Spring represents new birth and new chances, and that is exactly what many major-league teams hope to capitalize on when the 1999 MLB season begins Sunday night when the Rockies meet the Padres in Monterrey, Mexico.

For just one moment, during the first pitch on that first day, anything seems possible. Pirates fans can dream of the World Series. Cubs fans can honestly believe the curse is over. Expos fans can believe their team will stay intact.

But with hope comes expectations, uncertainties and questions, and here are some of the biggest unknowns heading into next week.

Will the Yankees repeat last year's phenomenal performance?

On paper, they should be better. David Wells, Tim Raines, Graeme Lloyd and Darren Holmes are the only players not returning to the champions, and now Roger Clemens is the ace of a pitching staff that still features David Cone, Andy Pettitte, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Hideki Irabu. Clemens gives the Yankees one of the game's all-time greatest pitchers, a man who simply dominates his opponents.

New York, however, will begin the season with its share of problems. Pettitte is opening the season on the disabled list with elbow problems while Darryl Strawberry will remain in Tampa, Fla. as he continues to get into shape following colon cancer surgery.

If Pettitte and Strawberry return and Irabu finally shows the potential of which he's capable, the Yankees will steam roll though the season. But even if these key players don't return to form, it's hard to believe this team won't at least return to the World Series, especially when you throw into the mix a healthy Chili Davis and Bernie Williams minus the contract squabbles.

Will the Dodgers return to the World Series after a 10-year absence?

Davey Johnson has managed great teams before and he has the opportunity to do so again this year in his first year as the Dodgers skipper. Like the Yankees, Los Angeles has bolstered an already-lethal starting rotation of Chan Ho Park, Ismael Valdes and a blossoming Darren Dreifort by signing Kevin Brown.

Brown, who went 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA for the National League champion Padres last year, automatically makes the Dodgers a lock for the playoffs.

In Brown and Jeff Shaw, the Dodgers have one of baseball's best starters and closers. If the middle relievers can bridge that gap, this team won't have to worry about pitching.

Like the Yankees, the Dodgers do have their share of question marks. While Charles Johnson, one of the game's top catchers, was behind the plate last season, the team is forced to rely on Todd Hundley this year.

While Hundley says he feels fine, he is returning from reconstructive elbow surgery and will only be able to catch three or four times a week for now. As always, Gary Sheffield's attitude is a ticking time bomb. It should be interesting to see how Davey Johnson, a veteran at managing superstars, can control the multi-millionaire egos that dominate the Dodgers roster. That may be the key in whether or not this team lives up to its enormous potential.

Will Albert Belle self-destruct in Baltimore?

Playing in the friendly confines of Camden Yards, the brooding Belle has a chance to chase Mark McGwire's homerun record. As one of the most consistent offensive performers in the 1990s, he can make any lineup threatening. But, as always, the only one who can stop Belle is Belle himself. He is notorious for snarling at both fans and the media, and he is not off to a great start in Baltimore.

The season hasn't even begun and he's declared he won't talk to reporters. The reason? After a poor exhibition-game performance, he trashed the clubhouse and the reporters who witnessed it wrote about it.

It's a shame one of the game's best players also has to be one of the its poorest sports. If he does keep his head on straight, though, Baltimore should battle the Yankees for the American League East title and at least come away with the Wild Card berth.

These are just some of the key questions heading into the season. Of course there are others, like who will be this year's surprise contender? The Twins? The Brewers? Who knows? That's why they play the games. It's been a long offseason and there are only two words that can soothe the restless spirits of baseball fans nationwide: Play ball.