As spring training baseball kicks into full gear in the first week of March, the game's best hitters leave little to the imagination. Everyone knows that the top sluggers - Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, and David Ortiz, to name a few - will produce.
The real purpose of spring baseball, however, is for each team to iron out the kinks in its pitching staff. Therein lie all of this season's toughest questions. Here are the seven issues to watch as the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues heat up this month:
What will become of the Boston Red Sox?
In reality, this is not merely one question, but six. The Red Sox have six starting pitchers on the roster, but all of them are looking iffy at the moment. John Farrell, the Sox' third pitching coach in the past year, enters the season uncertain about Curt Schilling, who brings the off-the-field distraction of a contract extension dispute, and Tim Wakefield, who like Schilling is trying to pitch into his forties.
Beyond those two, Farrell has to handle four more men, all of whom are going through difficult transitions. There's Daisuke "103 Million Dollar Man" Matsuzaka, who comes to the Sox from Japan's Seibu Lions, Jonathan Papelbon, who moves from the bullpen to the rotation, Jon Lester, who returns after treatment for lymphoma, and Josh Beckett, who is still struggling to adjust after leaving the National League.
If all of these pitchers perform to their potential, the Red Sox are a World Series contender. If not, it's another year in third place.
Is Roger Clemens gone for good?
While this question may not be answered in spring training, it's never too early to wonder. Clemens, arguably the best pitcher of the modern era, is set to turn 45 this coming August but may still have one more season (or half-season) in him.
After already turning in a Jordanesque three retirements, the Rocket is considering a fourth stint in the major leagues, and as usual, there are four likely candidate to land the seven-time Cy Young winner - the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Red Sox, and most likely of all, his hometown Houston Astros.
How old is too old?
Clemens, Schilling and Wakefield aren't the only ones trying to hide their age. There are five other veteran starters whose careers are still clinging to dear life, including San Diego Padre Greg Maddux, who turns 41 next month, and teammate David Wells, who will be 44 in May.
Kenny Rogers of the Detroit Tigers was the starter for the AL in the All-Star game last season, but is now 42, and struggling to survive in a young Tigers rotation. Meanwhile two one-time Seattle Mariners aces, Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer, are hoping a switch to the pitcher-friendly NL - with the 43-year-old Unit going to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Moyer, at 44, headed to the Philadelphia Phillies - will help.
Can an NL convert survive the American League?
Johnson and Moyer are headed to the Senior Circuit, but there are several veteran pitchers attempting a risky move in the other direction. Former Astro Andy Pettitte returns to the Yankees after three years at home in Texas, while the Baltimore Orioles welcome Steve Trachsel following his stint with the New York Mets, and the Mariners take in former St. Louis Cardinal Jeff Weaver.
The move to the AL is dangerous, possibly even career-ending, for two reasons: one, the presence of the designated hitter in AL lineups, and two, the fact that the AL has flat-out been the stronger offensive league over the past two years. The Yankees have seen the perils of this move with Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright, as have the Red Sox with Matt Clement and Beckett. Time will tell whether Baltimore and Seattle learn a similar lesson.
Can the Mets return to the playoffs with their rotation?
Trachsel's move to the Orioles is just the tip of the iceberg. The Mets' biggest problem is the absence of ace Pedro Martinez, who underwent rotator cuff surgery in August and isn't expected back until August.
To replace those two veterans, the Mets are relying on three starters, Oliver Perez and Chan Ho Park, who have been inconsistent at best over the past few years. If those two can turn in decent 2007 campaigns, then the Mets will still be contenders. If not, then expect at least one of the club's top two pitching prospects, Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber, to see some time in the rotation.
Can Mark Prior and Kerry Wood stay healthy?
While the Mets will suffer a half season without Pedro, the Chicago Cubs will welcome two oft-injured hurlers, Prior and Wood, back to the rotation. Both are former All-Stars, but Prior, 26, missed most of last year, and Wood, now 29, hasn't pitched a full season since 2003.
Both are capable of returning to their All-Star caliber, and if they do, they form quite a rotation alongside Victor Zambrano, Rich Hill and former Cardinal Jason Marquis. If the two head back to the disabled list, however, then expect the Cubs to head back to last place in the NL Central.
Can anyone stop the Tigers?
The answer, it appears, is no. While every other staff in baseball has its flaws, the Tigers, one of only four 95-game winners in 2006, appear only to be getting better. The Tigers' rotation is led by a pair of 24-year-olds, Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, who will only get better with age. Nate Robertson and Mike Maroth are solid, seasoned veterans, Rogers has become a perennial All-Star, and newcomer Andrew Miller has been just as dominant this spring as he was at the University of North Carolina a year ago.
But that's not all. The Detroit bullpen features a 22-year-old phenom in Joel Zumaya, and a supporting cast of Todd Jones and Fernando Rodney, who should eat some innings efficiently. Put it all together, and you may be looking at the best pitching staff in the game - and perhaps the best overall team, as well.
