With the season to officially get underway in just five days, I've been trying to brainstorm what the team might look like once the official 25-man rosters are due in to league offices after Saturday night's pre-season game at the Ravine against Milwaukee.
The line-up and defensive alignment are all but set. The bench is starting to take some shape, but a couple of guys are going to make Torre and his staff's decisions virtually impossible to leave them off the roster. The rotation is all but set, barring an official announcement on the fifth spot from Torre. And the pen, for the most part has taken some shape, as well. Having said all that, here's what we know so far:
The Line-up.
The Bench.
Only three guys are more-or-less shoe-ins to be bench players: Juan Pierre as the fourth outfielder, Mark Loretta as one of the infield utility guys, and Brad Ausmus as Martin's back-up.
The last two (or three?) spots are still up-for-grabs. Doug Mientkiewicz has made it virtually impossible for the team to leave him off the roster, although I think his roster spot would be better suited elsewhere with Loretta already set to be on the team. Juan Castro is another guy who is probably making the team as the back-up middle infielder, primarily because of his experience. But Chin-Lung Hu and Blake DeWitt, both likely headed back to Albuquerque so they can play everyday and not sit most of the time, have both had fantastic springs, making Torre's decision very difficult. My guess is Mientkiewicz and Castro make the roster of this bunch.
This means Jason Repko, unless they go six deep on the bench, and Xavier Paul, who had a solid spring, will be headed back to Albuquerque, as well. Delwyn Young is headed or the DL, again. Danny Ardoin, last year's back-up to Martin who didn't play much at all, has accepted his assignment to AAA and is headed to Albuquerque.
The Rotation.
The first four guys are set-in-stone locks.
And what happens when Jason Schmidt is ready to come off the DL after his extended spring/rehab? All that will depend on both his and McDonald's performances, and whether or not the team adds another arm. My guess is unless Schmidt can prove he's willing to "let it all out" or "let it loose" with his fastball, he's staying in Albuquerque, or wherever he's sent until he can prove he's ready to come back.
What this all means, as well, is Eric Milton and Eric Stults won't be in the rotation, and neither will Claudio Vargas. Stults is headed back to Albuquerque.
The Bullpen.
Vargas is slated to start the season on the DL, meaning, Jeff Weaver, who has essentially pitched himself onto the team and into the bullpen, will be the long-reliever/spot-starter, taking Chan Ho Park's spot from last season. Just signed Will Ohman will start the season in Albuquerque on extended Spring Training, and then will join the team before April 14th, taking Joe Beimel's spot as the situational lefty. Ramon Troncoso is probably headed back to Albuquerque, leaving Eric Milton and Josh Lindblom.
Milton is likely the odd man out of all this, and what the Dodgers do with him is anyone's guess. Lindblom, a kid no one had really known much about until he was called up to Major League camp recently from Minor League camp, has pitched extremely well and has impressed the coaching staff enough that he'll likely make the team out of camp. Meanwhile, Shawn Estes has already accepted his reassignment and is headed to Albuquerque, as well.
The Bottom Line.
The offense will be the bread and butter of this team. With Manny anchoring the line-up, the offense will carry the load over the pitching, something not seen from a Dodger team since the early days of Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green. The rotation could use another arm, and the hope is that Martinez's asking price will come down enough for the Dodgers to jump on him. The bullpen is basically getting a complete make-over despite the fact the back three of the pen were with the team last season. Many, myself included, have the Dodgers winning the division, and if the pitching holds, and the rotation gets solid contributions from the middle guys, the Dodgers could do some serious damage in the post-season.
The line-up and defensive alignment are all but set. The bench is starting to take some shape, but a couple of guys are going to make Torre and his staff's decisions virtually impossible to leave them off the roster. The rotation is all but set, barring an official announcement on the fifth spot from Torre. And the pen, for the most part has taken some shape, as well. Having said all that, here's what we know so far:
The Line-up.
- Furcal, SS
- Hudson, 2B
- Manny, LF
- Ethier, RF
- Kemp, CF
- Loney, 1B
- Martin, C
- Blake, 3B
The Bench.
Only three guys are more-or-less shoe-ins to be bench players: Juan Pierre as the fourth outfielder, Mark Loretta as one of the infield utility guys, and Brad Ausmus as Martin's back-up.
The last two (or three?) spots are still up-for-grabs. Doug Mientkiewicz has made it virtually impossible for the team to leave him off the roster, although I think his roster spot would be better suited elsewhere with Loretta already set to be on the team. Juan Castro is another guy who is probably making the team as the back-up middle infielder, primarily because of his experience. But Chin-Lung Hu and Blake DeWitt, both likely headed back to Albuquerque so they can play everyday and not sit most of the time, have both had fantastic springs, making Torre's decision very difficult. My guess is Mientkiewicz and Castro make the roster of this bunch.
This means Jason Repko, unless they go six deep on the bench, and Xavier Paul, who had a solid spring, will be headed back to Albuquerque, as well. Delwyn Young is headed or the DL, again. Danny Ardoin, last year's back-up to Martin who didn't play much at all, has accepted his assignment to AAA and is headed to Albuquerque.
The Rotation.
The first four guys are set-in-stone locks.
- Billingsley
- Kuroda
- Kershaw
- Wolf
And what happens when Jason Schmidt is ready to come off the DL after his extended spring/rehab? All that will depend on both his and McDonald's performances, and whether or not the team adds another arm. My guess is unless Schmidt can prove he's willing to "let it all out" or "let it loose" with his fastball, he's staying in Albuquerque, or wherever he's sent until he can prove he's ready to come back.
What this all means, as well, is Eric Milton and Eric Stults won't be in the rotation, and neither will Claudio Vargas. Stults is headed back to Albuquerque.
The Bullpen.
- Broxton
- Wade
- Kuo
- Mota
Vargas is slated to start the season on the DL, meaning, Jeff Weaver, who has essentially pitched himself onto the team and into the bullpen, will be the long-reliever/spot-starter, taking Chan Ho Park's spot from last season. Just signed Will Ohman will start the season in Albuquerque on extended Spring Training, and then will join the team before April 14th, taking Joe Beimel's spot as the situational lefty. Ramon Troncoso is probably headed back to Albuquerque, leaving Eric Milton and Josh Lindblom.
Milton is likely the odd man out of all this, and what the Dodgers do with him is anyone's guess. Lindblom, a kid no one had really known much about until he was called up to Major League camp recently from Minor League camp, has pitched extremely well and has impressed the coaching staff enough that he'll likely make the team out of camp. Meanwhile, Shawn Estes has already accepted his reassignment and is headed to Albuquerque, as well.
The Bottom Line.
The offense will be the bread and butter of this team. With Manny anchoring the line-up, the offense will carry the load over the pitching, something not seen from a Dodger team since the early days of Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green. The rotation could use another arm, and the hope is that Martinez's asking price will come down enough for the Dodgers to jump on him. The bullpen is basically getting a complete make-over despite the fact the back three of the pen were with the team last season. Many, myself included, have the Dodgers winning the division, and if the pitching holds, and the rotation gets solid contributions from the middle guys, the Dodgers could do some serious damage in the post-season.
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