European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 5,1992 the stars and stripes Page 21 1992 american league West preview balanced division tips toward Texas by Ben Walker a baseball writer every team in the american league West enters this season thinking it can win and Why not ,. They All finished at .500 or better last year the first time that a Ever happened in a division. And the Minnesota twins showed anything was possible becoming the first club to jump from last place to the world series title. The twins Victory just As it did in 1987, signalled that the division was wide open and that the championship was there for the taking. This time its possible to make a Case for a Chase by everyone even California which is coming off an 81-81 record that was Only Good enough for last  acquired a 20-game Winner Seattle got a big Nitter Chicago and California each added two familiar names Kansas City Shook up its entire lineup and Oakland still has Talent. Then there a Texas. The rangers along with Cleveland and Seattle Are the Only teams in the majors never to win a division title. Texas has never come closer than five games and a 85-77 record last year left it 10 games behind Minnesota. The rangers boast baseball a Best offence and it could be even More potent this season. The big question As it is for 92 White sex Mont. 1m1 Gene la i 87-75, 2nd. Key Arr Tete George bed Oulder mryc to cask Pitcher Steve sex. Second Beeman. Key Ltd a Pertree Mehdo Perez Pitcher Sammy Sosa outfielder Ken Patterson Pitcher. Popular Prospect Wilson Alvarez reliever. Key Slat at 23, Frank Thomas was the youngest player to we As Many a 138 times since Ted Williams in his .400 season d 1941. Thomas hit 24 of his 32 homers in Comiska pvt. Every team is pitching. With Jose Guz Man Bobby Witt Kevin Brown Brian Bohanon and Jeff Russell the rangers have a staff that could be successful shaky or something in Between. Then there a Nolan Ryan. For the last 10 years or so every season is supposed to be his last. True Ryan strips to the disabled list Are becoming a Little More frequent but that a about the Only thing thars slowing Down at age 45. # last year opposing batters hit just .172 against him and he struck out 202. He pitched his record seventh no hitter and his 12-6 record raised his lifetime Victory total to 314, tying him with Gaylord Perry for 13th on the All time list. A everybody around Here looks at me like in a a relic. I guess i am getting old a Ryan said. A i done to set any number goals for myself. That a not what i shoot  there is one thing Ryan would like. No its not a by Young award which he a never won but another Chance at pitching in the world series. Ryan a Only world series appearance was in 1969, when he was a wild reliever for the new York mets. He a been in the postseason four times since then with Houston and California but has never gotten past the playoffs. This year with a Little Luck might be time for big Tex. 1. Texas rangers Ruben Sierra Julio Franco Juan Gonzalez Rafael Palmeiro and the rest of the rangers led the majors by scoring 829 runs last season and the addition of Dickie Thon at shortstop in place of Jeff Huson should make them even better. Franco .341 won the batting title and teamed with Sierra .307, 25 Home runs 116 Bis and Palmeiro .322, 26 homers As a Trio of 200-hit teammates Only two other players in the majors reached that Mark. Franco however has been hobbled by bursitis in his knee this Spring. Gonzalez 27 homers 102 Bis starred in his first full season Brian Downing 17 homers is productive at age 41 and Kevin Reimer added 20 homers. Ivan Rodriguez the second teen Ager Ever to catch 80 games in a season led 92 rangers manager Bobby Valentine. 1m1 record 86-77, 3rd. Kay arrival owe Thon Short atop. A pro a part Morty a tried. Second Bazaman or talk a. Key Alt the rangers Drew an average it 4,000 Mare Lane in Ryan a homa Appa Aranola than they red in Attar Home games. A made 20 it be 27 starts tart Aaraon Arlington ared Kim into dog 10 d his last 12 Al catchers in throwing out runners. Dean Palmer 37 homers for Texas and class aaa Oklahoma City seems ready for his first full year and free agent Thon .252, 44 Bis will add offence and steady the infield. How far the rangers go will depend on pitching. Ryan 2.91 Era is a constant. Witt 3-7, 6.09 went on the disabled list in May he averaged More than Ivi walks per game last season and spent the Spring trying to rely less on Power. 2. Chicago White sox new manager Gene Lamont inherits a team that even without to Jackson has Frank Thomas Robin Ventura and George Bell to drive in runs. There a no telling How Good Thomas 23, will become. Thomas .318, 32 or 109 Bis May be the most selective hitter in the majors and his 138 walks boosted his on base average to .453, Best in the game. Ventura .284, 23 homers 100 Bis got into a Groove. The White sox traded Pitcher Melido Perez 8-7 to the new York Yankees for second baseman Steve sax .304, 31 sound hell team with Thomas Ventura and shortstop Ozzie Guillen .273 to form a productive infield. Chicago a pitching staff has potential. Jack Mcdowell 17-10, 3.41 Era was upset at finishing ninth in the by Young voting and vows to get better. Free agent Kirk Mccaskill 10-19 for California should improve. 3. Kansas City royals who son first who a in left who a left the royals along with Cincinnati and the new York mets completely revamped their teams. Bret Saber Hagen Danny tart Abigill storm Davis Kirk Gibson and Kurt Stillwell Are out and Wally Joyner Kevin Mcreynolds Gregg Jefferies and several others Are in. More than anything injuries wrecked the royals but Mark Gubicza begins this year healthy and joins with Kevin Appier 13-10, 3.42 Era Mike Boddicker 12-12 and swing men Tom Gordon 9-14, 3.87 Era and Luis Aquino 8-4, 3.44 Era As a Good nucleus. Jeff Montgomery 33 saves including eight against Milwaukee has a career Era of 2.44, Best in team history among pitchers with at least 300 innings. Once again the royals have no idea what to expect from Mark Davis. 4. Oakland athletics there a no doubt that this is the make or break year for the a a. If Dave Stewart Bob Welch and Mark Mcgwire return to form and if the bullpen gets the Job done Oakland could win its fourth title in five years if not it could be another predicted finish 2. Chicago 3. Kansas City 4. Oakland 5. Seattle 6. Minnesota 7> California s v a 92 royals manager Hal Mcrae. 1881 record 82-80, am. Kay Arrevala Way Joyner drat Bazaman Karin Mcnay Norda. Oum Aidar Gragg a dark. Meddar Kaim War maker Chris Qwynn oud kor Bob Mon Ca Fehar Mart Haa ton Pachar. Kay Dapar Turea Brel Sab Ortwien Pitcher. Danny Tartabull outfielder Todd Zanzinger drat baseman by Pelota Nifte Kfir storm Davis Pitcher Kirk Gibson outfielder. Popular prop acc Harvey Pulliam outfielder. Key Tab George Brett s belting average decreased 74 Points from a .329 Mark in 1990, the largest drop it any player who qualified Lor the batting title in both seasons. A amps season of sliding. Jose Canseco 44 homers 122 Bis 26 so and Rickey Henderson .400 on base average 58 so remain two of the greatest forces in the game. Mcgwire 93 walks 22 or Good Glove is better than his .201 average indicates but needs to show it. Dave Henderson 25 homers and Harold Baines .295,90 Bis round out the offence. Stewart 34, is the key to whether Oakland returns to the top. Stewart 11-11, 5.18 Era gave up the most runs in the majors following four straight 20-win seasons and is coming off knee surgery. Welch went from 27 wins and the by Young award to 12-13. 5. Seattle mariners after their first Ever winning year and a Winter Trade to acquire Kevin Mitchell the mariners will be fun to watch this season. Mitchell 27 homers for san Francisco leads the majors in Home runs in the last three years and the kingdom figures to improve his total by a few. Ken Griffey or. .327, 2.2 homers 100 Bis has improved his average by 27 Points every year and Jay Buhner 27 homers achieved his Power potential. Second baseman Harold Reynolds 57 Bis 28 so provides solid defense up the Middle As does Catcher Dave Valle. What the mariners need is a designated hitter Alvin Davis slumped to .221 and became a free agent and some healthy pitchers. Rookie Roger Salkeld and his 90-plus Mph fastball May make an Impact. 6. Minnesota twins the twins More than any other team in majors show the kind of free fall Dux period that base 92 mariners Megan by Plummer. 1881 reared 83-78, both. Kaya Narefs  Oumwar. Kay dare lures by bum part a Dow Burba Blichar an Dado m Balaam and soap ban mad. Pachar Rob Murphy Thohar. Papular Para Post oreo Flam ing. Pitcher. Kay Ekic Kan Grey or. La Iho 8m player la i Crew no baiting average by at Laoag 29 Pointa in each of the two Aeo Oona following hit Rookie Yaar since 1974-1975, when it was done by George Brett end Ken Grimy or. 92 athletics Mategar Tony la Raae. 1981 record 8478, 4th. Key err Vela Randy ready ird Aldar Roth Goa Saga Ofchar a is est Prospect Todd Van Rop ars Artt s taxed but in the league 4.74 along wifi the Leutu r Ward Hama run me one avow a Flat Tkv Ninga. Aging Derre Eck Arriey Mth gone Nakon combined to alow 23. 92 twins or Edgar. Tom Kefry. 1881 record 8m7, id. Kay an Horta Bab Kipper Pitcher John Bundey. Kay 8rrdoy. Kay Jack Monk a ocher Dan Gladden act Moor Danny Ball is in. From last place to first place and Back Down again. Because of Minnesota a 11-1 postseason record at the met radome Many people tend to think the twins were a Fluke in 1987 and 1991. Sure the Home Field helped but so did Kirby Puckett and friends. Puckett .319, 89 Bis became the first american leaguer to hit Over .400 Junior on catch or. Pop lure pre apart padre mures or tartar. Kay amb Okby puff cd id m amazing 408 a dirt in hand a pc Nangk 1s81. He career re Arega a duct Kif Hendre k-342. Pafik Nolan Ryan carries Ranger Hopes. .406 against left handers since Sixto Lezcano in 1979, and his biggest blow was the Home run off Charlie Librandt that won game 6 of the world series. Kent Hrbek 20 or 89 Bis provided a big lift. Rookie of the year Chuck Knoblauch .281,25 so was solid. Scott Erickson 20-8 and Kevin Tapani 16-9, 2.99 Era Are the top starters but Minnesota managed to Trade for 20-game Winner John Smiley of Pittsburgh. 7. California Angela on the morning of july 4, everything looked Bright for the Angels. Jim Abbott Mark Langston and Chuck Finley each were on their ways to winning at least 18 games Bryan 92 Angola a mar n 1881 i Buck Rodg-81-81, 7th. Kay Arr Vok von Hayao int Begemen Tox Fiaker Hub to Brook outfielder an Oak first Bozeman of Chuck cram recover Don Rob Kwon Pachar. Kay Dapre Wefiye Jonyer. Fird Here Man Kirk Moca Amr Pocher Dave Winfield outfielder Kyd Abbott Pitcher Ruben Amare jr., out Fidd or Dave Gallagher out Harvey was on his Way to leading the league in saves and California was leading the Al West. Boy How quickly things changed. The Angels suddenly started hitting less than Ever they finished next to last in runs scored and within two weeks they were in fifth place and out of the race. This year California has even less offence and trades for aging von Hayes .225, no homers in 284 at bats and Hubie Brooks .238, 50 Bis wont help much. Gary Gaetti and Lance Parrish Are getting old and while Luis Polonia and Junior Felix can hit singles they can to catch them. Because of their three top starters and Ace reliever the Angels will stay close. Pm slovene . Key Del the Rangda had a if Ruame Witmer Mark Langdo two i8game Mannara Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott and Bryan Hervay cd the Ai. Wah 46 Arevea. Cd pm Ink had in cd Pace. 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