While the winter weather continues, the boys of summer are beginning to gear up again. This week pitchers and catchers began reporting to spring training, ready to prepare themselves for another season in the sun.
Several players have joined new teams, while and in other cases new management, coaching staffs, and owners will be trying to establish themselves with new organizations. With all the moves and facelifts, remembering the composition of a particular team can be complicated. So here's a quick rundown to help you stay on top of the offseason occurrences:
American League
If there is going to be a team to bring down the New York Yankees again this season, it's going to have to come from the National League. Once again, Mr. Steinbrenner pulled out the checkbook this off-season to sign the market's biggest name and has seemingly secured himself another league championship title. The Yankees' biggest move was the signing of former Oakland Athletics first baseman Jason Giambi to replace Tino Martinez (who left the team for the St. Louis Cardinals). Giambi's bat provides an already strong lineup with the home run power that the Yankees were lacking this season. Along with Giambi, the Yankees added a number of other players to their revamped roster - including fan favorite David Wells, a traditionally strong performer at Yankee stadium, former Braves pitcher Steve Karsay, outfielder Rondell White, third baseman Robin Ventura and veteran lefty Sterling Hitchcock.Last year's best regular season team, the Seattle Mariners, enter 2002 with a relatively unchanged roster. But with the loss of outfielder Jay Buhner to retirement and pitcher Aaron Sele to the Angels, the Mariners may not be quite as dominant this season. The team did upgrade at third base where Jeff Cirillo, acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, will replace David Bell. Ruben Sierra also brings his big bat to Seattle after a solid season in Texas. The Mariners will certainly be among the AL leaders, but if they couldn't dethrone New York last year, it probably won't happen this year.
The only team with the potential to finish anywhere near the Yankees in the East is the Red Sox. And with a rotation featuring newly acquired John Burkett as the number two starter, Boston doesn't look to be that imposing. Still, with the acquisitions of Tony Clark and Johnny Damon to play first base and centerfield, the Red Sox should play better than .500 baseball.
The once dominant Cleveland Indians may be in rebuilding mode after trading Roberto Alomar to the New York Mets for a package centered around outfielder Matt Lawton. The team will also be without Juan Gonzalez and Kenny Lofton, who were both lost to free agency. Rather than emphasizing offense, this year's squad seems centered around a young pitching staff which includes Bartolo Colon and C.C. Sabathia.
National League
The 2000 Subway Series might be repeated as soon as this year, as it was the New York Mets who completed the most off-season moves in the NL and now appear poised to win the National League East. Trading for Alomar was the team's biggest in a series of moves that served to restructure the team's infield. The Mets also signed first baseman Mo Vaughn and traded away third baseman Robin Ventura. Edgardo Alfonzo will slide over from second base to replace the departed Ventura. Shortstop Rey Ordonez is the lone Mets infielder who is not new or won't be changing positions.Infield wasn't the only area where the Mets made changes. Signing several pitchers and outfielders, Mets fans will have a whole new roster to learn this season.
If New York wants to win the NL title, though, it'll have to pass the Arizona Diamondbacks first. Last year's World Series co-MVPs, Curt Shilling and Randy Johnson, are ready to rejoin almost all of their teammates to make a run at a repeat title. The Diamondbacks' greatest loss was slugger Reggie Sanders to free agency, but the team has the depth to replace him. The squad also picked up Rick Helling to fill the number three hole in the starting rotation.
The Diamondbacks and Mets aren't the only strong teams in the National League this year. As usual, the Braves are sure to be in the race. Having resigned key free agents Javy Lopez and John Smoltz, the team also traded outfielder Brian Jordan for superstar Gary Sheffield and picked up Vinny Castilla to play third base. Chipper Jones will slide into left field.
Lastly, keep an eye on the San Francisco Giants. After just missing the playoffs last year, San Francisco has made multiple moves this winter. The team picked up outfielder Sanders, third baseman Bell and outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo. More important than any addition or subtraction to the team, though, was the resigning of Barry Bonds. After a 73-home run year, the Giants hope that their left fielder can be nearly as productive in 2002.
With all the moves in the National League, division races should once again be tight this summer. Unlike the American league, several teams have the capability to take home the NL crown. Whether they can go on and bring home the World Series title is what we'll have to watch out for.
