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Tuesday, March 26, 2002

2001: 85-77, second place, six games behind Cleveland.

	Baseball Preview 2002 Paul's Picks 1. Minnesota Twins 2. Cleveland Indians 3. Chicago White Sox 4. Detroit Tigers 5. Kansas City Royals Previous forecasts American League West

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (first season).

Key newcomers: None.

Key departures: OF Chad Allen, RHP Todd Jones.

Should finish: First. This is based on the Twins rallying behind almost being contracted . . . A key to their season is how the Twins react to having somebody other than Tom Kelly as their manager. Kelly was the Twins for so many seasons (15, to be exact) that this group might struggle with its identity for a while . . . Twins led the AL Central by five games at the All-Star break last season but were 30-45 in their final 75 games . . . Reed requested a trade in the off-season but seems settled with the Twins now. However, Minnesota couldn't have been pleased with his 4-6 record and 5.19 earned run average in 12 starts . . . Koskie was the first Twins player to have a 25-home run, 100-RBI season since Gary Gaetti in '87 . . . Hawkins converted 19 of his first 22 save opportunities but struggled in the second half and blew five of his final seven chances . . . Guardado might have won the closer job by converting 12 of his 14 chances, including his final eight . . . Radke led the league in fewest walks per nine innings with 1.04.

2001: 91-71, first place, lost to Seattle in five games in Division Series.

Manager: Charlie Manuel, third season.

Key newcomers: OF Brady Anderson, RHP Mark Wohlers, OF Matt Lawton, 2B Ricky Gutierrez.

Key departures: 2B Robbie Alomar, OF Marty Cordova, OF Juan Gonzalez, OF Kenny Lofton, RHP Dave Burba, LHP John Rocker.

Should finish: Second. The Indians have won six of the past seven AL Central championships, but might have lost too much offense to make it seven of eight. An outfield of Brady Anderson, Milton Bradley and Matt Lawton is not exactly Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton and Manny Ramirez . . . Indians were 20 games over .500 against right-handed starters last season but just 20-20 against left-handed starters . . . Sabathia, who must guard against a sophomore jinx, held opponents to a .228 batting average, second in the league . . . Sabathia was second in the league with 95 walks . . . Lawton, who stole 29 bases last year, gives the Indians speed. This team will have to manufacture more runs this year than it has in the past . . . Indians' earned run average of 4.64 was ninth in the AL last season, and it doesn't figure to improve much if at all.

2001: 83-79, third place, eight games behind.

Manager: Jerry Manuel, fifth season.

Key newcomers: RHP Todd Ritchie, OF Kenny Lofton, OF Brian Simmons.

Key departures: DH Harold Baines, LHP Alan Embree, RHP Josh Fogg, RHP Sean Lowe, RHP Kip Wells.

Should finish: Third. Could be falling quickly after winning the Central with 95 victories two years ago. Still, after beginning last season 14-29, the White Sox regrouped and contended for a playoff spot . . . Frank Thomas had a miserable season, which included the death of his father and surgery on his right triceps, and should rebound. But at age 33, Thomas could have few big seasons left . . . Ritchie should settle in nicely behind Buehrle . . . Injuries cost the White Sox a combined 1,197 man-games in 2001 . . . Ordonez became the first American League player to bat .300 with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 40 doubles and 25 stolen bases in a season. . . . Parque missed most of last season because of shoulder surgery and might start slowly in 2002. . .Foulke was 42 of 45 converting save opportunities . . . Crede, a rookie, gets the third base job after hitting .276 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs for Class AAA Charlotte.

2001: 66-96, fourth place, 25 games behind.

Manager: Phil Garner, third season.

Key newcomers: RHP Jeff Farnsworth, INF Craig Paquette, INF Dmitri Young, INF Damian Jackson.

Key departures: OF Roger Cedeno, 1B Tony Clark, INF Deivi Cruz, OF Juan Encarnacion.

Should finish: Fourth. New President Dave Dombrowski has his work cut out for him. The Tigers the past five seasons are 93 games under .500. If that continues, Garner could be gone before the season ends. . . . In 2001, the Tigers were 12th in the AL in team batting (.260), 13th in team pitching (5.01 earned run average) and tied for 12th in fielding percentage (.979) . . . Detroit was 19-37 in day games . . . Anderson was a bright spot. He converted all 22 save opportunities . . . SS Omar Infante is another reason for hope. He could displace Halter this year . . . Paquette, a solid performer for the St. Louis Cardinals, should help the attitude, as should Young, who has batted .300 for four consecutive seasons . . . Meluskey returns after missing season because of shoulder surgery . . . Easley hit .217 after All-Star break.