combinations for middle relief, and Jose Mesa has come away from his
legal troubles unscathed and is ready to lead the Indians to the playoffs.
As for the offense, the Indians have a new power leader in David Justice, who was
traded early in the season for Kenny Lofton. Along with Matt Williams, and a
core of strong hitters including Jim Thome, Chad Curtis and Julio Franco, this
team will produce offensive stats that make up for the off-season departures.
Finally, the combination of free-agent Tony Fernandez and three time gold glove
winner Omar Vizquel in the infield will keep hitters from advancing past first
and produce scores of double plays.
|
Texas Rangers
The Rangers have every reason to believe they can repeat as division champions,
if not make a run at the World Series. In 1996, they won 90 games and made the
playoffs for the first time in franchise history. And, in 1997, most of their
starting lineup has returned, the starting rotation is one of the strongest in
the American League, and the management went out and signed one of the league's
most dominant closers to their bullpen.
The Rangers will have all five starting pitchers back in 1997. Ken Hill is the
ace and a Cy Young candidate. John Burkett is not far behind filling the number
two spot in the rotation. Darren Oliver could be a big winner if he can find his
control, and Roger Pavlik and Bobby Witt combined won 31 games last season. The
big addition to the team is former Yankee closer, and World Series superstar John
Wetteland. Wetteland has 179 saves over the past five seasons and has converted
50 or his last 54 regular season save opportunities.
The offensive and defensive staple of the Rangers, Ivan Rodriguez, also happens
to be the best catcher in the American League. Rodriguez, who hit .300 and
scored 116 runs last season joins Benji Gil, Will Clark, and Dean Palmer, who hit
38 homers with 107 RBI's last season in a very strong infield. Damon Buford and
Rusty Greer, who despite being only 23, has seven game winning hits over the past
two seasons, join Juan Gonzalez, the defending American League MVP, in the
outfield. Gonzalez, assuming he can stay healthy, will prove to everyone that he
is one of the league's premier power hitters and could easily hit fifty homeruns.
|
Big D (Dallas)
