Baltimore Orioles
 After losing in last year's playoffs
to the New York Yankees, General Manager Pat
Gillick made significant changes to the roster, in hopes of climbing out of the
shadow of the defending champs. The biggest of all the deals was stealing
free-agent Jimmy Key away from the Bronx bombers to bolster the O's already
strong starting rotation. But, Gillick was forced to give up big-ticket
outfielder Bobby Bonilla and DH Eddie Murray and the Orioles will feel their
loss.
Off-season additions have given manager Davey Johnson, who has never finished
lower than second in any of his nine full seasons as a big league manager, the
tools he needs to finally beat the Yankees. Key will join Mike Mussina and
Scott Erickson in one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball. Rocky
Coppinger (assuming he can stay out of the minors) and Shawn Boskie will look to
fill the four and five spots. Depth still plagues the Orioles bullpen with
Arthur Rhodes, Mike Johnson, and Jesse Orosco looking to pave the road for
erratic but talented closer Randy Myers.
Offensively and defensively, the Orioles are strong. Ironman Cal Ripken
continues his streak at third base for the first time in over a decade, but is
joined by Mike Bordick and Roberto Alomar in one of the most talented infields in
the big leagues. Brady Anderson, who hit 51 homers last year, is joined in the
outfield by former Reds star Eric Davis, and looks for the third spot to be
filled by either B.J. Surhoff or Jeffrey Hammonds. And, assuming he can stay
healthy, Designated Hitter Pete Incaviglia will provide the O's with consistent
power.
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Detroit Tigers
Tigers manager Buddy Bell is known
around the league for having incredible
patience. This season will certainly test his patience. The Detroit Tigers
cleaned house over the past few years, off-loading (among others) Cecil Fielder,
Ruben Sierra and Gregg Olson. And, the 75% turnover on their roster, and bargain
basement talent, have left the team ready to make a run for the pennant...in
2006. Still, General Manager Randy Smith, who rebuilt the San Diego Padres at
rock bottom prices, has put together a young, talented, albeit unknown lineup
that will win enough games at key times to frustrate the leaders of the American
League East.
The Tigers, coming off a franchise record 109 defeats in 1996, have a mediocre
starting rotation including Omar Olivares, Felipe Lira, Justin Thompson, Doug
Brocail and Willie Blair. Both Blair and Brocail are young pitchers who bring
little game experience to the mound and Lira went his final 13 starts of last
season without a win. Thompson, who has the strongest arm on the team, and
Olivares, who allowed only 169 hits in 160 innings or work despite lacking
significant pitching talent, can bring the Tigers into the late innings, but
have little support behind him in the bullpen. With the loss of any definite
closer, the Tigers are forced to depend on Dan Miceli or Tood Jones, neither of
which have shown ability as a closer in outings with other teams.
Fortunately for the pitching staff, the Tigers offense has a lot of potential.
Tony Clark, the 1990 first round draft pick has finally earned a permanent spot
on the team and is expected to have a twenty homer season and Brian Hunter will
be a constant lead-off hitter and base running threat. Left fielder Bobby
Higginson has potential to be an all-star, Damion Easley has shown flashes of
offensive brilliance, and Curtis Pride finished last season hitting above .300.
Finally, Travis Fryman, despite moving to shortstop, remains a veteran producer
on this otherwise in-experienced team.
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Motor City
