AL has chance to live up to expectations

The American League will have a chance for validation this season. All close-minded, designated-hitter-hating National League fans (myself included) can learn to respect the AL because of . . . gulp . . . interleague play.

Last week, as about four people may recall, I picked the Dodgers to win the World Series. That doesn't mean I don't think a lot of interesting things will happen in the junior circuit. So, once again, I give you predictions, analyses and otherwise useless information.

My first prediction for the AL season is that Ken Griffey Jr. will club two homers in the first game of the season. OK, I'm writing this one day after the opener -- kill me.

Actually, Griffey is the most important player in the AL this year, because he is the centerpiece of a Mariner team that should be a major force. Let's take a look at some of the names on Lou Piniella's lineup card: Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, Paul Sorrento and baseball's most unappreciated player, Edgar Martinez. All the guy does is hit.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I think pitching is about 99.9 percent of the game, and the Mariners picked up one of baseball's best in Jeff Fassero. He is a manager's delight, because he sucks up countless innings, throws strikes and rarely makes mental errors. In Martinez and Fassero, the Mariners probably have the most underrated pitcher and hitter in baseball.

The Mariners seem to be a favorite in many circles this year, and that probably frustrates the hell out of Jerry Reinsdorf. The White Sox owner spent millions for Albert Belle to provide Frank Thomas the protection he has lacked the past few years.

Thomas is the best pure hitter in baseball. Add one of the best power hitters the sport has ever seen, and the pale hose will score runs by the truckload. The problem they are going to have is with pitching.

The Sox are hoping Jaime Navarro and Wilson Alvarez can pitch well enough to offset the James Baldwins and Mike Sirotkas of their staff. I don't think they will, and that will put pressure on the lineup to win a lot of 10-8 ballgames.

The team going into the season with the best pitching staff is those hated Blue Jays (sorry for the bias, but I just had a 1993 flashback). Toronto only has Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen, ERA winner Juan Guzman and strikeout king Roger Clemens.

I know I said pitching is nearly everything, but a team needs to score runs, too, and the Jays just won't score enough. After Joe Carter and Benito Santiago, the lineup won't keep pitchers up at night. And I guarantee Santiago will not repeat his 30-homer performance of 1996.

The other team many people think have a shot at winning a few ballgames is those Yankees, who just happened to take home the hardware last year. As hard as it is for me to say, the Yankees will be right in the mix this season. Anybody who knows baseball has to like a staff that includes Andy Pettitte, David Cone, Kenny Rogers and Dwight Gooden.

I purposely left David Wells' name off that list, because I am protesting his existence in baseball. For those who don't know, he had the audacity to ask Yankee management to wear Babe Ruth's No. 3 in the off-season. Yankee fans should boo him every time out, because he absolutely has no respect for the game. But I digress.

The AL will be interesting to watch, as teams like the Indians, Rangers and Orioles try to keep pace with the elite. Teams like the Tigers, Angels and A's will serve as chum for some of the bigger fish around the league. Of course, I know how it will all work out, so here goes.

For Cy Young, I have to go with Fassero. The guy is one of the toughest pitchers in baseball, and his overpowering stuff will look even better in the cavernous Kingdome. Pettitte should continue his emergence to "flat-out-stud" level, but he is young and will have a couple Cy Youngs in his future.

As far as MVP is considered, I had a tough time with this one, because Griffey will lead his team to 100 victories. But I'm predicting Thomas to capture the elusive triple crown this season. I'm going with Thomas, because the White Sox will finish respectably enough to let baseball writers vote for him with a clear conscience.

As far as what team will emerge as champion, I think those Mariners will hold off the Yankees to win the pennant. Hopefully, they will enjoy it before the Dodgers steamroll them in a four-game sweep with Ismael Valdes tossing a World Series no-hitter in Game Four. All right, maybe my predictions are getting a little out of hand. Enjoy the season. I know I already am.