AMERICAN LEAGUE.(baseball - team analyses)

Anaheim

HILL GETS NOD: In releasing DH Jose Canseco, general manager Bill Stoneman said he believed that OF Glenallen Hill, acquired from the Yankees for minor leaguer Darren Blakely, was a better fit and would be more productive than Canseco. In 104 games last season, Hill had 27 homers and 58 RBIs. But what may be most important are his numbers against lefthanded pitchers--he hit .324 against them the last three seasons--and he'll see plenty of them in the A.L. West. The Rangers have three in their rotation (Kenny Rogers, Darren Oliver, Doug Davis), and the A's (Barry Zito, Mark Mulder) and Mariners (Jamie Moyer, John Halama) each have two.

SPRING WINNER: Wally Joyner, 3 8, edged Larry Barnes and Scott Spiezio for the first base job, though manager Mike Scioscia later hinted that he might platoon the lefthanded-hitting Joyner and the switch-hitting Spiezio at the spot. In spring play Joyner showed good bat control and played solid defense.

SPRING LOSER: Barnes was optioned to Class AAA after going 4-for-25 in his last nine spring games, dropping his average to .265. He had four homers and nine RBIs, but in the middle of March he veered away from his strengths, which are using the gaps and hitting the ball to all fields. Though Barnes played solid defense, the Angels think he's capable of playing better than what he showed this spring. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

PLUSES AND MINUSES: Pat Hentgen's leadership is not to be taken lightly in a rotation full of youth and journeymen. His 255 career starts entering his opening day Orioles debut were more than the rest of the projected rotation--Sidney Ponson (84), Jason Johnson (47), Jose Mercedes (48) and Chuck McElroy (two)--combined. Teammates describe Hentgen, who signed a two-year, $9.6 million deal in December, as a mentor with invaluable advice. But he went 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in the spring, with four wild pitches. The team has praised his determination, but the days of confidence in the No. 1 starter that Mike Mussina produced are gone.

SPRING WINNER: Johnson entered last spring as the projected fourth starter, pitched himself off the team and finished 1-10. This spring, he not only pitched himself into the rotation, but he moved up to the No. 3 spot with the best spring of any Orioles pitcher.