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| Lineup analysis: AL East Special to ESPN.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baltimore Orioles
Strengths Albert Belle was one of the game's best hitters in the 1990s, and he's still one of the top 10 right fielders in baseball. Weaknesses The O's are trotting out the same nine players who, last year, were the best major-league baseball team in Baltimore. Except for Charles Johnson, they're all a year older and will be less effective on offense and defense. Except for Belle and Harold Baines, none are in the top half of the league for their positions. Brady Anderson's spring injuries could help weaken a key spot. Calvin Pickering and Jerry Hairston would outhit Will Clark and Delino DeShields, but the kids are headed back to Triple-A. Key player Belle, because if he gets hurt, this is one of the four worst offenses in the AL. Overall 1999: 851 runs, 8th in the AL 2000: Older, wiser, and less potent. Boston Red Sox
Strengths The Sox trot out a consistently solid lineup, with strength down through the ninth slot, giving Jimy Williams great flexibility to re-order his lineup to accommodate injuries or the need to platoon several players. Jose Offerman is the AL's top leadoff hitter, and Nomar Garciaparra's power-heavy skills set is better suited for the cleanup slot than the three-hole. The addition of Carl Everett marks a huge improvement over the outmakers that manned center field last year. Weaknesses John Valentin is the only hitter in this lineup who isn't helping the team much with the stick, and he belongs in the ninth spot. It's also a very slow crew from five through nine. Brian Daubach and Trot Nixon should sit against lefties, and Mike Stanley isn't the best option against righties. Key player Valentin hasn't had a strong offensive season since 1997, and the Sox don't have the type of lineup that can compensate for any zeros. He needs to find both the batting eye and the power stroke that once made him one of the AL's most underrated hitters. Overall 1999: 836 runs, 9th in the AL 2000: A few more runs courtesy of Everett. New York Yankees
Strengths The back-to-back World Series champs made only minor changes to the lineup that has worked so well for them for the past two years, upgrading the catching situation by ridding themselves of their Girardia infection, and replacing the retired Chili Davis with Jim Leyritz. Chuck Knoblauch, Derek Jeter, and Bernie Williams are as potent a 1-2-4 as you'll find. If left alone, Ricky Ledee could be an outstanding No. 9 hitter. Weaknesses O'Neill seems to no longer be able to hit left-handers. Posada didn't do much against right-handers, and Leyritz didn't do much against anyone. Tino Martinez is on his last legs as a useful full-time first baseman. And which Scott Brosius will show up this year? Key player Jorge Posada could be the No. 6 hitter this team needs, but he needs to return to his 1998 form. Overall 1999: 900 runs, 3rd in the AL 2000: Fewer runs as the team prepares for a 2001 youth movement. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Strengths The Devil Rays have power with Jose Canseco and Greg Vaughn, at least until Canseco hurts himself. Weaknesses This lineup has arguably the worst payroll to output ratio in baseball. Only one hitter likely to head north with the team had an OBP over .370 (Fred McGriff, .405) last year, and among the six possible starting outfielders, only Dave Martinez cracked .350. Vinny Castilla couldn't even slug .500 in Colorado. McGriff had been in a steep decline before last year's hiccup, and it could be his last productive season. Vaughn has been inconsistent, and he has to hit 45 homers to be useful because he hits for a low average and doesn't hit enough doubles. Jose Guillen was rushed and probably needs to return to Triple-A to learn the strike zone. Catchers John Flaherty and Mike DiFelice were a big positive last season, but played much better than their career norms. Miguel Cairo should be on someone's bench as a defensive replacement. Gerald Williams never walks, is coming off a career year, and has problems with right-handers. Tony Graffanino is the only bright spot among the infielders, and he isn't a lock to start. Key players With a half-dozen mediocre outfielders in camp, the Devil Rays still can't seem to decide who to play or where to hit them. Putting Bubba Trammell, who is decidedly not mediocre, in the lineup would provide a significant boost over any one of McCracken, Winn, Guillen, Martinez, or Williams. Overall 1999: 772 runs, 11th in the AL 2000: Lots of hype, but could give the Twins a run for their money for the run-scoring cellar if Canseco gets hurt and McGriff declines. Toronto Blue Jays
Strengths The Jays may manage to spread their talent out evenly across the lineup. Shannon Stewart is turning into one of the game's top leadoff men. Raul Mondesi, Carlos Delgado, Darrin Fletcher, and Tony Batista all have good power for their positions, although Mondesi is certainly a drop down from Shawn Green. If Jose Cruz gets 500 at bats, he won't disappoint. Alex Gonzalez was off to a great start before a torn labrum felled him in June, and many scouts and analysts have always thought there was a good hitter inside of him. Weaknesses Unless Homer Bush continues to defy gravity and hits .320 again, he belongs at the bottom of the lineup. Brad Fullmer doesn't have the power for the fifth slot, although that's where he's hit all spring. If Mondesi just repeats his performance from last year, he'd represent a lot of money poorly spent. Key player Jose Cruz could add a huge jolt to the lineup if he finds his '97 form again; he'd fit well in the two- or five-holes. Overall 1999: 883 runs, 5th in the AL 2000: A full year of Batista and Cruz would help them kick it up a couple of notches. Keith Law is a co-author of the Baseball Prospectus and of Fantasy Baseball Index magazine. He writes a weekly column, The Pivot, for ESPN Fantasy Games. | ALSO SEE Lineup analysis: AL Central Lineup analysis: AL West Lineup analysis: NL East Lineup analysis: NL Central Lineup analysis: NL West  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||