The Sox Are No Shoo-ins

In Seattle , where Kevin Mitchell weighed into camp at 253 pounds, the question is, How long will he look like the House That Baby Ruth Built?

In Oakland , where Carney Lansford called Rickey Henderson "a cancer" this spring, the question is, Do you suppose Lansford was just speaking, you know, astrologically?

In Minnesota , where Cy Young runner-up Scott Erickson was hot and cold in 1991, the question is, Will he be Great Scott this summer or suck it up like ScotTowels?

In Texas , where the pitching is suspect and George W. Bush is boss, the question is, Will Bobby Witt and Kevin Brown finally get it all together or will they follow the lead of their owner's father and go hurl in Japan ?

Spring training raised more questions than it answered in this division, which any one of five teams could win. Perhaps it's good that the West is so confusing. "I wish I knew who was going to win," says World Series hero Kirby Puckett of the Twins. "Then I wouldn't show up." And we would all be the poorer for that.

1. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Little more than a month ago the White Sox were mere Tube Sox to new manager Gene Lamont . "I had really only seen the team on videotape," he says. "But I liked what I saw."

Well, then, personal introductions are in order. Your team, Gene: At the corners you have Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura , a tag team that combined last season for 55 home runs, 209 RBIs, a .300 average and a collective 47 years of life experience. Hospital bed sheets don't have corners this sharp.

"We have a lot of young talent," notes your new second baseman, Steve Sax , who was acquired after hitting .304 for the Yankees last season. "But it's young, proven talent."

Indeed. Twenty-six-year-old Jack McDowell was the youngest Opening Day pitcher in the league last season, during which he led the junior circuit in complete games and was second to Roger Clemens in innings pitched.