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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Boston Red Sox
I had the pleasure of watching the Boston
Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles at
Camden Yards back in the first few weeks of the season. Sitting with the Red Sox
faithful, it was demonstrated to me how the Red Sox, and manager Jimy Williams
showcase some dynamite pitching and a potent young lineup.
As expected, the offseason losses of pitching ace Roger Clemens, slugger Jose
Canseco, and clubhouse leader Mike Greenwell have weakened this team both on the
field and off. Starting pitchers Aaron Sele, Steve Avery, and left-hander Chris
Hammond lead a strong pitching rotation and assuming he can avoid injury, Tim
Wakefield will continue to baffle hitters with is magical knuckleball.
Heathcliff Slocumb and Mike Maddux fill out a young bullpen but are ready to slam
the door shut on American League East opponents.
The Red Sox boast terrific balance between their offense and defense. Depending
on which night you attend a game, the Red Sox outfield will be shared by a
different battery of players. But, what the Sox lack in the outfield, they more
than make up for with their infield. The combination of Mo Vaughn at first, John
Valentin at second, Tim Naehring at third, and rookie of the year candidate Nomar
Garciaparra (who blasted a game winning homer against the Orioles) at shortstop
have given the Red Sox one of the most talented infields in baseball.
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Beantown
