No. 4: Can promising left-hander Jose Rosado, penciled in as the third or fourth starter, avoid another second-half fade that some in the organization attributed to fatigue?
No. 5: Can the Royals get over their allergic reaction to Kauffman Stadium, where they posted a franchise-worst 33-47 home record?
Minnesota Twins
Manager: Tom Kelly
1997 record: 68-94, fourth place
No. 1: Can Todd Walker make the switch to second base if/when All-Star Chuck Knoblauch is dealt this spring?
No. 2: Can the Twins reasonably expect another 20-win season from Brad Radke, or was his stunning success last year simply a mirage?
No. 3: Are any of the young arms ready to take hold of a spot in the rotation, or will the staff ERA inflate faster than Kirstie Alley?
No. 4: Did signing free agent Orlando Merced to a minor-league )) contract make him the likely first baseman, or does that job go to Scott Stahoviak or David Ortiz?
No. 5: Paul Molitor. Otis Nixon. Mike Morgan. Bob Tewksbury. Should the Twins and Orioles skip their games and just play checkers in the park?
Detroit Tigers
Manager: Buddy Bell
1997 record: 79-83, third place (AL East)
No. 1: Is general manager Randy Smith right when he says moving to the Central Division improves the club's chances of at least landing a wild-card berth, a belief that has led to so much winter activity?
No. 2: How far along are the Tigers in Smith's grand rebuilding scheme?
No. 3: Is Joe Randa an adequate replacement for departed third baseman Travis Fryman, whose run production and defense could be sorely missed?
No. 4: How will the batting order unfold besides Brian Hunter leading off and Tony Clark batting cleanup?
No. 5: Can the pitching staff, minus 16-game winner Willie Blair, continue to make the strides shown last season after being the club's Achilles' heel for so long?
Roch Kubatko Seattle Mariners
Lou Piniella
90-72, first place
1: Will pitching ace Randy Johnson still be wearing a Mariners uniform on Opening Day?
No. 2: Can left-hander Jamie Moyer bounce back from a postseason injury to replicate his outstanding 1997 performance?
No. 3: Did the Mariners solve their bullpen problems with last year's midseason trades, or will they live to regret the deal that sent top prospect Jose Cruz to the Blue Jays?
No. 4: Did the front office do enough to maintain the club's apparent dominance of the four-team AL West?
No. 5: Can Ken Cloude (McDonogh) hold a spot in the major-league rotation?
Anaheim Angels
Manager: Terry Collins
1997 record: 84-78, second place
No. 1: Can Collins assemble a pitching staff good enough to close ground on the Mariners?
No. 2: Will the real Cecil Fielder please stand up?
No. 3: Will Disney put its substantial resources into play if the team is in the hunt at midseason?
No. 4: At 28, is Troy Percival ready to emerge as the dominant closer in the American League?
No. 5: Will the club shop center fielder Jim Edmonds again this spring in its quest for another starting pitcher?
Texas Rangers
Manager: Johnny Oates
1997 record: 77-85, third place
No. 1: Will injury-prone outfielder Juan Gonzalez finally start a season on time?
No. 2: Can the starting rotation pitch enough innings to take full advantage of premier closer John Wetteland?
No. 3: Will first baseman Will Clark resurface in the final year of his contract?
No. 4: Is newly acquired Aaron Sele ready to emerge as a front-line starting pitcher?
No. 5: How will the pending sale of the franchise affect the ability of the front office to improve the club?
Oakland Athletics
Manager: Art Howe
1997 record: 65-97, fourth place
No. 1: Do the A's have any hope of competing for a playoff berth in 1998? (Probably not.)
No. 2: Will that have an impact on the makeup of the club that comes out of spring training?
No. 3: Can left-hander Kenny Rogers re-establish himself as a front-line starting pitcher now that he has escaped from New York?
No. 4: Will the acquisition of closer Mike Fetters stabilize the bullpen?
No. 5: Will lingering disappointment over the midseason departure of superstar Mark McGwire further depress fan interest in the team?
Peter Schmuck Cincinnati Reds
Manager: Jack McKeon
1997 record: 76-86, third place
Will McKeon last the entire season as manager, and if not, who's the next victim?
No. 2: With Deion Sanders not expected to play baseball this year, who takes over as leadoff hitter, offensive catalyst and wardrobe consultant?
No. 3: Is this the place where former Oriole Pete Harnisch gets his professional and personal life straightened out and gives the Reds' rotation some needed help?
No. 4: Will Bret Boone, whose average plummeted from .320 in 1994 to .223 last season, regain his stroke and the second base job by adjusting his stance?
No. 5: Will owner Marge Schott remain far in the background and out of harm's way?
Chicago Cubs
Manager: Jim Riggleman
1997 record: 68-94, fifth place
No. 1: Can the club acquire the bona fide No. 1 starter it so desperately needs (Andy Benes?) to go along with all the other winter additions?
