RECENT PRESIDENTS have talked as if governing the country were a sport. Maybe it is. But how do the candidates rate on the field?

With major league spring training and the opening of the Presidential circuit soon to be upon us, here's my 'book' on the season's most promising teams and players.

THE DEMOCRATS

This year playing out of New York City. Season begins February 24 in New Hampshire. In alphabetical order:

JIMMY ("Nuts") CARTER, 1st b. rookie: Earned his nickname from habit of chewing peanuts instead of tobacco; smiles a lot; last year MVP in the Georgia circuit as well as the league's only player.

BIRCH ("Tree") BAYH, c.f. rookie: Good fielder, covers a lot of ground, in fact seems to prefer everyone else's position to his own; has tried to organize a player's union which critics insist will be part of the AFL/CIO.

FRED ("Everyman") HARRIS, l.f. rookie: Just up from the triple-A Grass Roots League; fellow players joke that even away from the ball park, he's "out in left field;" has gotten into numerous disputes this spring over desire to throw fly balls into the stands; claims he does it to help "the little man."

HENRY ("Scoop") JACKSON, r.f. rookie: Eoisterous singles hitter; major fielding weakness is his fondness for right field line--he doesn't like to leave it except between innings.

HUBERT ("Horatio") HUMPHREY a.k.a. HHH, pinch-hitting veteran: The 'old man' of the club; in his fourth major league season; long ball threat although has never come through in the clutch; once on bases loves to run, although his legs went three seasons ago; once described as "deceptively slow;" could appear in the line-up at any time.

MILTON ("Gov.") SHAPP, 3rd b. rookie: Unknown quantity; some say his promotion from the minors was a clerical error, others claim he wandered onto the field one day and no one has had the heart to tell him the Little League game was cancelled.

SARGENT ("Kennedy") SHRIVER, 2nd b. rookie: Given position by wife's family after she complained he was hanging around the house; has stirred up antagonisms by encouraging his teammates to join the Peace Corps.

MORRIS ("Mo") UDALL, ss. rookie: So far no hit, no field; you have to wonder how he made it to the big time; travels to away games by horse-drawn carriage.

GEORGE ("Pointy Head") WALLACE p. veteran: Possessor of a fine hard one but would rather throw it at batters' heads than over the plate; has a reputation for great springs but loses form in the move up north--still, this could always be the year.

SIDELINED

EDWARD ("Teddy") KENNEDY, veteran: Plagued by his Chappaquidick knee, is said to be undergoing corrective operations on his conscience.