American League Central

Chicago White Sox
1. D'Angelo Jimenez, 2B-S
2. Jose Valentin, SS-S
3. Frank Thomas, DH-R
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF-R
5. Paul Konerko, 1B-R
6. Carlos Lee, LF-R
7. Joe Crede, 3B-R
8. Aaron Rowand, CF-R
9. Sandy Alomar, Jr., C-R

Bench
Josh Paul, C-R
Miguel Olivo, C-R
Brian Daubach, 1B-L
Tony Graffanino, IF-R
Armando Rios, OF-L

Rotation
1. LHP Mark Buehrle
2. RHP Bartolo Colon
3. RHP Jon Garland
4. RHP Esteban Loaiza
5. RHP Danny Wright

Bullpen
Closer: Billy Koch
Setup: Tom Gordon
Middle Relief: Rick White
Lefty: Damaso Marte
L2: Kelly Wunsch
Long Relief: Gary Glover

Injury Notes

Dan Wright may start the season on the disabled list as he has experienced elbow problems for much of the spring. He's undergone several tests and the White Sox do not believe he is seriously injured. However, Wright does not have a history of arm problems, so he's not easily able to help Chicago diagnose his condition. If he is placed on the DL, rookie Josh Stewart would likely replace him in the rotation.

Due to his dirt bike injuries and a cut finger, Rowand was not able to fully participate in the majority of Spring Training. However, he's supposedly fully recovered and will play regularly with the start of the season.

Offense Notes: Joe Borchard will begin the season in AAA, but if he has a couple strong months in the minors I expect he'll be recalled quickly, especially if his AAA contact rate improves.

Pitching Notes: Chicago drafted Josh Stewart out of the University of Memphis with their fifth round pick of the 1999 draft. Over the past four seasons, he worked his way up to AA Birmingham in the Southern League, where he compiled a 92:56 K:BB with 145 H and 11 HR allowed in 150 IP last season. The 24-year-old should start this season in AAA. However, he impressed the White Sox in Spring Training, so he'll likely be called-up if they have an injury opening. Hopefully, their experience with rushing other pitchers will persuade them to return him to the minors once they have alternatives.

Cleveland Indians
1. Milton Bradley, CF-S
2. Omar Vizquel, SS-S
3. Matt Lawton, RF-L
4. Ellis Burks, DH-R
5. Karim Garcia, LF-L
6. Travis Hafner, 1B-L
7. Casey Blake, 3B-R
8. Josh Bard, C-S
9. Brandon Phillips-R

Bench
Tim Laker, C-R
John McDonald, IF-R
Bill Selby, UT-L
Shane Spencer, 1B/LF/RF-R

Rotation
1. LHP C.C. Sabathia
2. RHP Ricardo Rodriguez
3. RHP Brian Anderson
4. RHP Jason Davis
5. RHP Jason Bere

Bullpen
Closer: Danys Baez
Setup: David Riske
Lefty: Carl Sadler
L2: Terry Mulholland
Middle Relief: Jose Santiago
Long Relief: Jake Westbrook
Long Relief: Aaron Myette

Injury Notes

Cliff Lee strained an abdominal muscle in mid-February and therefore really didn't begin Spring Training activities until mid-March. Consequently, he did not factor into the competition for the Opening Day rotation, as he will start the season on the disabled list. After a relatively short stop at AA and less than half a season at AAA, Lee needed to spend more time in the minors before he joining the Cleveland rotation regardless of his health. This injury made that decision simpler for the Indians. Provided he doesn't suffer any physical setbacks, he could be called up to replace an injured or ineffective starter in the Cleveland rotation as soon as the All-Star break if he's pitching well at AAA. However, unless there's a pressing need for him in the majors, he might remain at AAA until September.

Bob Wickman will start the season on the 60-day DL following December Tommy John surgery. There's a small possibility that the reliever may return in September, but he's likely out for the season.

Mark Wohlers missed much of Spring Training with elbow pain and finally underwent surgery to remove bone chips in mid-March. While recovery from such a procedure usually only takes around six weeks, because he'll need extra rehab time to compensate for skipping spring preparation activities, Wohlers likely won't return until June.

Ben Broussard strained an oblique muscle on his right side in mid-March and will start the season on the disabled list. However unless an injury to someone else opens up a roster spot, Broussard will likely head to AAA when healthy, as he failed to win a job in Spring Training.

While Ricky Gutierrez appears likely to eventually play baseball following surgery on two herniated discs in his neck, he has not yet fully recovered from the procedure and will start the season on the disabled list. With replacement Casey Blake likely producing at a higher level than Gutierrez could achieve if healthy, the Indians will probably allow Gutierrez to rehab slowly while insurance picks up much of his contract.

Offense Notes: The Indians likely won't win many games this year, but their young players should still make them an interesting team to watch this season.

Pitching Notes: Billy Traber had a strong spring and will likely be the first pitcher Cleveland recalls in case of an injury to a member of the pitching staff, reliever or starter. Most of the Cleveland pitching prospects would benefit from additional minor league time and several will likely be hindered by early promotion this season.

Detroit Tigers
1. Gene Kingsale, CF-S
2. Ramon Santiago, 2B-S
3. Bobby Higginson, LF-L
4. Dmitri Young, RF-S
5. Dean Palmer, DH-R
6. Carlos Pena, 1B-L
7. Eric Munson, 3B-L
8. Brandon Inge, C-R
9. Omar Infante, SS-R

Bench
Matt Walbeck, C-S
Damion Easley, IF-R
Craig Paquette, UT-R
Shane Halter, UT-R

Rotation
1. LHP Mike Maroth
2. RHP Jeremy Bonderman
3. RHP Adam Bernero
4. RHP Nate Cornejo
5. RHP Gary Knotts

Bullpen
Closer: Matt Anderson
Setup: Franklyn German
Lefty: Jamie Walker
Rule 5 Pick: Chris Spurling
Rule 5 Pick: LHP Wil Ledezma
Rule 5 Pick: Matt Roney
Swingman: Steve Sparks

Kansas City Royals
1. Michael Tucker, RF
2. Joe Randa, 3B
3. Carlos Beltran, CF*
4. Mark Sweeney, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Ken Harvey, DH
7. Brent Mayne, C
8. Angel Berroa, SS
9. Carlos Febles, 2B

Bench
Mike DeFelice, C
Desi Relaford, UT
Jarrod Patterson, 3B
Dee Brown, OF
*Rontrez Johnson, OF

Rotation
1. Runelvys Hernandez
2. Jeremy Affeldt
3. Miguel Asencio
4. Chris George
5. Darrell May

Bullpen
Closer: Mike MacDougal
Middle Relief: Jason Grimsley
Middle Relief: Albie Lopez
Middle Relief: Kris Wilson
Middle Relief: Ryan Bukvich
Lefty: Scott Mullen
Rule 5 Pick: Danny Carrasco

Minnesota Twins
1. Jacque Jones, LF
2. Cristian Guzman, SS
3. Torii Hunter, CF
4. Corey Koskie, 3B
5. Matt LeCroy, DH
6. Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
7. Michael Cuddyer, RF
8. A.J. Pierzynski, C
9. Luis Rivas, 2B

Bench
Tom Prince, C
Chris Gomez, IF
Denny Hocking, UT
Dustan Mohr, OF
Bobby Kielty, OF

Rotation
1. Brad Radke
2. Joe Mays
3. Kenny Rogers
4. Rick Reed
5. Kyle Lohse

Bullpen
Closer: LHP Eddie Guardado
Setup: LaTroy Hawkins
Lefty: J.C. Romero
Middle Relief: Tony Fiore
Middle Relief: Mike Fetters
Swingman: Johan Santana

Division Ranking
Chicago
Minnesota
Kansas City
Cleveland
Detroit