Pitchers:
SP-- Jason Schmidt
SP-- Brad Penny
SP-- Derek Lowe
SP-- Chad Billingsley
SP-- Kuroda Kuo
P-- Estaban Loaiza
P-- Joe Biemel
P-- Yhancy Brazoban
P-- Scott Proctor
P-- Jonathan Broxton
P-- Kuo/Billingsley
CL-- Takashi Saito
SP-- Jason Schmidt
SP-- Brad Penny
SP-- Derek Lowe
SP-- Chad Billingsley
SP-- Kuroda Kuo
P-- Estaban Loaiza
P-- Joe Biemel
P-- Yhancy Brazoban
P-- Scott Proctor
P-- Jonathan Broxton
P-- Kuo/Billingsley
CL-- Takashi Saito
Position Players:
C-- Russell Martin
C-- Gary Bennett
1B-- Garciapara/Loney
2B-- Jeff Kent/Young
3B-- Garciapara/Abreu
SS-- Rafeal Furcal
OF-- Andruw Jones
OF-- Matt Kemp
OF-- Juan Pierre
Ut.-- James Loney
Ut.-- Jason Repko
Ut.-- Andre Ethier
Ut.-- Tony Abreu
Ut.-- Andy LaRoche
Reserves, Rookies, & Outlook:
The Dodgers are not going to have any trouble at all filling in any positions, over the season. First with their pitching staff, they have more pitchers (who could start a game), than most teams have relief pitchers. After the All-star tandem of Schmidt and Brad Penny, the Dodgers have the Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley, the still can and will go to the well with pitchers "from around the world" to start: Hong-Chih Kuo (Taiwan), Hiroki Kuroda (Japan), and Estaban Loaiza (Mexico). Most teams have two to three solid starters, but the Dodgers have 6-7 (not counting rookies). In the rookie, pitching department, the Dodgers have Eric Hull, Jonathan Meloan, and Greg Miller. All three are starters, but will probably be in the minors, but have trade value, if the Dodgers decide to go for another bat, late in the season. The relief pitchers for the Dodgers are just as strong. When the "non-starting" starters, are thrown into the bullpen for relief and added in are Joe Meimel, Rudy Seanez, Yhency Brazoban, Scott Proctor (who had sessions with Sandy Koufax, in the off season, which has yielded solid improvement overall), Jonathan Broxton (who will close soon, maybe this season if Saito falters), and Takashi Saito at closer. Needless to say, the Dodgers are "100% stacked," with pitching.
The position players for the Dodgers are not the strong suit. Although, new additions of Andruw Jones in the outfield, the starting eight players will vary, from day to day. Jeff Kent is 40, this year, has lost more than a step in the field, and his offensive numbers have also slipped (over that last two years). Nomar Garciapara, who can play all three infield positions, is an injury waiting to happen. However, he still has plenty of bat and can fill in all over, so if healthy is a plus player. Furcal, Jones, Juan Pierre, and second year stand out (and possible break season player, this year) Matt Kemp are all going to be everyday, plus players, who can field, hit, and add in all of their own ways. However, the Dodgers will have to depend on getting runs and filling in the defensive holes, with some untested players and rookies. Tony Abreu, Chin-Lung Hu, Andy LaRoche, and James Loney will fill the holes on the infield. While, Andre Ethier, Jason Repko, and Delwyn Young (who is also working out at second and third base) will help patrol the outfield. While these guys may not be household names, they will be able to table set, but will provide little (if any) power numbers. Mainly, the runs batted in, will have to come from Andruw Jones, Kent, and Kemp, with extra help possibly from Martin Russell the catcher.
The Dodgers will have to get the most out of the runs they do score, they have the pitching to keep them in every game. Also, with new manager Joe Torre, who is used to getting the most out of his players, the Dodgers should be at the top of the NL West Division. The pitching will lead the team, but ultimately, the team should lead the NL, overall.
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C-- Russell Martin
C-- Gary Bennett
1B-- Garciapara/Loney
2B-- Jeff Kent/Young
3B-- Garciapara/Abreu
SS-- Rafeal Furcal
OF-- Andruw Jones
OF-- Matt Kemp
OF-- Juan Pierre
Ut.-- James Loney
Ut.-- Jason Repko
Ut.-- Andre Ethier
Ut.-- Tony Abreu
Ut.-- Andy LaRoche
Reserves, Rookies, & Outlook:
The Dodgers are not going to have any trouble at all filling in any positions, over the season. First with their pitching staff, they have more pitchers (who could start a game), than most teams have relief pitchers. After the All-star tandem of Schmidt and Brad Penny, the Dodgers have the Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley, the still can and will go to the well with pitchers "from around the world" to start: Hong-Chih Kuo (Taiwan), Hiroki Kuroda (Japan), and Estaban Loaiza (Mexico). Most teams have two to three solid starters, but the Dodgers have 6-7 (not counting rookies). In the rookie, pitching department, the Dodgers have Eric Hull, Jonathan Meloan, and Greg Miller. All three are starters, but will probably be in the minors, but have trade value, if the Dodgers decide to go for another bat, late in the season. The relief pitchers for the Dodgers are just as strong. When the "non-starting" starters, are thrown into the bullpen for relief and added in are Joe Meimel, Rudy Seanez, Yhency Brazoban, Scott Proctor (who had sessions with Sandy Koufax, in the off season, which has yielded solid improvement overall), Jonathan Broxton (who will close soon, maybe this season if Saito falters), and Takashi Saito at closer. Needless to say, the Dodgers are "100% stacked," with pitching.
The position players for the Dodgers are not the strong suit. Although, new additions of Andruw Jones in the outfield, the starting eight players will vary, from day to day. Jeff Kent is 40, this year, has lost more than a step in the field, and his offensive numbers have also slipped (over that last two years). Nomar Garciapara, who can play all three infield positions, is an injury waiting to happen. However, he still has plenty of bat and can fill in all over, so if healthy is a plus player. Furcal, Jones, Juan Pierre, and second year stand out (and possible break season player, this year) Matt Kemp are all going to be everyday, plus players, who can field, hit, and add in all of their own ways. However, the Dodgers will have to depend on getting runs and filling in the defensive holes, with some untested players and rookies. Tony Abreu, Chin-Lung Hu, Andy LaRoche, and James Loney will fill the holes on the infield. While, Andre Ethier, Jason Repko, and Delwyn Young (who is also working out at second and third base) will help patrol the outfield. While these guys may not be household names, they will be able to table set, but will provide little (if any) power numbers. Mainly, the runs batted in, will have to come from Andruw Jones, Kent, and Kemp, with extra help possibly from Martin Russell the catcher.
The Dodgers will have to get the most out of the runs they do score, they have the pitching to keep them in every game. Also, with new manager Joe Torre, who is used to getting the most out of his players, the Dodgers should be at the top of the NL West Division. The pitching will lead the team, but ultimately, the team should lead the NL, overall.
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