| TEAM |
PVS |
RS/RA |
REC. |
ESPN.com SAYS |
| 1. Braves |
1 |
840/661 |
103-59 |
Big Cat is back; Lopez healthy; Sanders, Veras are upgrades; and A. Jones ready for superstar status |
| 2. Yankees |
3 |
900/731 |
98-64 |
No DH, weak bench, shaky middle relief, aging starters ... and Yanks still look tough |
| 3. Indians |
4 |
1,009/860 |
97-65 |
Won't score 1,000 runs again, but should win close to 97 games again |
| 4. Astros |
4 |
823/675 |
97-65 |
Banking on Elarton's health; if not, may need to deal Ward or Berkman for pitcher |
| 5. Red Sox |
9 |
836/718 |
94-68 |
Carl Everett may prove to be most key offseason acquisition of any team |
| 6. Athletics |
10 |
893/846 |
87-75 |
Watch Chavez and Grieve improve, watch A's climb the standings |
| 7. Reds |
7 |
865/711 |
96-67 |
Things to worry about: Dante Bichette hitting cleanup and Deion Sanders getting playing time |
| 8. Cardinals |
18 |
809/838 |
75-86 |
Leave J.D. Drew in the lineup every day and watch him go 30-30 |
| 9. D-Backs |
2 |
908/676 |
100-62 |
Erubiel Durazo will help make up for temporary loss of Matt Williams |
| 10. Rangers |
8 |
945/859 |
95-67 |
Revamped Rangers still have plenty of power and deeper rotation |
| 11. Mets |
6 |
853/711 |
97-66 |
Bring it on, Mets fans ... your team is old and the outfield has no power |
| 12. Pirates |
14 |
775/782 |
78-83 |
Some think Kris Benson will contend for Cy Young Award -- this year |
| 13. Blue Jays |
12 |
883/862 |
84-78 |
Jays have tremendous upside with Carpenter, Escobar and Halladay |
| 14. Mariners |
13 |
859/905 |
79-83 |
Best spring sign M's can contend? Brian Hunter was released |
| 15. Giants |
11 |
872/831 |
86-76 |
If Ortiz and Hernandez don't have their arms fall off Giants can win West |
| 16. Expos |
26 |
718/853 |
68-94 |
Our sleeper pick: Hermanson, Irabu, Vazquez and Pavano could be deep rotation |
| 17. Phillies |
16 |
841/846 |
77-85 |
If Bobby Abreu gets any better he's an MVP candidate |
| 18. Orioles |
15 |
851/815 |
78-84 |
With Clark, Ripken, Baines and Johnson, get used to the words "6-4-3" and "4-6-3" |
| 19. Dodgers |
16 |
793/787 |
77-85 |
Kevin Elster? Don't worry, Dodger fans, just a stopgap until A-Rod arrives in 2001 |
| 20. White Sox |
18 |
777/870 |
75-86 |
Great group of young arms (Wells, Foulke, Myette, Parque) has Sox on upswing |
| 21. Royals |
28 |
856/921 |
64-97 |
Not ready yet but should be one of the funnest teams to watch |
| 22. Devil Rays |
25 |
772/913 |
69-93 |
The power may be there but where is the on-base percentage? |
| 23. Cubs |
27 |
747/920 |
67-95 |
At least Joe Girardi and Damon Buford are Proven Veterans |
| 24. Tigers |
24 |
747/882 |
69-92 |
More hackers than a quit smoking convention |
| 25. Rockies |
22 |
906/1,028 |
72-90 |
Speed and defense? Nice idea ... for the 1970s |
| 26. Padres |
21 |
710/781 |
74-88 |
If they trade Hitchcock, their top two starters from last year are gone |
| 27. Angels |
23 |
711/826 |
70-92 |
The only goofy thing around here is the starting rotation |
| 28. Marlins |
29 |
691/852 |
64-98 |
They're still young and still not very good |
| 29. Twins |
30 |
686/845 |
63-97 |
Would be No. 28 if we knew Brad Radke would be around all year |
| 30. Brewers |
20 |
815/886 |
74-87 |
It's a bad sign when you're worried because Jamey Wright is injured |
