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The more things change, the more they stay the same

Major league baseball presents first full slate of games in two years, but the results won't be out of the ordinary

Atlanta is the odds-on World Series favorite -- again. Cleveland should be their strongest opposition -- again. But unlike the last couple of years, there should be a full 162-game baseball season -- finally.

This season might see a repeat in the World Series, but there are other changes. The strike zone has been expanded, but there are doubts that the umpires, who are modeling new uniforms, will enforce it. Baseball purists, already saddened that this is the final season before inter-league play, are looking ahead to Fox's television coverage with apprehension.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST: This is baseball's strongest division, with three potential playoff teams. New York and Baltimore made key off-season moves, and the defending champion Red Sox are still strong. Toronto and Detroit are in the beginning of rebuilding campaigns, and will fight it out for last place.

George Steinbrenner was a busy owner over the winter. After his team's first playoff appearance in 14 years, he craved more. One new general manager, one new field manager, several new position players and even a new spring training home later, the Yankee's strength will be their starting rotation. David Cone anchors the junior circuit's strongest pitching staff. Kenny Rogers was the most important addition, who along with Jimmy Key, Dwight Gooden, and Andy Pettitte provides quality pitching five-deep in the rotation.

The Orioles raided the free agent market in the off-season also. David Wells, Kent Mercker and Randy Myers were all added to a pitching staff that was already strong with Mike Mussina. To win the division, Baltimore will need big production from its hitters, including free agent pick-up Roberto Alomar and ironman Cal Ripken Jr.

Boston added little in the winter. Kevin Mitchell adds more home runs to an offensive juggernaught, but the rotation is weak after Roger Clemens. Boston won last year due to several players having career years. The same won't happen again.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL: This is a bit easier to call. The Indians will dominate again. Kansas City and Chicago might challenge for a wild card, but they have about as much chance of winning the division as Minnesota and Milwaukee, which have no chance.

Cleveland only has one worry: Will the geriatric Orel Hershiser and Dennis Martinez be able to stay healthy enough to keep pitching deep into October? Even if they don't, the rotation is solid with Jack McDowell, Charles Nagy and Julian Tavarez, who is ready to move out of the bullpen and into stardom. With the Indians' offense, it almost doesn't matter who is on the mound. Albert Bell, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray and crew are even stronger than last year due to the addition of Julio Franco.

Chicago has a shot at the wild card if its pitching can return to form after a disappointing 1995. The White Sox are hoping that Kevin Tappani can provide the veteran leadership that has been missing in the rotation since Jack McDowell's departure. Without a veteran, youngsters Jason Bere, Wilson Alvarez and Alex Fernandez struggled. With a steadying influence present, they may be ready to ride Frank Thomas's bat to a wild card birth.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST: The weakest division in baseball. Oakland and Texas will roll over, with California and Seattle likely to fight to the wire again.

Last year the Mariners proved they were more than a two-man team when Ken Griffey Jr. went down for the stretch run. Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez and Paul Sorento give Seattle enough offense to overcome a lack of depth at pitching, where Randy Johnson is the only dependable starter.

The Angels fell apart the second half of last year, but still have a lot of young talent. Tim Salmon, J.T. Snow and Jim Edmonds give the Angels scoring punch, accented by veteran Chili Davis. Chuck Finley, Mark Langston and Michigan alum Jim Abbott give California pitching depth, with Lee Smith and Troy Percival ready to close. The Angels are hoping that the additions of old California favorites Jack Howell and Dick Schofield will provide the steadying influence that was lacking near the end of last season.

The Senior Circuit's looking for back-to-back World Series wins for the first time in ten years. Their best candidate: the defending champion Braves.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST: If somebody stops Atlanta, it won't be from their own division. New York and Florida are much improved but not ready to compete yet. Philadelphia -- even if half its team weren't on the disabled list -- would still be too weak, as is Montreal, which will trade away any player that shows any hint of talent, lest he also ask for money.

The Braves lost one-fifth of their vaunted starting rotation, but are still the strongest team in the majors with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery on the mound. Now that they are past their postseason jinx and closer Mark Wohlers has established himself as a top-notch closer, Ted Turner's club will walk away with the East.

The Mets were hyped up this year by the New York media, but are still a year or two away from challenging Atlanta. Young pitchers Jason Isringhausen, Paul Wilson and Bill Pulsipher are the future of the team, and may someday replace the Braves' staff as the tops in the majors. But the pitchers are too inexperienced to have much chance of making the playoffs this season under the best of circumstances, and with the season-ending injury to Pulsipher, New York has something less than those "best circumstances" facing it.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL: This division should have the hardest-fought race in the majors this year. Pittsburgh doesn't have a shot, but every other team is in position to win.

Cincinnati looks like it is trying to defend its 1990 World Series title, not the Central division championship it won last year. Old Reds Eric Davis and Chris Sabo have returned to aid last year's National League MVP, Michigan alum Barry Larkin. New manager Ray Knight is going to be hard-pressed to repeat after losing Wells to free agency and Jose Rijo to injury. Pete Schourek and John Smiley will have to be in top form, or Marge Schott could start some salary dumping moves around midseason.

Houston enters the season as the favorite, but has as many questions as answers. The Astros' biggest offseason move was re-signing second baseman Craig Biggio, who provides a potent one-two punch with slugger Jeff Bagwell. But Houston needs its pitching staff to come through, which is somewhat doubtful. Doug Drabek's age is catching up with him and Darryl Kile's control was lacking last year. If one of these two can come through along with a good year from Greg Swindell, and if Jeff Bagwell can stay off the disabled list, Houston will win. But if it doesn't happen, the Astros will spend another October pondering what could have been.

Chicago comes off of its first winning season in the '90s hungry for a division title. The starting rotation surprised many last year. Jamie Navarro and Frank Castillo are solid starters, but for the team to win it needs good years out of Jim Bullinger, Steve Trachsel and Kevin Foster, who have all shined at times but lacked consistency. The Cubs' biggest move in the offseason was the return of second baseman Ryne Sandberg from retirement. All eyes will be on his return, but the key to the team's winning is solid pitching from the starters and middle relievers.

St. Louis made a lot of noise in the winter, but should prove to have a louder bark than bite. Tony LaRussa came to the senior circuit after 17 years of managing the White Sox and A's. His transition to the NL could prove rocky, as he attempts to disprove the belief that managing in the American League is easy compared to the National League. At the least, he won't have to worry about meeting his team, since he brought a ton of players over from Oakland. His ancient pitching staff could carry the Cardinals to the top -- or could be collecting social security by October.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST: Another tight race. The Los Angeles and San Diego are improved, and Colorado will continue to smash offensive records. Only San Francisco lacks the talent to compete.

The Dodgers already had a pitching staff to be reckoned with. Hideo Nomo, Ramon Martinez and Tom Candiotti should keep the earned runs to a minimum. Tommy Lasorda decided to try to combat the unearned runs, and improved the defense greatly with the additions of Mike Blowers and Greg Gagne. A plethora of errors early on has them looking like the Dodgers of old, but they should stay in contention due to former Rookies-of-the-Year Raul Mondesi, Eric Karros and Mike Piazza. The award machine that is Los Angeles's minor league system has unveiled its bid for a fifth straight Rookie of the Year in Todd Hollandsworth.

The Padres have improved their team by allowing their young pitchers to develop and signing a couple of American League veterans. Andy Ashby has quietly turned into a very good starter and along with Joey Hamilton and Trevor Hoffman forms an unheralded but skilled staff. Tony Gwynn's quest for a .400 batting average might be completed with new acquisitions Ricky Henderson and Wally Joyner added to the line-up.

The Rockies will still demolish the ball in the nonexistent atmosphere of Denver, but their opposition will too. With Bret Saberhagen and Bill Swift on the disabled list, Colorado pitchers will be hammered regularly and often.

This year should provide a couple of dominant teams in Atlanta and Cleveland, but will also have great pennant races in most divisions.