It's Been A While...

Yeah it sure has! I figured I'd give the team a month to get settled in before I really start to rip into the team or Joe Torre for their early failures and boneheaded moves. And for a while it looked like this was going to get ugly pretty quickly. But then the Pirates showed up in L.A., and after a terrible six-game trip to Cincy and Atlanta, the Rockies showed up, and all was well again!

One of the things I noticed over the first part of April was Joe Torre couldn't settle on one set lineup. And while I think this was part of the reason for the early struggles, I kind of got the feeling that because of odd scheduling and traveling during Spring Training, Torre never really got much of a chance to see where everyone fit into the lineup, and he never really got much of a feel for everyone's strengths and weaknesses. I don't know what it was that finally clicked on in his mind, but eventually he settled on a lineup that looks something like this:

SS - Furcal
LF - Ethier/Pierre
RF - Kemp
2B - Kent
1B - Loney
C - Martin
CF - Jones
3B - Dewitt

And with this lineup, the offense, which had been struggling to score runs (the team was already hitting, just not much with runners on), started to click and gel, and the team was off and running. In just a matter of an 8-game winning streak and winning 10 of 12 games, and 11 out of 15, the Dodgers cut Arizona's lead in the division in half from 6 to 3 games. And for a while there it looked like Arizona was going to run away with the division after their red-hot start. I know Arizona is good, and I knew they were going to be good, I just didn't think it would happen so soon and so quickly.

So for now, the Dodger offense is one of the best in the league as far as runs scored and team hitting, as they rank in the Top 5 in both categories. The pitching has also been spectacular, even after three poor outings by the starters in the just concluded Mets series. And the defense has been brilliant for the most part, as well.

My only concern at this point, really, is Andruw Jones' bat. This guy has all the talent in the world, and yet for whatever reason, he can't seem to get out of this funk he's in. Now, having played baseball growing up through high school, and having been taught how to hit, I can already see what Andruw's problems are. One, his back leg keeps flying out every time he swings at a bad pitch away. And two, his hips keep opening up which is keeping him off-balanced. And because one and two are so constant and consistent with him, it has all gone to head and become a mental thing. I know for a fact, from what I've heard and read, that he's been out at the ballpark early everyday and watching video with hitting coach Mike Easler trying to fix the problems. He sees the problem. He acknowledges it. He KNOWS it's a problem. And during his sessions with Easler, and during batting practice, the guy is a monster in the hitters box. But for whatever reason, he can't seem to translate all that into the games. And thus it has all gone to his head. I know this is so cliche, but he just needs to relax, stop thinking about everything, and just go out there and play. I can't see him hitting .170 with 1 home run the rest of the season, and I'm pretty confident he'll snap out of it. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Having said all that, Rafael Furcal is having a career year. Andre Ethier is quietly having a solid season so far. Matt Kemp has quickly become the team's best hitter. Jeff Kent has been as consistent as always. James Loney has made a name for himself as an elite first baseman. Russell Martin is following up his All-Star season with another stellar start. Blake Dewitt, who wasn't even supposed to be in big league camp during Spring Training, let alone the everyday third baseman through the first month of the season, has done a solid job of holding down the fort at the hot corner until Andy Laroche and/or Nomar are ready. And when they are, how do you send Dewitt down? And then there's Juan Pierre. I'm still not much of a fan of his, especially after his boneheaded play after stealing second base the other night, but he has quietly gone out and done his job as a part-time player and hasn't complained about it once. And he's been fairly decent in left field, too. And the pitching has more or less done what it has had to do to keep the team in most of these games to allow the offense to do their thing.

So, as it turns out, it looks like the Dodgers are in this for the long haul, and as a fan, I couldn't be more thrilled with what has transpired through the first 34 games.

Down Goes Pedro; Notes From Opening Day

Ahahaha! Well that was quick! Fifty-seven pitches into the season and Pedro Martinez goes down with a hamstring injury. And to compound the problem, the Mets lost to the Marlins in 10 innings on a walk-off homerun by some unknown kid, Robert Andino. As for Pedro, no clue how serious (or not) his hammy is, but because it is Pedro, anything is possible!

**********
By the way, anyone catch the end of that Braves-Nationals game on Sunday night? Or the Brewers-Cubs yesterday? What a couple of finishes and moments for Opening Day.

In the Braves-Nationals game Sunday night, Washington had a 2-1 lead going into the 9th inning. Their regular closer, Chad Cordero, was out, so Jon Rauch was brought in to close the game. Only problem was he threw a wild pitch with a runner on third to allow the tying run to score. But Rauch was taken off the hook when Ryan Zimmerman came up in the bottom of the inning and hit a walk-off homerun to give D.C. the win 3-2. What made it memorable was the fact it was the first game ever at the Nationals new park, Nationals Park.

Yesterday, the Brewers-Cubs game was scoreless through 8 innings. Cubs manager Lou Piniella brought in closer Kerry Wood to pitch the ninth, who promptly gave up three runs. In the bottom of the inning, Brewers manager countered with his new closer, Eric Gagne. The first two Cubs hitters got on base for the Cubs against Gagne, bringing up Kosuke Fukudome, who took Gagne deep into the right-center field bleachers for a three-run homerun that tied the game. Gagne would eventually get the three outs to send the game into extra innings, where Tony Gwynn, Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th that would be enough to give the Milwaukee a 4-3 win. Fukudome wound up going 3 for 3 with a walk, including the three-run bomb in the ninth.

Dodgers Win Opener; Tonight's Game

Ahhhhhhh! It was so great to see meaningful baseball again, even if I had to watch it from afar on TV. And what made it even sweeter was not only the 5-0 win, but the fact it came against the Giants. And let me just add that Barry Zito looked horrible and the Giants offense looked even worse! On the flip side, Brad Penny was solid. Rafael Furcal had a great game going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Jeff Kent was 2 for 3 with a homerun and two RBI. And James Loney had two hits. So we move on to tonight's game...

Why on earth is Juan Pierre in the friggin lineup already? I mean seriously, two days after Joe Torre said he was starting Andre Ethier, and already Kemp gets benched for Pierre? And wouldn't you know it, Pierre just hit one of his little pop flies into shallow left field for an out. Didn't we see enough of that crap last season? Please, Joe, keep the stiff on the bench! He already played himself out of a starting job in Spring Training. Anyway, tonight's game is scoreless with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hopefully, Derek Lowe can keep the pathetic Giants offense from doing anything, and give the Dodger offense a chance to get him some run support (something he rarely got last season, especially in his losses).

Repko Optioned to AAA-Vegas

I guess this means a deal might be in the works for some infield help? Word around has the Dodgers looking outside the organization for some depth. Last I heard was Marcus Giles (why?) but that remains to be seen. In any case, there is an open roster spot at the moment so unless they do make a move, perhaps Angel Chavez will have his contract purchased from Vegas. Either way, carrying six outfielders didn't really make much sense, and Repko appeared to be the odd man out. Stay tuned.

Unofficial Opening Day Roster

* See previous post for in-depth analysis on roster moves

Starters:
C - Russell Martin
1B - James Loney
2B - Jeff Kent
3B - Blake Dewitt
SS - Rafael Furcal
LF - Andre Ethier
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - Matt Kemp

Reserves:
C - Gary Bennett
1B - Mark Sweeney
IF - Chin-Lung Hu
IF - Delwyn Young
OF - Juan Pierre
OF - Jason Repko

Rotation:
Brad Penny
Derek Lowe
Chad Billingsley
Hiroki Kuroda
Esteban Loaiza

Bullpen:
CL - Takashi Saito
Jonathan Broxton
Joe Biemel
Scott Proctor
Ramon Troncoso
Hong-Chih Kuo

Disabled List:
Nomar Garciaparra
Andy Laroche
Tony Abreu
Jason Schmidt

Historical Night Concludes at Coliseum

Well, I wasn't able to personally be at the Coliseum last night for the historical night, but watching from afar on television, I was just as much in awe as I would have been if I had been there. From the wacky television camera angles, to the cooky dimensions, it was certainly a night to remember. Playing before the largest crowd ever in baseball history, the Red Sox upended the Dodgers 7-4 in front of an announced crowd of 115,300. That's in tickets sold! And even more importantly, as the event was part of the kickoff of the Dodgers 50th season in Los Angeles, all the proceeds from the event were going to ThinkCure, the Dodgers charity for cancer research.

The center field camera, usually just to the left or right of the pitcher in straight-away center field, was out in right-center field, almost directly behind the second base umpire much of the night. The dimensions were just as strange: 201 feet down the left field line, 374 to center, and about 300 down the right field line, almost an exact replica of the field as it was at the Coliseum from 1958 to 1961. Also in place was the 62-foot high screen from the left field foul line to left-center field as it was from '58 to '61. (Three home runs were hit over the screen: two by the Red Sox, one by James Loney of the Dodgers.) The bullpens were side-by-side in foul territory beyond the Red Sox third base dugout.

Even stranger was watching the defense in action. The Dodgers apparently did some homework and opted to scratch a left-fielder, allow the shortstop and third baseman to cover left field with the short dimensions and go with five infielders. Center fielder Andruw Jones played directly behind second base much of the night, and even covered second base on at least two occasions on stolen base attempts by the Red Sox. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier were left to cover center and right fields.

The Dodgers were never really in the game, but that didn't appear to dampen anyone's spirits at the game. There was a beach ball sighting or two in the stands. What would a Dodger game be without a beach ball bouncing around amongst the crowd? There was even a wave! (History tidbit: the wave originated at the Coliseum in 1984 during the Summer Olympics, when fans grew bored between the day and night events; the wave was their way of keeping themselves entertained between events.) But, as it is at most Dodger games in L.A., some of the crowd began to head for the exits in the 7th inning. And slowly the game, the night, the event, came to a close as Jonathan Papelbon struggled to get the final three outs of the game.

**********
Some notes following the game heading into opening day tomorrow afternoon:

* Brad Penny was named the Opening Day starter tomorrow by Joe Torre. This will be Penny's first Opening Day start as a Dodger.

* The fifth spot in the rotation was awarded to Esteban Loaiza, in part because he has a guaranteed contract in place for the season. Loaiza didn't particularly have a good spring. Chan Ho Park did have a brilliant spring, and would have been the better choice of the two, but he doesn't have a guaranteed contract, and it appears he will be sent down to AAA Las Vegas, and not forgotten. Jason Schmidt will start the season on the DL as expected, and Clayton Kershaw, who had a brilliant Spring, will be sent down to the minors.

* Blake Dewitt has emerged as the third baseman for Opening Day with Nomar Garciaparra, Andy Laroche and Tony Abreu all expected to start the season on the DL.

* Jeff Kent made his Spring debut on Friday, played all nine innings last night, and will likely play today to gear up for Opening Day tomorrow. There was concern he might start the season on the DL to give his injured hamstring more time to heal, leaving the Dodgers even thinner in the infield. There was also speculation that Dodgers had been talking to Kansas City for infielder Esteban German, but the Royals were said to be dead set on receiving Chin-Lung Hu in return, something Dodgers were unwilling to do. Instead, Hu will now be one of the two reserve infielders, along with Delwyn Young. Veteran Ramon Martinez has been cut.

* Rudy Seanez and Mike Myers were released earlier in the week after both had poor Springs. Rookie reliever Ramon Troncoso has impressed enough during Spring to earn a spot in the bullpen. Hong-Chih Kuo also makes the club as the team's long-reliever/spot starter.

* Mark Sweeney has made the club, as well, as the primary pinch hitter and backup to James Loney at first base.

* And last but not least, it appears Juan Pierre has played himself out of a starting job after hitting .169 entering today's Spring finale. I had been campaigning since the day he was signed that he shouldn't have been signed, and campaigning even moreso since Jones was signed in December that he shouldn't even be in the starting lineup. With Jones in center field having pushed Pierre to left field temporarily, Ethier and Kemp should be the obvious choices to play everyday over Pierre anyway, as they are better offensively, and both have better arms, and can cover just as much ground as Pierre defensively. They both also earned their jobs by having solid Springs. Jason Repko has also made the club.

Baseball's Weirdest Injuries

Over the years, we've seen and heard of some pretty bizarre, and stupid, and weird injuries suffered by Major League Baseball players. This year is no different, and the season hasn't even started yet! New Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui was placed on the disabled list the other day after having a surgery to repair an anal fissure, which is basically hemorrhoids! Too much information? So, with apologies to Morisato, who originally posted these bizarre injuries in his FoxSports.com blog in June 2006, here are some of the most bizarre and stupidest baseball injuries, in no particular order, and not necessarily game-related...

* Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: Suffered back spasms while putting on his shoes in 2006.

* Mickey Tettleton, Detroit Tigers: Went on DL with athlete's foot... caused by tying his shoes too tight.

* George Brett, Kansas City Royals: Broke his toe on a chair in his home while running to the kitchen to watch Bill Buckner hit on TV.

* Jeff Kent, San Francisco Giants: Claimed he hurt his wrist while washing his truck. Rumor has it he was injured while doing motorcycle stunts instead.

* Clint Barmes, Colorado Rockies: Broke his collarbone... carrying deer meat!

* Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox: Hurt himself... while putting on his cowboy boots. Yee-haw! Giddy up!

* Vince Coleman, St. Louis Cardinals: Missed the entire 1985 World Series... after being run over by the tarp roller at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

* Ken Griffey, Jr., Seattle Mariners: Once missed a game after suffering a pinched testicle from his protective cup. Ouch!

* Rickey Henderson, Toronto Blue Jays: Missed several games because of frostbite... in August... after falling asleep on a pack of ice.

* Glenallen Hill, Toronto Blue Jays: Went on the DL after suffering cuts when he crashed through a glass table while dreaming that he was being attacked by spiders.

* Oddibe McDowell, Texas Rangers: Sliced open his hand at a Texas welcome home luncheon while buttering a roll.

* Kevin Mitchell, New York Mets: Was once taken out by a microwave donut. Huh?

* Terry Harper, Atlanta Braves: Separated his shoulder while waving a teammate home and subsequently high-fiving him.

* Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs: Missed a game after throwing out his back... while sneezing! Hey, I once pulled a muscle in my ribcage from sneezing.

* Jose Cardenal, Chicago Cubs: Missed a game in 1974 because he couldn't blink. Say what?

* John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: Once burned his chest while ironing a shirt... while he was still wearing it! (A myth! Smoltz claims thats not really how it happened.)

* Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros: Once missed a start after being bitten on his hand... by a coyote.

* Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres: Fractured a rib a couple of years ago after jumping into a celebratory pile after the Padres clinched the division.

* Carlos Perez, Montreal Expos: Broke his nose in a car accident... while trying to pass the team bus.

* Adam Eaton, San Diego Padres: Stabbed himself in the stomach while tearing off the wrapper on a DVD. I'm not surprised; those things are a bitch to open!

* Doc Gooden, New York Mets: Missed a start when Vince Coleman accidentally took him out with a golf club in the clubhouse. I think he really meant to do it...

* Steve Sparks, Milwaukee Brewers: Dislocated his shoulder... while attempting to tear a phone book in half. Which one, white or yellow?

* Mark Smith, Baltimore Orioles: Injured his hand... while sticking it in an air conditioner to see why it wasn't working.

* Charlie Hough, Texas Rangers: Once broke his pinky... while pinky shaking.

* Ricky Bones, Florida Marlins: Missed time in 2000 after injuring himself while changing channels on the clubhouse TV. I don't get this one...

* Greg Harris, Texas Rangers: Suffered a strained elbow from flipping sunflower seeds while sitting in the bullpen.

* Jason Isringhausen, Oakland Athletics: Broke his hand while punching a trashcan, just weeks after stabbing himself in the leg trying open a package.

* Roger Craig, Manager, San Francisco Giants: Cut his hand... while undoing a bra strap. Nice.

* Brent Mayne, Arizona Diamondbacks: Went on the DL in 2004 after straining his back... while unpacking clothes. Also strained his back in 2002... while turning his head to check traffic to cross the street.

* Ryan Klesko, Atlanta Braves: Once over exerted himself and pulled a muscle... while picking up his lunch tray.

* Bret Barberie, Florida Marlins: Missed a game after rubbing chili juice in his eye. Hey that shit stings!

* Jason Bartlett, Minnesota Twins: Tore the nail off his left pinky... while sliding his hand under the television in his room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Detroit.

* Paul Molitor, Milwaukee Brewers: Dislocated a knuckle... when it got stuck in another player's glove.

* Marty Cordova, Baltimore Orioles: Missed a game after burning his face... after spending too much time under a tanning lamp.

* Dustan Mohr, Minnesota Twins: Strained his groin... while trying to get out of the dugout for a celebration for another player's homerun.

* Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres: Missed several games after smashing his finger in the door of his luxury car. He would have escaped injury had it been a Yugo.

* Kevin Mitchell (again!), San Francisco Giants: strained a muscle... while vomiting.

* Dave Nillson, Milwaukee Brewers: Was stung by a mosquito in Australia, which then developed into the debilitating Ross River Fever. Was listed on the DL as "rare mosquito-born disease."

* Kent Hrbek, Minnesota Twins: Sprained an ankle wrestling a clubhouse attendant, forcing him to miss the final ten games of the season.

* Jose Cardenal (again!), Chicago Cubs: Missed a game because he was kept awake all night by crickets, chirping in his hotel room.

* Tom Glavine, Atlanta Branves: Broke a rib in 1992... after vomiting up bad airline food. Haven't we all done this at least once?

* Rich Harden, Oakland Athletics: Strained his shoulder... while turning off his alarm clock. Those damn snooze buttons...

* Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves: Injured his hand... while shaking hands.

* Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs: Diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome... after spending too much time online. I think I can relate.

* David Cone, New York Yankees: Missed a start after his mother-in-law's Jack Russell Terrier bit him. Those pesky little shits!

* Terry Mulholland, Minnesota Twins: Went on the DL after scratching his eye... on a feather that was sticking out of a pillow. Those feathers are seriously dangerous things!

* Randy Veres, Florida Marlins: Injured his hand... after pounding it against a hotel room wall, trying to get the people in the next room to shut up. Ever hear of picking up a phone and calling hotel security?

* Larry Anderson, San Diego Padres: Strained a rib muscle... while getting out of a jacuzzi.

* Clarence Blethen, Boston Red Sox: Took out his false teeth because he thought it made him look older and meaner. However, he forgot to put them back in his mouth when he was batting. While sliding into second base to break up a double play, he literally bit himself in the ass. How, with his gums?

* Jeff Juden, Philadelphia Phillies: Missed a start... because a tattoo he got before the season opener got infected.

* Mike Remlinger, Chicago Cubs: Missed 15 days because of a broken pinky... that he broke on a recliner.

* Randy Flores, St. Louis Cardinals: Went on the DL after taking off his socks... and a large patch of skin.

* Byron McLaughlin, Seattle Mariners: While practicing his windup, he cut his right hand... when it went through the mirror he was standing too close to.

* Kevin Brown, New York Yankees: Broke his non-pitching hand on a brick wall after coming out of his manager's office in anger, and was subsequently placed on the DL and missed the end of the 2004 season.

And last but not least, not listed on Morisato's blog, and not really an injury of any sort, but the honest to God truth:

* Adrian Beltre, Los Angeles Dodgers: In 2001, he thought his Milwaukee hotel room was haunted by ghosts.

Dodgers Headed Home!

Well it's been a long and winding Spring Training for the Blue and they're finally headed home for the final leg of exhibition games before the real games start on Monday. Since I haven't had any time to blog at all about the team since they left for Vero Beach, here's a little recap (in no particular order), with some added bonus comments:

* The battle for left field between Juan Pierre and Andre Ethier turned out to be much of what I expected: a laugher. Granted Spring Training stats really don't mean a whole lot, Ethier has proven why he should be the everyday left fielder over Pierre. Before start of play today in Phoenix, or better yet, at the end of the day, Pierre was hitting a robust .192. All Ethier has done is pound out 6 home runs with 15 RBI this spring, good for second best on the squad behind Matt Kemp, while hitting a solid .359 overall.

This is the reason why Pierre should never have been signed in the first place, or even given a chance to start over Ethier, especially with the addition of Andruw Jones. At the start of Spring Training, Joe Torre said that Pierre would likely be his left fielder on Opening Day, unless something drastic happens that forces his hand. And those are my words, not his. Well if a .167 difference in average and the production of Ethier isn't enough to convince Torre who the better option is, then I don't know what is. But bottom line is Pierre has played himself out of a starting job in my eyes, and Ethier has played himself into one. This one shouldn't even be debated.

* The third base battle is a whole different situation. Injuries. That's the one word that can be used to describe ALL of the options at third. Well almost all. Andy LaRoche was supposed to push Nomar Garciaparra, named the third baseman early in Spring Training by Torre, for the gig. Instead, they both went down with freak hand injuries that will sideline them through the first part of the season. Their back-up, Tony Abreu, also battled injuries as he was still recovering from a sports hernia. Enter Blake Dewitt. All Dewitt has done is impress the Dodgers with his glove and his bat, although he showed signs in some areas that he's not ready just yet. There was even talk that the club was looking at Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge again, but a 3-year, $19 million dollar quick fix doesn't seem logical, especially when Nomar and LaRoche are expected to be back long before June. Neither Dewitt or Abreu are tearing the cover off the ball, but since Abreu, who appears to be finally recovered from the sports hernia, does have experience at this level, he would seem like the logical choice. Dewitt, though, certainly should be given some consideration, even as a short term solution. When Nomar and LaRoche do come back, LaRoche, who was well on his way to earning the job anyway, hitting .350 in 20 at-bats, should be given the everyday job.

* Jeff Kent has yet to play in any game due to a hamstring problem, but Chin-Lung Hu is having a solid Spring Training hitting .292 and should fill in the gap at 2nd rather nicely until Kent is ready to go. Hu displayed some pretty power in his stint with the team last season, so that could be an added bonus for the Dodgers in Kent's absence. Kent is likely to start the season on the DL.

* The fifth spot in the rotation is still up for grabs, with Esteban Loaiza, non-roster invitee Chan Ho Park, Hong-Chih Kuo and rookie phenom Clayton Kershaw all battling it out. Kuo is out of options, and Torre doesn't want to risk losing his services to another team should they attempt to send him to AAA Las Vegas (he would have to clear waivers first, which seems highly unlikely). That said, he'll make the team as a long-reliever/spot starter. Kershaw has been extremely impressive in his 15 innings since being called up to the Big League camp from the minor league camp, posting an ERA well under 1.00. He dazzled Boston a few Sundays ago at Vero and wowed the Brewers today in Arizona. But it still appears the Dodgers don't want to rush him. Kershaw looks like he's headed back to the minors. But fear not! He will be in the Bigs to stay before 2008 is over. That leaves Park and Loaiza. Park has had the better spring by the numbers than Loaiza: 1.69 ERA to 4.20 ERA. But again, Loaiza has a guaranteed Major League contract, whereas Park is simply a non-roster invitee. At this point, I would hope they give Park a shot since he has earned it. I would prefer Kershaw over any of them, but I'd rather the Dodgers didn't rush him either. So, having said all that, my gut tells me Loaiza will be the fifth starter. All of this is happening because Jason Schmidt, the expected "fifth" starter is still rehabing from shoulder surgery and isn't expected back until at least June.

* The Dodgers said good-bye to Vero Beach, ending a relationship with the city that dates back into the late 40s. It was sad to say good-bye, I'm sure, with all the history and lore of Dodgertown. But for practical and economic reasons, it made a lot of sense to move their Spring Training facilities closer to home. That said, beginning next spring, the Dodgers will be training in Glendale, Arizona, sharing a brand new facility with the Chicago White Sox.

* The Dodgers played two exhibition games last weekend against the San Diego Padres in China, as Joe Torre took a split squad that included Andruw Jones and Matt Kemp. The teams were very well received, as both games sold out in Beijing. The two teams tied the first game with the Padres winning the second before heading back to the States. The finale in China coincided with the departure from Vero Beach as the two split squads, the one that went to China and the one left behind in Vero Beach that was managed by Tommy Lasorda, convened in Arizona for a few more full squad exhibition games, which brings us full circle.

* This weekend marks the start of the 50th Anniversary of the Dodgers in Los Angeles (the Dodgers Rose Parade float notwithstanding) with three exhibition games against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. The Friday night and Sunday afternoon games will be held at the Stadium. The highlight, however, is the Saturday night game which will take place at the Coliseum, where the Dodgers played for four seasons starting in 1958 upon their arrival in Los Angeles from Brooklyn. The Coliseum has been converted as close as possible to resemble the playing field as it did from 1958 through 1961. All of the proceeds from ticket sales, concessions, souvenirs, etc., will be going to the ThinkBlue fundraiser. The Dodgers have sold a whopping 113,000 tickets for the Saturday night gala. It should be a fun and memorable night!

* Opening Day is Monday at 1:05pm at the Stadium. Fittingly, the Dodgers open their 50th season in Los Angeles against the Hated Ones to the North, who appropriately enough, headed west from New York with the Dodgers after the 1957 season, settling in San Francisco.

DIVISION BY DIVISION RECAP

** See below for in-depth analysis of each division.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Houston Astros
5. St. Louis Cardinals
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. New York Mets
4. Washington Nationals
5. Florida Marlins

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

1. Cleveland Indians
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Atheltics

ALL-STARS, LEAGUE LEADERS & AWARD WINNERS

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STARS

C - Russell Martin, Los Angeles
1B - Ryan Howard, Philadelphia
2B - Chase Utley, Philadelphia
SS - Hanley Ramriez, Florida
3B - David Wright, New York
LF - Matt Holliday, Colorado
CF - Carlos Beltran, New York
RF - Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
SP - Jake Peavy, San Diego
CL - Takashi Saito, Los Angeles

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STARS

C - Victor Martinez, Cleveland
1B - Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay
2B - Robinson Cano, New York
SS - Derek Jeter, New York
3B - Alex Rodriguez, New York
LF - Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay
CF - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
RF - Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles
DH - David Ortiz, Boston
SP - Eric Bedard, Seattle
CL - Jonathan Papelbon, Boston

NATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS

Avg - Matt Holliday, Colorado
HR - Ryan Howard, Philadelphia
RBI - Matt Holliday, Colorado
Runs - Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia
SB - Jose Reyes, New York

Wins - Brandon Webb, Arizona
ERA - Jake Peavy, San Diego
K's - Jake Peavy, San Diego
Saves - Takashi Saito, Los Angeles

AMERICAN LEAGUE LEADERS

Avg - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
HR - Alex Rodriguez, New York
RBI - Alex Rodriguez, New York
Runs - Alex Rodriguez, New York
SB - Chone Figgins, Los Angeles

Wins - Eric Bedard, Seattle
ERA - Eric Bedard, Seattle
K's - Eric Bedard, Seattle
Saves - J.J Putz

NATIONAL LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

MVP - Matt Holliday, Colorado
Cy Young - Brandon Webb, Arizona
Rookie - Cameron Maybin, Florida
Manager - Bobby Cox, Atlanta

AMERICAN LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

MVP - Alex Rodriguez, New York
Cy Young - Eric Bedard, Seattle
Rookie - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
Manager - John McLaren, Seattle

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

We've finally come full circle back to the west coast, this time to the American League. The Angels have been one of the top teams in this division since they won it all back in 2002, but the teams chasing them in the division have changed. Last year was no different as the Mariners surprised everyone and made a run at the playoffs, only to fall short in September. This year should be no different, with the Mariners perhaps closing the gap on the Halos.

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS

The Angels added some muscle to their lineup with the signing of Torii Hunter to a five-year deal, who joins Vlad Guerrero and Garrett Anderson in the middle of the lineup. However, they sent Orlando Cabrera packing to the White Sox for some pitching depth, leaving the left side of the infield in question. Super-utility man Chone Figgins gets the nod at third, and with virtually no power, leaves a gapping hole at the corner offensively. But Figgins can hit, though he isn't your typical leadoff hitter because he doesn't draw many walks, and he can run with the wind. With Cabrera gone, Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar will battle for positioning at short and bat ninth. Gary Matthews, signed last winter to play center, will now rotate throughout the outfield and DH spot with Guerrero, Hunter and Anderson. Casey Kotchman, Howie Kendrick and Mike Napoli round out the middle of the lineup, all with 20 home run potential. The Angels will have to figure how to get Juan Rivera some at-bats with the plethora of outfielders.

The strength of the team is their pitching, but back spasms to ace John Lackey, and lingering injuries to "ace in the hole" Kelvim Escobar will shelve them both for at least the first month. Jered Weaver has the stuff to be an ace, and could get there this year. Jon Garland was the pitcher acquired in the Cabrera deal, and he hopes to return to his 2005/2006 form where he won 18 games each season in Chicago. Ervin Santana must rebound from an awful 2007, or Joe Saunders will take his spot permanently when Lackey or Escobar return. The bullpen has been a huge success for the Angels but the pen struggled as a unit in 2007. Closer Francisco Rodriguez can still get the job done, posting 40 saves in 2007 to go along with his usual strikeouts, but K-Rod battled controls issues and needs to fix that this season. Because manager Mike Scioscia is so in love with his bullpen, Scot Shield suddenly became ineffective due to overuse in the second half. Justin Speier is a solid set-up guy, as well. Chris Bootcheck, Darren Oliver and Dustin Mosely, like to start the season in the rotation, round out a solid pen that must rebound from its 2007 struggles.

The Angels figure to score some runs, and hope they can get some of that power back with the addition of Hunter and the return of Rivera. If the pitching can rebound and stay afloat from early injuries to Lackey and Escobar, and the pen can get back to its form before 2007, the Angels should win a dogfight in the West.

2. SEATTLE MARINERS

The Mariners shocked baseball when they were able to lure Eric Bedard from Baltimore in a blockbuster deal. They had to cough up two of their highly touted prospects, and in doing so, kept the offense on somewhat shaky ground. The key for the Mariners will be Richie Sexson returning to any kind of form he had before 2007. His poor run production as a key component to the middle of the lineup slowed down the offense at times. The Mariners still have the great Ichiro at the top of the lineup, followed by Jose Vidro, Adrian Beltre, who's also struggled at times since coming to the Mariners four seasons ago, and Raul Ibanez. Kenji Johjima has been a pleasant surprise offensively. Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt round out the bottom of the lineup.

The pitching is suddenly one of the best in baseball, or at least well-balanced with depth, with the addition of Bedard. Bedard should contend for the Cy Young Award with his ace stuff and high strikeout totals. Bedard's presence pushes Felix Hernandez, a potential 20-game winner, to the two slot. The Mariners are still waiting for Jarrod Washburn to earn the contract he received two winters ago. But the addition of Carlos Silva, although at a hefty price tag, gives the Mariners depth. Miguel Batista gives them another solid veteran with experience at the back end. Brandon Morrow could make a move from the pen to the rotation, as well. The pen features one of the game's best closers in J.J. Putz. With George Sherrill gone to Baltimore in the Bedard deal, Morrow will likely stay in the pen as a set-up guy now, along with Mark Lowe, giving the M's a solid back end of the pen.

If Richie Sexson can rebound from a horrible 2007 and provide more run production, the Mariners will give the Angels everything they've got, and thensome.

3. TEXAS RANGERS

Last summer, the Rangers dealt Mark Teixeira to Atlanta for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and a handful of good, young prospects. This winter, they remained busy, trading for Josh Hamilton, and signing Milton Bradley. Add in a lineup that already features Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Hank Blalock, and this team has the potential to score a ton of runs. But then again, scoring runs has never been a problem for Texas. Blalock has got to return to his once promising self, and he has to stay healthy, as does Bradley. Frank Catalonotto, Marlon Byrd and Ben Broussard round out a lineup that will have to be able to manufacture runs, as well.

The pitching has never been anything to write home about, and this year should be no different. The "ace" of the staff, Kevin Millwood, can still pound the strike zone" and doesn't walk many hitters. But he, along with just about everyone else in this rotation, is a ground-ball pitcher with an infield behind him that isn't spectacular on defense. The rest of the group behind Millwood is fairly young, but there is depth should someone go down, that features Vicente Padilla (the veteran of the remaining bunch), Brandon McCarthy, Jason Jennings, Kason Gabbard and Kameron Loe. The bullpen doesn't have much depth in it since Eric Gagne was traded last summer. C.J. Wilson will get a shot at the closer's role with Joaquin Benoit, Frank Francisco and newly signed Japanese import Kazuo Fukumori providing some depth. All four guys could closer for manager Ron Washington.

The Rangers offense can score a lot of runs with power, but will have to manufacture runs, as well. But the lack of pitching here leaves the Rangers at the bottom of the division.

4. OAKLAND ATHLETICS

The A's are back in a rebuilding mode, and the youth across their roster proves that. The lineup doesn't have much power anymore, and with Nick Swisher gone to the Southside of Chicago in an off-season deal, the A's will hard pressed for runs. The A's will likely start four guys under the age of 25, and only two other regulars played in over 100 Major League games last season: Mark Ellis and Jack Cust. There is hope for the future here, though, with Travis Buck, Daric Barton, Carlos Gonzalez and Kurt Suzuki. The veteran of the offense is Eric Chavez, and he struggled last year with injuries, something the entire team dealt with.

The rotation, once a strong spot, must find a way to win without Dan Haren, traded to Arizona in the off-season. Joe Blanton is an innings eater, but the emergence of Chad Gaudin last year hit a snag when he struggled after the break. Justin Duchscherer will make a jump from the pen to the rotation, but he hasn't started in five years, and his arm strength is in questions. The key will be the healthy return of Rich Harden. If he stays off the disabled list, the A's have a chance to be more competitive. Dana Eveland will go into the season as the fifth starter, but Gio Gonzalez could get another look if Harden goes down again. The bullpen also battled injury problems last year, and if they can stay relatively healthy this year, the pen is as good as any. Huston Street returns as the closer after battling injuries for much of last season. Alan Embree is a solid veteran while Santiago Casilla should fill in for Duchscherer nicely. Kiko Calero adds a little more depth.

The A's must improve with runners in scoring position offensively, and pitching has got to stay healthy. The A's are a couple more years away from getting back to contention status.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

The face of the A.L. Central has changed over the past few years. In the early to mid-90s, Cleveland dominated this division. Then, Minnesota and Chicago took turns. Two years ago, Detroit took a crack at it. Last year, it was the Tigers and Indians. This season should be a dogfight again, with the Tigers and Indians leading the way, and perhaps a new team on the rise?

1. CLEVELAND INDIANS

It has been 59 years since the Indians have tasted the fruits of victory. They came pretty close last season, and they could get there in 2008. The Indians, like many A.L. teams, rely heavily on the long-ball. Aside from Grady Sizemore at the top of the lineup, there is virtually no speed here. The middle of the lineup is as potent as any with Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta and Casey Blake. Even Franklin Gutierrez at the bottom of the lineup has some power. But the Indians need Hafner to rebound from a sub-par 2007. If he does, the offense should score plenty of runs.

The pitching staff is the Indians bread and butter. The rotation returns reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia, along with superstar-in-the-making, Fausto Carmona. Behind them are Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd who add some veteran experience and leadership. Aaron Laffey, Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers will battle it out for the fifth spot to complete a solid rotation. Despite his high ERA over 5, closer Joe Borowski saved 45 games last season. Borowski will have to bring that ERA down. However, the Indians have two of the better set-up men in all of baseball with Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez, and both are capable of handling the closer's job if Borowski fails. Add in veteran Japanese closer Masahide Koboyashi, and the Indians have a solid bullpen all around.

If Hafner can rebound and Borowski can better his ERA, the Indians, with their rotation, should be in pretty good shape to repeat, and a favorite to go all the way.

2. DETROIT TIGERS

The Tigers mortgaged their future when they unloaded six prospects, two very good ones, at that, to acquire third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis from Florida. Add in acquisitions for shortstop Edgar Renteria and outfielder Jacque Jones to a lineup that already features Curtis Granderson at leadoff, Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield, 2007 MVP finalist Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez, and you have one of the most dangerous lineups we've seen in years. Scoring runs will be far from an issue in Motown.

The pitching is a whole 'nother story. Ace Justin Verlander anchors what appears to be a solid rotation by the names in it. But there are some serious concerns behind him. Jeremy Bonderman struggled much of last season, and was eventually hampered by an elbow injury late in the season that made matters worse. Nate Robertson tired out in mid-season, and never returned to form. And Kenny Rogers missed a good chunk of 2007 with injuries. Add in newcomber Willis, who hasn't looked anything like the 22-game winner he once the last season and a half, and you can see why the rotation looks iffy. The bullpen is a little better than the rotation, however, some questions linger here, as well. Todd Jones resumes his roles as the closer, but with Joel Zumaya out until at least mid-season, and no clear-cut set-up man in the bullpen, the workload and roles of others will be rigorous. That means the Tigers must avoid overusing Fernando Rodney early, or he'll wear out later.

The Tigers could score 1,000 runs with this offense, but the pitching must overcome health issues and inconsistencies. If they do, the sky is the limit.

3. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

"The new team on the rise." The Royals finally made some strides last year after adding some veteran leadership in the mix with their promising young kids. Now they might actually be strong enough to not only avoid losing 90 games, but maybe even finishing above .500. The offense is still a little on the soft side, meaning runs could be at a premium again, as could the power. There is a lot of potential in the middle of the lineup with Mark Teahan, newly signed veteran Jose Guillen, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon. But the lineup is built to new manager Trey Hillman's style, as he will stress fundamentals and some small-ball play. The top and bottom of the order should help in that area with David DeJesus and veteran Mark Grudzielanek at the top, and Tony Pena, Jr. at the bottom.

The rotation actually looks pretty solid for a change, particularly at the top. Gil Meche was signed before last season to anchor the rotation and didn't disappoint. Second-year starter Brian Bannister was solid in 2007 and should only get better, along with young veteran Zack Greinke. Prospect Luke Hochevar will push both Kyle Davies and Jorge de la Rosa hard, as neither have very good control, and he could bump one of them out of a rotation spot. The bullpen emerged last year as a vital part of an improving team, and looks to be only getting better. Joakim Soria emerged as an effective closer, and veteran Ron Mahay, and veteran Japanese import Yasuhiko Yabuta should be solid set-up guys. Leo Nunez and Joel Peralta should add some depth to a solid pen.

The Royals are still a few years away from being serious contenders, but if they keep heading in the direction they are, then there's no reason to think they can't win 81 games now.

4. MINNESOTA TWINS

The Twins made a couple of deals in the off-season, none bigger than shipping Johan Santana to the Mets, to reshape the look of the team. The offense took a shot when Torii Hunter opted for free agency and eventually signed in L.A. with the Angels. While the Twins didn't replace his offense with any big bats, they did get a handful of front line prospects who could make an impact right away. Delmon Young gets the nod to replace Hunter's spot in the lineup and on the field, although he'll likely play in left field, while newcomer Craig Monroe, acquired straight up for Jacque Jones, takes over in center. Young, along with Brendan Harris, bring some speed into the lineup, while Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel are solid middle-of-the-order RBI guys. Joe Mauer is a solid all-around hitter, and Monroe and newcomber Mike Lamb could provide some additional power. Newly acquired shortstop Adam Everett should help improve the defense up the middle of the infield.

Even with Santana gone, the Twins still have a solid rotation, if Francisco Liriano rebounds from TJ surgery. If he does, he'll eventually be the ace of the staff. Boof Bonser, Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey are all solid middle-of-the-rotation pitchers, and all boast very good command of their pitches. The bullpen is the Twins biggest strengths, with veteran closer Joe Nathan anchoring the staff for at least one more season. Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier emerged as solid set-up guys last season, and a plethora of solid young relievers will provide the Twins with some added depth.

The Twins could be a surprise if the new-look offense comes together quickly, and the rotation can withstand the loss of Santana.

5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The White Sox struggled immensely to hit and score runs in 2007, and a lot needs to happen for them to rebound in 2008. Manager Ozzie Guillen is stressing more fundamentally sound baseball, which means they won't be trying to rely on the long-ball anymore. But with the guys they have in the lineup, Guillen will have his hands full. The additions of Orlando Cabrera, acquired for Jon Garland, and Nick Swisher, will give them some flexibility at the top of the order, but Guillen wants the middle of the lineup that features power hitters Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye to help manufacture runs, as well, which won't be easy. Josh Fields is likely to push Joe Crede hard for the third baseman's job, with newly acquired Carlos Quentin expected to play a big role in left field.

The rotation isn't as good as it used to be, with Javier Vazquez being the real lone strikeout threat. Mark Buehrle and John Danks figure to give up their share of hits, as well. Other than Jose Contreras, all of the five starters, Gavin Floyd being the fifth, included, pitch with pretty good command. The bullpen was an albatross in 2007 behind closer Bobby Jenks, and if all goes as planned, that could change. Newcomer Scott Linebrink brings some experience as the set-up guy, but the Sox need Matt Thornton and Mike MacDougal to rebound from atrocious 2007s, and Ehren Wasserman to prove 2007 wasn't a fluke.

The White Sox will struggle to stay consistent as the offense tries to acclimate to a new approach even though it's not built for it. The rotation is average at best and the bullpen has to be better. The Sox could finish in third, or they could finish last again.

Last but not least, the A.L. West, coming soon!

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Since we're on the east coast, we'll stay here and switch over to the AL side, before heading west from here. The defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox reside here in the east, having won the division by just two games of their heated rivals in 2007, the New York Yankees, after having a 14.5 game lead mid-season. This year promises to be just as exciting for these two, with a little bit of extra sauce on the side.

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

After manager Joe Torre rejected the Yankees one-year offer to remain as manager and resigned, and eventually headed west to Los Angeles, there was growing speculation that many of the Yankees own free agents, Alex Rodriguez included after he opted out of his contract, would head west with Torre to the Dodgers. That didn't happen. Enter Joe Girardi as the new manager. A-Rod and Jorge Posada both re-signed in New York, keeping the league's best offense intact. Johnny Damon retains his leadoff spot but will now play mostly in left field. Derek Jeter follows in his usual spot, and shouldn't lose a step. The middle of the line-up, with Bobby Abreu, A-Rod, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Posada and Robinson Cano, is as good as it gets. Jeter and Abreu are on-base machines for the big RBI guys that follow. Melky Cabrera rounds out the lineup as the centerfielder. They will score a LOT of runs. Bank on it.

The rotation isn't as good as advertised... yet. But it will be soon enough. Young veteran Chien-Ming Wang, the staff's ace for now, is as good as his numbers indicate. The back-end of the rotation is very young, but very promising. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy should be locks for two of the spots. Andy Pettitte also returns to add some veteran leadership to the staff, but Mike Mussina had a 2007 he'd like to forget, and needs to re-establish himself with his diminished velocity. He will be on a very short leash, and if he fails, Joba Chamberlain will move from the pen to take Mussina's spot. The pen got a sigh of relief when Mariano Rivera re-signed with the Yankees in the off-season. Had they lost him to free agency, Chamberlain would have been their best option anywhere out of the pen. They still must deal with Kyle Farnsworth's inconsistency and LaTroy Hawkins being well past his prime. The pen is very average at best, even with Rivera and Chamberlain.

The Yankees will score and score and score, and their rotation is only going to get better with their young starters. If the pen can hold up over 162 games, the Yankees should win the division by a hair.

2. BOSTON RED SOX

The Red Sox won the World Series with their consistency. The offense scored enough runs and their defense was about as good as it's been in years. Not much will change from 2007 to 2008. Rookie phenom speedster Jacoby Ellsbury took the leadoff and centerfield job away from Coco Crisp late in the season, and with his stellar post-season, the Red Sox gave him the job outright in 2008. The Sox love him so much, they refused to include him in any trade for Johan Santana. The middle of the line-up is still one of the best, when healthy. David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew all had injuries to deal with last season, and Mike Lowell carried much of the offense. That can't happen again in 2008. Dustin Pedroia will slide down to the bottom of the order and Kevin Youkilis will retain the second spot because of his ability to get on-base. Jason Varitek is still one of the best game-callers among catchers, but his bat isn't what it used to be.

The Red Sox's pitching as a team was one of the bests in the American League. The rotation does have some questions heading into 2008, which will be in Japan in late March for two games with Oakland. Josh Beckett was a Cy Young candidate last season, and is one of the game's best power pitchers and big-game pitchers, but he enters 2008 with some back issues. At this point, they appear to be nothing serious. Curt Schilling will start the season on the 60-day disabled list with tiredness in his biceps, and could miss the entire season. Rookie phenom Clay Buchholz will take his spot in the rotation. Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled at times in his "rookie" season in the Majors, but could rebound after a year of acclimation. Jon Lester has great stuff, but needs to put it all together. Tim Wakefield and his knuckleball round out the rotation. The bullpen is anchored by arguably the game's best closer, Jonathan Papelbon, and Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen are among the best set-up men in all of baseball.

The Red Sox will score plenty of runs, and they have one of the best bullpens. If the rotation can overcome the loss of Schilling, and avoid any major or long-term injuries to any key players, they will be right there at the top of the division.

3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

The Blue Jays suffered immensely in 2007 when several players went down with injuries for extended periods of time. They hope to avoid the injury bug in 2008. If they do, the offense is as good as any. Plenty in this lineup can hit for average and hit for power, and that's how they'll have to score runs with the lack of any speed. Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, Frank Thomas, newly acquired Scott Rolen and Lyle Overbay give the Jays a lot different looks in the middle of the lineup. The key will be keeping Scott Rolen healthy on the Rogers Centre turf. David Eckstein takes over as the new leadoff hitter and shortstop, with Aaron Hill hitting second. Gregg Zaun and Reed Johnson round out the lineup.

The Jays have a very good mix of power and finesse in their rotation. They also have innings-eaters. Roy Halladay is one of the games best control pitchers and is among the league leaders in strikeouts each year. A.J. Burnett and Dustin McGowan are also strikeout pitchers. Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch round out a very solid rotation. The bullepn suffered a blow last year when B.J. Ryan went down with Tommy John surgery. In his absence, Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen and Scott Downs filled in very nicely for him. If Ryan can rebound from TJ surgery, the pen will be even better.

If the Jays can stay healthy enough to score enough runs, with its solid rotation and effective pen, the Jays should be in the middle of the division race to the end.

4. TAMPA BAY RAYS

The Rays are an up-and-coming team stuck in the wrong division. So it seems. The Rays offense is about as good as a young lineup can get. Akinori Iwamura leads off what could be a very potent offense that includes Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Jonny Gomes/Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli has to stay healthy, though. Dioner Navarro and newly acquired shortstop Jason Bartlett round out the lineup. This team needs to improve with runners in scoring position, and there's no reason they shouldn't.

The rotation is very solid at the top, but still uncertain at the back end. Scott Kazmir and James Shield are a solid 1-2 combo at the top. Both pitchers also eat a lot of innings. The addition of Matt Garza in the middle of the rotation gives the Rays another solid arm. However, the rest of rotation is very iffy and inconsistent. Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine have to learn how to throw more strikes, enabling them to cut down on their pitch counts and go longer than five innings or six innings. The bullpen, one of the league's worst in 2007, got a little better. Veteran closer Troy Percival takes over those duties, relegating Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler to set-up roles, where they should be more effective. However, Percival and Reyes are injury risks.

The Rays will score plenty of runs, as well, and the front end of their rotation should keep them in games. But the back end of the rotation needs more consistency and the pen must stay healthy. A .500 record isn't out of the question here.

5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Where to start. The Orioles, to say the least, are a mess. But they might be finally headed in the right direction. The O's sent Miguel Tejada packing for Houston and got a plethora of prospects and cheap, solid major leaguers in return. Soon after, ace Eric Bedard was shipped to Seattle for an even better package of prospects. Is Brian Roberts the next to go? Only owner Peter Angelos really knows. In the meantime, there are still some bright spots in the lineup at Camden Yards. Roberts, for the time being, leads off an interesting lineup that still includes the likes of Melvin Mora, Nick Markakis and Kevin Millar. Aubrey Huff takes over the clean up spot and could drive in 100 runs. Ramon Hernandez and newly acquired Luke Scott are also present. Adam Jones, the highly-touted prospect they got in the Bedard trade, takes over in rightfield and should provide some added power and speed to the lineup.

With Bedard gone to Seattle, Daniel Cabrera, Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Loewen will have to pick up the slack. Cabrera still hasn't pitched to his full potential, and Loewen needs to return from a fractured elbow. Guthrie is the ace of the staff at this point, especially if repeats his strong 2007 season. The pen might be one of the worst in all of baseball. The addition of George Sherrill, acquired in the Bedard trade, gives them some hope, but with Chris Ray and an ineffective Danys Baez both out because of Tommy John surgery, the pen will be hard-pressed to keep the Orioles in any games they might actually inherit a lead in.

The Orioles have been mathematically eliminated from any playoff contention for the next five years.

Coming up next, the American League Central.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

The NL East was one of the more whacky divisions last year. The Mets blew a seven-game lead in the standings with two weeks left in the season to win the division and knock the Mets from playoff contention. The Braves quietly regained a little respect after losing the division for the first time in 14 years in 2006. This year could be just as crazy, and maybe even better than advertised. The Mets, Phillies and Braves all have what it takes to win the division.

1. ATLANTA BRAVES

Despite the loss of Andruw Jones, the lineup still looks as good as it did a year ago, thanks in large part to last season's mid-season trade for first baseman Mark Teixeira. The Braves also sent Edgar Renteria to Detroit to make room for up-and-coming Yunel Escobar at the top of the order, who WOW-ed the Braves last year while Renteria was hurt, making Renteria expendable. The middle of the lineup figures to drive in a bunch of runs with Chipper Jones, Teixeira, Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur. Mark Kotsay takes over the center field duties, and adds some experience at the top of the order.

The Braves brought back Tom Glavine after a three-year stay in New York, to add some depth to a pretty solid rotation. There are concerns here though. Glavine and John Smoltz are now over 40 years old, and Tim Hudson hasn't been healthy for a full season since coming to Atlanta. Mike Hampton is still recovering from all sort of injuries that have shelved him for over two years. The big upside in the rotation will be from the back end, where Jair Jurrjens, acquired in the Renteria deal from Detroit, Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James all have bright futures. With Hampton still not at 100%, two of these three will be in the rotation. The bullepn will rely heavily on the starters being able to throw more innings. If the starters can do that, the pen will be more effective. Rafael Soriano resumes the closer duties with Peter Moylan and Manny Acosta at the back end. The Braves also hope Mike Gonzalez can add depth when he returns mid-season.

The Braves have the best balance of combined depth in their lineup, rotation and bullpen of anyone in the division. If the rotation stays healthy, They should have no problem taking back the East crown.

2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Phillies have arguably the best hitting lineup in the National League. They also have the most power in the lineup, having hit 213 home runs in 2007. But this team can also run, and run with success, as they had the best stolen base rate in baseball last season. And it all starts at the top with reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins, and Shane Victorino. The middle of the lineup is arguably one of the best, as well, with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell. Add in Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth splitting up right field, and you've got another 200- plus home runs.

The Phillies rotation is their thorn in their side with some staggering statistics and very little depth. Cole Hamels is one of the best young starters in the game. However, Brett Myers is recovering from an injury that sidelined him a good part of 2007; Jamie Moyer will be 45; Adam Eaton had an ugly ERA over 6. They do get Kyle Kendrick for a full season, and Chad Durbin will push Eaton. The starters must cut back on the number of home runs they give up, and have to find a way to improve on an ERA near 5. The bullpen gets a boost with the addition of Brad Lidge, even though he was the least effective closer in the NL in 2007 with eight blown saves. However, they do have plenty of depth with Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madsen and J.D Durbin.

The Phillies can score with anyone, and they have a formidable bullpen. If the rotation can improve on last season's atrocity, they'll be a force in the National League.

3. NEW YORK METS

The Mets had an epic collapse of epic proportions at the end of last season, and they intend to make sure it doesn't happen again. The lineup is more or less the same as last season. The offense can score runs in multiple ways: power, speed or small ball. The Mets have very good balance at the top of the lineup with Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, David Wright and Carlos Beltran. However, age and injuries have already begun to take its toll on Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado. The addition of Ryan Church in right field will give the bottom of the lineup some balance.

The rotation lost Tom Glavine, but GM Omar Minaya pulled the trigger and dealt for superstar ace Johan Santana, then signed him long-term. But Santana can only pitch every fifth game, and that could be a problem for the Mets. No one knows what to expect from Pedro Martinez, who's not only returning from an injury that forced him to miss most of 2007, but is aging, as well. And while Orlando Hernandez has been consistent in recent years, he is only getting older, as well. Oliver Perez and John Maine are two solid young pitchers, but Mike Pelfrey is relatively unproven. One of these three won't make the rotation. Other than Santana in Minnesota last season, none of the starters were consistent. The bullpen is an even bigger question mark than the rotation. Billy Wagner is a three-out closer. So unless the starters go eight innings every time out, the Mets might be in trouble. Aaron Heilman gives up a ton of home runs and Duaner Sanchez hasn't pitched in about 18 months. The rest of the pen isn't even worth a discussion.

The Mets will score enough runs on most nights, but the uncertainty behind Santana in the rotation and Wagner in the pen will likely leave the Mets on the outside looking in again come October.

4. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The Nationals made two very daring trades for two very troubled young stars-in-the-making. Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes will finally get their opportunities in the nation's capital to prove they were worth it. Milledge is the sure bet of the two to start on opening day, and will be penciled in the two spot and center field. DC hopes Milledge, along with long-forgotten Cristian Guzman, will provide them more scoring chances at the top of the lineup than Nook Logan or Felipe Lopez did in 2007. The middle of the lineup is solid with Ryan Zimmerman, a Nick Johnson/Dmitri Young first base tandem, Wily Mo Pena, and Austin Kearns. Lopez slides to the bottom of the lineup and will split second base time with Ronnie Belliard. Paul Lo Duca takes over the catching duties. The Nationals hope this lineup won't finish dead last in runs scored again as the move into a brand new cozier ballpark this season.

The Nats new cozier ballpark won't help their pitching staff much, particularly the starters. Their rotation was like an army infirmary last season. Shawn Hill, John Patterson and Jason Bergmann all spent quality time on the disabled list last season. Matt Chico was the only healthy starter, but he has some control issues. Mike Bascik, Joel Hanrahan and Timm Redding will determine the fifth starter. The bullpen is the strength of the pitching staff. Chad Cordero anchors a solid back end with Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala and Saul Rivera handling the set-up duties.

The Nationals new park should help them score a few more runs, but it will also help them give up more runs. Thanks in large part to Florida, the Nationals will avoid the cellar.

5. FLORIDA MARLINS

The Marlins will be hard-pressed to match last season's team record established of 790 runs scored after trading superstar third baseman Miguel Cabrera to Detroit, along with pitcher Dontrelle Willis. However, there is still a lot of upside in this offense. Hanley Ramirez, an MVP candidate last season, and Dan Uggla form an interesting combination of power from the middle infield spots. Jeremy Hermida will be asked to pick up some additional slack left behind by the departure of Cabrera, and could be slotted in the third spot in the lineup if highly-regarded prospect Cameron Maybin wins a job and can handle the lead off spot. Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs add some young veteran power to the middle of the lineup.

With ace Willis gone to Detroit, the Marlins rotation will have to step it up. More importantly, they have to stay healthy. That said, Scott Olsen or Sergio Mitre will become the ace. Florida also hopes top prospect Andrew Miller, acquired in the big trade with Detroit, will help some. The last two spots are huge question marks, with no real clear-cut favorites for either spot. Last year, the pen was a mess. Now, it just might be their strength. Kevin Gregg establish himself as the closer, and Justin Miller, Lee Garnder, Taylor Tankersley and Renyel Pinto add some depth in the pen. The return of Logan kensing is a huge plus.

Th Marlins are capable of scoring runs, and they have a solid pen now, but they will be hard-pressed to win many games with their rotation as uncertain as it is.

Next up, the American League!

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

The N.L. Central figures to be competitive, as well, but not in the same manner as its Western Division foes. Here's a quick look at each of the six N.L. Central teams:

1. CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs boast one of the league's most aggressive hitting line-ups, and it starts at the top with Alfonso Soriano. Finding a consistent hitter in the two-slot will be an adventure again for skipper Lou Piniella. The middle of the line-up figures to have a little more balance than last year as they've added lefty Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, who will take over in right field. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will have to rebound from "off" years, and Geovani Soto and Mark DeRosa are quietly underrated and undervalued in this offense.

The pitching will once again be the Cubs strong point. The front end of the rotation is one of the best with Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly. Rich Hill is only going to get better. But there are some question marks at the back end. Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall will all battle it out for the last two slots. The bullpen doesn't have a clear cut closer anymore with Dempster battling for a rotation spot, but a trio of Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol still makes the top of this bullpen very formidable, so long as they can all stay healthy.

The Cubs should win this division, but they will have competition.

2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Brewers, like the Cubs, will be relying on the long ball. The bulk of the power is in the infield with Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and Ryan Braun. Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks provide the stolen base threats, but Hart will be in the middle of the lineup rather than towards the top with Weeks. There is also still a question of whether Bill Hall will be moved to 3B from CF in order to allow Braun to shift into the OF.

The rotation is bundled with a lot of depth, but also a lot of "ifs", and the two biggest "ifs" are Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano's health. Another "if" is whether rookie Yovani Gallardo is as good as he appeared last season. The only consistency here is Jeff Suppan, who is almost automatic for 200 innings and rarely visits the DL. The bullpen will only be as good as new closer Eric Gagne, and the Brewers are hopeful he'll return to the form he showed in Texas in the first half of last year, and not his disastrous stay in Boston in the second half. Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Solomon Torres give the Brewers some bullpen depth, as long as Gagne is healthy and effective.

The Brewers will battle the Cubs for the division, but ultimately, the Cubs pitching will be too much to overcome.

3. CINCINNATI REDS

The Reds could be the surprise team in this division. Their lineup is as balanced and as deep as any in the N.L. The Reds are capable of beating you with small ball, or the long ball. Ryan Freel inherits the everyday job in center field after trading Josh Hamilton to Texas, and will lead off. The middle of the lineup features Ken Griffey, Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion. And the Reds are very high on rookie sensation Joey Votto at first base.

The rotation might be as good as any in the N.L., as well, with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey forming a nice 1-2-3. Edinson Volquez, acquired from Texas in the Hamilton deal, will likely get one of the other two rotation spots, along with Matt Belisle. The back end of the bullpen is deep with the addition of closer Francisco Cordero, allowing David Weathers to return to a set-up guy. And Jared Burton might be one of the better seventh inning guys in the league. However, unless the starters can get to those guys, the rest of the bullpen is very average, very hittable, and very beatable.

The rotation and lineup will keep the Reds afloat, but in the end, the bullpen will be the thorn in new manager Dusty Baker's side, and the Reds will fall short behind Chicago and Milwaukee.

4. HOUSTON ASTROS

Like the others in this division, the Astros lineup is loaded. In fact, this lineup might have the best offense outside of Colorado. New additions Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui give the Astros some much needed speed at the top of the lineup. The middle of the lineup could be the deepest in the league with Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada. Ty Wigginton could also be a sleeper in this lineup in the seventh spot.

After ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros rotation is a mess. Woody Williams had an awful 2007, Brandon Backe is coming off Tommy John surgery (2005), Wandy Rodriguez is rarely consistent and Chris Sampson can't seem to stay in the rotation at all. But if those four guys can turn all that around, the Astros might have a distant shot. The bullpen isn't much different. They acquired Jose Valverde, last season's Major League saves leader, to close out their games. But after Valverde, there isn't much depth. Doug Brocail and Mark McLemore will be the primary set-up guys, and Oscar Villarreal will gets some looks, as well, but really, this pitching staff isn't anything special beyond Oswalt and Valverde.

The Astros will score a ton of runs, but in games Oswalt isn't starting, they'll also give up a ton.

5. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

The Cards break the trend set by the first four teams in the division. There are more questions in this lineup than in the others. Albert Pujols, slowed at times last year because of nagging injuries, didn't have an Albert Pujols-type season in 2007, and comes into this season with health concerns, starting with his elbow. Rick Ankiel takes over in center field after the Cards sent fan favorite, but aging and hurting, Jim Edmonds to San Diego. They did manage to upgrade offensively at third base, swapping Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus. However, Glaus isn't the same with the glove as Rolen. Chris Duncan returns in left field, as well. The rest of lineup is average at best.

The Cards also have a lot of rotation questions. Adam Wainwright is now the ace of the staff after a very good 2007, but the health of Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder will be the key for the Cards. If they can return to some form of their old selves, the Cards could make a little noise. The back end of the rotation isn't much with Joel Pineiro and Matt Clement. The bullpen isn't all that bad though. In fact, it returns almost in its entirety with Jason Isringhausen anchoring the staff. Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer figure to get the bulk of the setup roles.

The Cards have too many "ifs" in both their lineup and pitching staff to be serious contenders.

6. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

The Bucs continue to have a stronghold on last place in the division. Their lineup does feature a lot of guys who can hit, but not consistently for power. Jack Wilson, Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez are all very good hitters, but only Bay and LaRoche can consistently put up power numbers if they choose. Xavier Nady, Ronny Paulino and Jose Bautista give the lineup some balance throughout and at the bottom, and Ryan Doumit or Nate McClouth add some more depth off the bench.

The rotation isn't very overpowering, but there are some bright spots here. Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell and Zack Duke are all good young pitchers, and Snell, the ace of the staff, should have no problems getting 200 strikeouts. Matt Morris also gives them a veteran presence, and should be good for 200 innings. The bullpen can be very good, especially if they're given a lead to work with. Matt Capps is a very formidable but virtually unknown closer, and Damaso Marte and John Grabow are solid set-up guys, although only Capps has overpowering stuff.

The Pirates figure to score a few runs, and the rotation will only get better with age, but this team is nowhere near ready to compete with the rest of the division.

Coming up soon, the National League East!

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

We start here because, well, it's what I'm most familiar with, and, it might arguably be the best and most competitive division in all of baseball. Last year, four of the five teams finished with above .500 winning percentages, the first time that has happened under the current division format. Colorado, who remained competitive enough throughout the bulk of the season to hang around, made a miraculous run at the end of the season and well into the playoffs, only to have it come to an abrupt end in the World Series against Boston. Arizona, despite having scored fewer runs than they allowed during the regular season, won the division over Colorado and San Diego, who lost a one-game playoff to Colorado for the Wild Card. The Dodgers were never consistent enough to make a real hard push, and finished in fourth, eight games back, despite finishing above .500. So where does that leave these teams for 2008? Pretty much in the same boat as last season. 2008 should be no different.

1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Dodgers were able to address two needs without having to give up any of their young kids: a power-hitter in the middle of the lineup, and rotation depth. After Grady Little resigned as the manager, the Dodgers made a quick move to snatch up free agent manager Joe Torre, who walked away from the Yankees two weeks earlier. They then signed Andruw Jones to a two-year deal, and not long after, landed Japanese import, Hiroki Kuroda, and inked him for three years.

The Dodgers still have question marks, but it's not because they still have holes to fill. Jones' signing displaces Juan Pierre over to left, but Andre Ethier should be the everyday left-fielder, and Andy LaRoche should be the everyday third baseman over Nomar Garciaparra. Jeff Kent returns for another season at second, and Russell Martin, James Loney, Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal fill out Torre's lineup card. If Loney and Kemp can stretch out what they did in 3/4 of a season in 2007 over a full season in 2008, and if Jones can revert back to himself after a disastrous final season in Atlanta, the Dodger lineup should be in good shape, and could boast six players with at least 20+ home runs, where they had only one in 2007.

The pitching staff won't change much from 2007, so it should still be very good. Brad Penny, Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley all return as the 1-2-3 starters, although Billingsley has quickly emereged as the ace of the staff. Kuroda comes in to be the fourth starter and either Jason Schmidt, if he's healthy, or Esteban Loaiza will round out the rotation. Anchored by closer Takashi Saito, Jonathan Broxton, Joe Beimel, Scott Proctor and Rudy Seanez all return to form one of the game's best bullpens.

The Dodgers arguably have the most talent, the best balanced lineup, the most depth offensively, and the most complete and balanced pitching staff from top to bottom in the division. That should be enough for the Dodgers to win the West.

2. COLORADO ROCKIES

The Rockies were rather quiet in the off-season, though they lost one of their starters, Josh Fogg, from last year's World Series team. But 2007 was no fluke. The Rockies can hit, and now, they've got pitchers who have learned to and have mastered how to pitch in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The offense is anchored by MVP runner-up Matt Holliday and veteran Todd Helton. While Helton doesn't boast the kind of power he once did, he is still a very good hitter. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has emerged as one of the game's best young shortstops, and Garrett Atkins has solidified himself as one of the game's best third basemen. Rookie phenom Ian Stewart will get some looks at second base, and Brad Hawpe returns to right field. Willie Taveras gives the Rockies some speed at the top of the lineup.

The rotation is anchored by stud, Jeff Francis, and veteran Aaron Cook. But three "rookies" round out the rotation, and that might prove to be the fatal blow in the Rockies chances to get back to the World Series, let alone the playoffs, especially from this division. Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsch are all power pitchers, but they're relatively inexperienced aside from last year's run. The bullpen, like the others in this division, is very good. Closer Manny Corpas will resume his role after displacing Brian Fuentes, now his set-up guy. Ryan Speier, Jose Vizcaino and Matt Herges round out the rotation.

This team can hit, and score runs, in bunches. They have one the games smartest pitchers in Francis, and a solid pen, but the experience, or lack of it, at the back end of the rotation will be a key factor in whether they can repeat last year.

3. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. That's all that needs to be said about this team. They form what might be the best 1-2 punch in any rotation since Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson anchored this rotation in the late 90s, early 2000s. And its because of this duo that many people are picking Arizona to repeat as division champs. But they have their own issues that need to be addressed.

The Arizona offense was one of the worst in baseball last year. They won the division having scored fewer runs than they allowed. And they didn't really address their need to get more offense. That's because they feel the missing pieces are already there. Eric Byrnes was their best hitter last year, but now they are counting on youngsters Stephen Drew, B.J. Upton, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds, and young veteran Conor Jackson to step up and provide the additional offense. And they can, and they might. But it's going to be an uphill battle. A healthy Orlando Hudson also helps. If they don't find a way to score more runs, they will waste some very good pitching.

Behind Webb and Haren, the rotation includes Doug Davis and Micah Owings. They're good, but not great or spectacular, although Owings does bring another bat to the lineup every fifth day. If he's healthy, Randy Johnson can still pile up the strikeouts, although he's not really over-powering anymore. Tony Pena becomes the closer after Jose Valverde was dealt to Houston. Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz add some depth in the rotation should Pena falter as the closer.

If Arizona intends to repeat, they can't repeat. The offense needs to score more runs. If they do, they should earn a playoff spot, if they don't they're watching the playoffs on TV come October.

4. SAN DIEGO PADRES

The Padres are pretty much in the same situation as Arizona, very good pitching, but very little offense. They, too, didn't do much to address this need, although they did trade for center fielder Jim Edmonds and sign second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

The offense is anchored by veteran Brian Giles, no longer a home run hitter thanks to spacious PETCO Park, but still a home run threat. Giles, however, will take on a new role as the everyday leadoff hitter. Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Khalil Greene give the Padres some hope offensively, but it won't be enough. The Padres need to build their team to fit PETCO Park, and right now, this offense isn't built that way.

The rotation behind Jake Peavy has become very iffy. Chris Young was spectacular for half a season, and then injuries took over and he became ineffective and average, although he still managed to keep his ERA down. Greg Maddux still knows how to pitch at age 42. Randy Wolf and Glendon Rusch fill out the rotation, assuming either stays healthy. Mark Prior was also brought in as a free agent, but he can't be relied on given his history of injuries. Prior will be brought along slowly and should find a spot on the staff by June. The bullpen is probably the best and deepest in baseball. Trevor Hoffman returns for yet another season as the closer, and Joe Thatcher, Heath Bell, Cla Meredith and Kevin Cameron round out the game's best bullpen.

San Diego, like Arizona, needs to find a way to score more runs. The pitching is probably one of the best overall in baseball, from Peavy, to the sixth or seventh guy out of the pen, but if they don't find a way to score runs, the pitching will go to waste.

5. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

The Giants are a lost cause in this division. Barry Bonds is no longer around to keep the offense afloat, but there are some positives in other areas.

With Bonds gone, the Giants were desperate to find some offense in a very thin free agency market, and found Aaron Rowand. Rowand is no Bonds, and moving from hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park in Philly, the games best park for hitters, to pitcher-friendly AT&T Park in San Francisco, isn't going to help Rowand's production. The offense then will be revolved around the speed in the lineup, from leadoff hitter Dave Roberts down to Omar Vizquel. Bengie Molina now takes over as the cleanup hitter with Rowand expected to hit fifth. Ray Durham, Rich Aurilia and Randy Winn also return to round out Bruce Bochy's lineup card.

The strength of the Giants is their rotation. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are two of the game's best young pitchers, and will only get better. Barry Zito rebounded from a poor start in 2007 and finished strong. Noah Lowry and Kevin Correia round out an impressive rotation for a pretty bad team. The bullpen should get some consistency out of Brian Wilson and Tyler Walker as the closer and setup man. The pen lost 33 games last year, and they hope Wilson and Walker can help avoid that again in 2008. Brad Hennessey, Vinnie Chulk and Randy Messenger provide their pen depth.

The Giants are penciled in for last place across the board. Their is a lot of promise in the rotation, but the lineup still looks old. Rowand really isn't the answer here offensively, but then again, post-Bonds, who is?

Coming up soon, the National League Central.

Random Info...

As you can see, I've been playing around with widgets for this blog. I've looked and looked and looked for decent scoreboard and standings widgets for baseball. The best I could find was through ESPN. But as you can see, they don't completely fit on the sidebar. And unfortunately, MLB.com doesn't have any official widgets yet. I'm hoping to find something along the lines of the NBA widgets found on NBA.com. But until then, bear with the ESPN widgets. I also, unfortunately, don't know how to make widgets either.

I'm also getting ready to launch a new blog specifically for my Second Annual Baseball Projections/Predictions. I was originally going to post them here, but I figured a new blog would be better. So, as soon as I have it launched, I'll post the link here. It should be sometime today.

Rumors Before Camp

UPDATE (3:03pm CT): Well, that was quick! ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is reporting the Dodgers are now close to re-signing Mark Sweeney to a one-year deal.

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It looks like Tony Clark is headed to San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting only "details" remain on what appears to be a one-year deal, and that an announcement could come in a day or two. Clark would be the primary power lefty (even though he is a switch hitter) off the bench for the Padres and would also spell Adrian Gonzalez at first from time to time. Looks like the Dodgers will have to turn their focus back to Mark Sweeney (which is fine with me).

And here's an interesting one involving the Dodgers. According to the Denver Post, the Dodgers and Oakland have discussed Joe Blanton again (remember the two teams made a last ditch effort before last season's July 31st trade deadline to make a deal for Blanton). However, Billy Beane reportedly wants Andre Ethier (whom Beane traded to the Dodgers two years ago for Milton Bradley), Andy LaRoche and a high level prospect. First, I can't imagine the Dodgers making this deal now as Ethier should be the everyday left fielder over Juan Pierre and LaRoche should be the Dodgers third baseman over Nomar, and second, who knows how accurate this report might be considering it came from Denver rather than Oakland or L.A.

The Quiet Front About to Get Noisier...

Why do I say that, you ask? Well, there hasn't been much to report over the last several weeks in Dodger-land. But to follow-up on a couple of items I mentioned earlier in the off-season, the Dodgers have re-signed reliever Rudy Seanez to a non-guaranteed contract, which basically means he has to earn his spot on the roster again. That shouldn't be much of a problem after the season he had last year. The Dodgers also remain very interested in Mark Sweeney and Tony Clark as the primary lefty off the bench, although reports over the last day or two suggest Clark could be headed to San Diego. Stay tuned.

But the best news of all is spring training is only days away! That's right, folks! Pitchers and catchers report in less than FIVE days. And for me, that means it's nearing the time of year where I start making my projections for the upcoming season, including how the divisions and playoffs could play out, who the all-stars might be and who has the best shot at being named the end-of-the-year award winners. Over the next month or so throughout spring training, come back here for analysis on each division, possible all-stars and award winners. There will be a total of eight installments, all free of charge for your pure enjoyment! Until then, keeps those timers countin' down 'til pitchers and catcher report next Wednesday!