Dodgers hope Navarro lives up to nickname

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	After playing in 50 games last season, Dioner Navarro will see the bulk of action behind the dish for the Dodgers in '06. AP

By Jacob Luft, SI.com

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Dioner Navarro has the baseball cards of two players on top of his locker: Pudge Rodriguez and Jason Phillips. Can you guess which one he put there and which one is the product of a practical joke?

One look at Navarro is all it takes to figure out why his nickname is "Little Pudge." He's got the prototypical catcher's body -- short and stocky -- and sweet swing to match. At 22, the Venezuelan native is set to break camp as the Opening Day catcher for the first time in his career after assuming the starting job down the stretch for the Dodgers last season and batting .273 with a .354 on-base percentage.

If you recall, the Dodgers began 2005 with the catching tandem of Phillips and Paul Bako, two guys who weren't going to make anybody forget about Roy Campanella or Mike Piazza. Phillips, in particular, was disappointing. Opponents ran wild on him; in 88 starts, he allowed 78 steals in 97 attempts. Baserunners had more respect for Navarro, attempting only 41 steals in 49 games.

"I've been really impressed with him," manager Grady Little said. "You can see that this kid is confident in what he can do. The pitchers like pitching to him."

The Dodgers also have another stud catcher prospect in Russell Martin (.391 career OBP with defensive tools to match) who is hoping to land a spot on the big league roster. As tempting as it may be to pair up Navarro and Martin, Little said he wants a veteran catcher -- Sandy Alomar Jr. or Pat Borders -- as a backup to handle the younger pitchers on the staff.

"The veteran pitchers are going to enforce their plan regardless of who is back there," Little said.

Team's Biggest Strength

This is the best middle infield in the National League. Jeff Kent will be 38 on Opening Day, but you can count on him slugging at a .500 clip or higher for the eighth consecutive season. Plus, Kent's defense is better than he's been given credit for; he ranked seventh in the NL among second basemen in fielding win shares last season with 4.3. Rafael Furcal, brought over from Atlanta on a three-year, $39 million deal, gives the club a prototype leadoff man and a cannon arm at shortstop. Then there is Gold Glove shortstop Cesar Izturis, who should be back by the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.

Team's Biggest Weakness

The under-the-radar addition of right-hander Jae Seo from the Mets shores up the back of the rotation, but the club lacks a dependable No. 1 starter -- an ace. Brad Penny was supposed to fill that role, but he was slowed by a bicep injury early on and has yet to assert himself. The Dodgers signed Derek Lowe to a four-year, $36 million free-agent deal fresh off of his clutch postseason showing for the Red Sox in 2004, but he gave up a career-high 28 home runs last season en route to a 12-15 record. The Dodgers can take solace in that Lowe's ERA (3.61) and hits allowed (223 in 222 innings) were more in line with his career totals than during his disastrous 2004 regular season, during which he posted a 5.24 ERA and allowed 224 hits in 182 2/3 innings. "Lowe should be the ace," veteran catcher Sandy Alomar said. "He's the guy who they signed to be the ace."

Clubhouse Confidential

If Borders doesn't make the team -- he's battling Alomar for the veteran backup catcher spot -- then he's planning to play for the Class A Vero Beach Dodgers. Forty-two is a bit old for the bus leagues, but Borders says he wants to stay close to home and his seven children. ... Injuries decimated the outfield last season, but the club will have more depth this season. The Dodgers added Kenny Lofton and still have midseason acquisition Jose Cruz, Jr. Also, shortstop prospect Joel Guzman, who slugged .475 last season at Class AA Jacksonville, is moving to left field, where the club hopes he can get on the fast track to the major leagues. "This guy's an athlete," Little said.