Ten rookies to watch:

1. RHP Ben Sheets, Milwaukee. Right to the front of the Brewers rotation. His ability to throw strikes with a very good breaking ball, combined with his makeup, will allow him to step in quickly.

2. 2B Jose Ortiz, Oakland. Power, speed and a vacancy with Randy Velarde traded. Bill James' major league equivalency numbers figured his major league OPS would have been the best of any second baseman in the American League.

3. 3B Pedro Feliz, San Francisco. There is little pressure on him, because Russ Davis is listed as the starter with Bill Mueller gone. But Feliz hit 33 homers in the PCL, hit .300 in winter ball, comes with the tag of an acceptable third baseman and as he turns 24 in April is ready to move forward.

4. CF Corey Patterson, Cubs. They hope he comes into Ho Ho Kam this spring and wins the job. This is a long process, but the talent and personal skills are very high.

5. SS-2B Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh. He came in the Jason Christiansen deal, and while he only played at Double-A, he's shown some pop, is a good defender and Lloyd McClendon managed him two straight falls in Arizona and really likes him.

6. 2B Brent Abernathy, Tampa Bay. Toronto may rue the day they traded him for Steve Trachsel. A player. Not great skills, just a player.

7. IF Alfonso Soriano, Yankees. It's always hard to match expectations, but while he may not be a shortstop defensively, the Yanks think he has Vladimir Guerrero offensive skills and can play somewhere -- second, left ...

8. OF Dee Brown, Kansas City. The Royals were a little disappointed with his .269 year in Triple-A, partially because of attitude issues. But he's grown up. Now he has to learn not to try to jerk everything to right field. But the power is there.

9. RHP John Riedling, Cincinnati. Another big power arm in a power bullpen.

10. RHP Matt Kinney, Minnesota. It's taken time for this horse out of Bangor, Maine to get to the big leagues, and everyone knows right-handed power pitchers usually take time to adjust in the majors. But he was 13-5 in AA-AAA-Majors and is a nice compliment to Brad Radke and three left-handed starters.

(Ichiro Suzuki is one of the greatest players of all time in the Japanese major leagues, so he shouldn't be a rookie in this country any more than if Johnny Damon goes to Japan next season.)

Twelve more rookies to watch this spring, because they may be needed come August:

1. LHP Ryan Anderson, Seattle
2. OF Alex Escobar, Mets.
3. LHP C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland. And RHP Danys Baez makes two for the Indians.
4. 3B Albert Pujols, St. Louis.
5. OF Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay
6. 3B Sean Burroughs, San Diego.
7. RHP Roy Oswalt, Houston
8. RHP Donnie Bridges, Montreal
9. 1B Juan Diaz, Boston
10. RHP Jon Rauch, White Sox
11. 1B Carlos Pena, Texas
12. LHP Bud Smith and RHP Clint Weibl, St. Louis

Well, guess that's actually 14 ...

Ten players out of options who bear watching:

1. OF George Lombard, Atlanta
2. 3B Wes Helms, Atlanta
3. LHP Horacio Estrada, Milwaukee
4. CF Mike Darr, San Diego
5. RHP John Thomson, Colorado
6. Utililyman Hiram Bocachica, Los Angeles
7. OF Jacob Cruz, Cleveland
8. OF Brian Buchanan, Minnesota
9. RHP Jonathan Johnson, Texas
10. OF Michael Coleman, Cincinnati