OAKLAND
Athletics
2001: 102-60, second place (wild card), 14 games behind Seattle, lost to New York Yankees in five games in Division Series.
Manager: Art Howe (seventh season).
Key newcomers: OF David Justice, RHP Billy Koch, 1B Carlos Pena, LHP Mike Venafro.
Key departures: 1B Jason Giambi, OF Johnny Damon, OF Ron Gant, RHP Jason Isringhausen.
Should finish: First despite loss of free-agent Jason Giambi . . .Oakland will try to replace him at first base with, uh, catcher Scott Hatteberg? Yep. Hatteberg is a possibility, as is highly touted rookie Carlos Pena, acquired from Texas. Pena, 21, batted .288 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs at Class AAA Oklahoma City last year. . . Veteran Randy Velarde could displace Menechino, who tailed off considerably in the second half last season. . .Oakland lost 17 of its first 25 games last year but wound up with 102 wins. Athletics shouldn't get off to that bad of a start this season. The big three in their rotation -- Mulder, Hudson and Zito -- combined for 56 victories and should help Oakland get out of the gate quickly. . .Athletics were 9-10 against Seattle in 2001. . .Staff ERA (3.59) was second only to Seattle (3.54) ... Koch could be a bit of a concern as the closer. He had eight blown saves in 44 chances for Toronto.
SEATTLE
Mariners
2001: 116-46, first place, lost to New York Yankees in five games in ALCS.
Manager: Lou Piniella (10th season).
Key newcomers: 3B Jeff Cirillo, C Ben Davis, OF Ruben Sierra.
Key departures: RHP Aaron Sele, 3B David Bell, OF Jay Buhner, OF Stan Javier.
Should finish: Second. Like this team is going to win 116 games again? . . . Ichiro, who became known by just his first name faster than anybody in sports history, batted in the leadoff spot in 152 games last season. The Mariners won 107 of those. . .Ichiro scored 127 runs and hit .445 with runners in scoring position, which was the best in the major leagues . . . Seattle led the league in team batting average (.288), earned run average (3.54) and fielding percentage (.986). Oh, and shutouts (14), too. . .Sasaki was a large reason the Mariners were 97-4 when they held a lead after the seventh inning last year. Seattle was careful with Sasaki. He appeared in 69 games but pitched only 66 2/3 innings . . . It should be interesting to see if Sierra, who's 36, can approach the production he had in 94 games with Texas in 2001 -- 23 home runs, 67 RBIs. . .Has key meetings with Oakland and the Yankees in the first month of the season.
TEXAS
Rangers
2001: 73-89, 43 games behind.
Manager: Jerry Narron (second season).
Key newcomers: RHP Chan Ho Park, RHP Dave Burba, LHP John Rocker, OF Juan Gonzalez, OF Carl Everett, RHP Ismael Valdes, RHP Todd Van Poppel.
Key departures: 1B Carlos Pena, OF Ruben Sierra, RHP Rick Helling, LHP Mike Venafro.
Should finish: Third in the division but first in media attention with Rocker and Everett in the clubhouse. . . . The Rangers hope free-agent right-hander Chan Ho Park can anchor a pitching staff that has been abysmal. Team's earned run average last season was 5.71. Last season, Park had a 2.36 earned run average at home but a 4.83 mark away from Dodger Stadium. . .New General Manager John Hart worked hard to improve the Rangers' bullpen. In addition to Rocker, he added Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell to a bullpen that led the major leagues in losses (31). He also signed outfielder Juan Gonzalez, who for Cleveland batted .325 with 35 home runs and 140 RBIs last season. He'll fit in nicely in an offensive lineup that includes shortstop Alex Rodriguez. The $252-million guy did well in his first season in the heat. He batted .318 with 52 home runs and 135 RBIs. Also had 131 strikeouts.
ANAHEIM
Angels
2001: 75-87, third place, 41 games behind.
Manager: Mike Scioscia, third season.
Key newcomers: RHP Kevin Appier, LHP Dennis Cook, 1B Brad Fullmer, RHP Aaron Sele.
Key departures: INF Gary DiSarcina, RHP Pat Rapp, RHP Ismael Valdes, 1B Mo Vaughn.
Should finish: Fourth. Scioscia was a professional, enthusiastic player, primarily with the Dodgers, but his gung-ho approach might be challenged this season. His team lost 19 of its final 21 games in 2001, and the team's attitude is questionable. . .Percival was 39 of 42 in converting save opportunities. . .Newcomers Aaron Sele and Kevin Appier should blend in OK with Washburn, Ortiz and Schoeneweis to form a decent rotation. . . With first baseman Mo Vaughn gone to the New York Mets, the Angels must find a successor. That could be Scott Spiezio, who played there most of last season, or Darin Erstad, who would move from the outfield . . . Angels scored 691 runs in 2001, 12th in league . . . Anaheim was 24-24 in one-run games, a testament to Percival's value . . . In addition to a weak offense, the Angels also were done in last season because they couldn't compete in their division: 17-41 against Seattle, Oakland and Texas..
Paul Meyer's Forecast: American League West 
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