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Los Angeles Dodgers
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| Projected Lineup |
|---|
| 3B |
Adrian Beltre |
| 2B |
Mark Grudzielanek |
| RF |
Shawn Green |
| LF |
Brian Jordan |
| C |
Paul Lo Duca |
| 1B |
Eric Karros |
| SS |
Cesar Izturis |
| CF |
Marquis Grissom |
| Projected Rotation |
|---|
| RHP |
Kevin Brown |
| LHP |
Kazuhiro Ishii |
| RHP |
Andy Ashby |
| RHP |
Hideo Nomo |
| LHP |
Odalis Perez |
| CL |
Matt Herges |
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By John Donovan, CNNSI.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers have pitching. Lots and lots of it. For the most part, it seems to be pretty good, too.
Now, how healthy all of it is ... well, that's another thing altogether.
Ace Kevin Brown is back, supposedly, after starting only 19 games last season (going 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA). He's returning from elbow surgery, the first arm surgery of his impressive career. Andy Ashby also is coming off elbow surgery after making only two starts last year. He, too, should be ready to go.
The Dodgers lost a load of pitching when starters Chan Ho Park, Terry Adams and James Baldwin left through free agency. But L.A. added Hideo Nomo (13-10, 4.50 ERA in 33 starts) from Boston and signed lefty Japanese pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to a four-year, $12.3 million contract. Add in Eric Gagne (24 starts last year), promising Odalis Perez (obtained in a trade with Atlanta) and Omar Daal (from Philadelphia) and there are plenty of pitching possibilities.
The Dodgers are high on their closers, too, with Paul Quantrill (3.04 ERA) and Matt Herges (3.44 ERA) taking over for Jeff Shaw. Neither Quantrill nor Herges has been a closer before.
The problem for the Dodgers isn't their pitching, though, especially if Brown and Ashby are healthy. (Another former starter, Darren Dreifort, could be back as early as the All-Star break after Tommy John surgery.) No, the problem for the Dodgers is their offense.
L.A. finally dealt malcontent Gary Sheffield, moving him to Atlanta for Perez and outfielder Brian Jordan. The move makes the clubhouse a happier place. But the lineup is much sadder.
Jordan is unquestionably a better clubhouse presence, and he'll provide adequate protection for Shawn Green. But after those two and catcher Paul Lo Duca (who may be hard-pressed to repeat his .320, 25-homer, 90-RBI season), the Dodgers have a largely punchless offense with a lot of uncertainty.
Manager Jim Tracy worked magic around a ton of injuries last season, keeping the Dodgers in the pennant race until September. That kind of a run is not totally out of the question this year.
Once again, though, it's all up to the pitching.
Up for grabs: No place are the Dodgers more shaky than in center field. With Jordan in left and Green in right, the big field is left for Marquis Grissom (.221 in 135 games), Tom Goodwin (.231 in 105) or McKay Christensen (who has only 213 major-league at-bats). The wild card is Dante Bichette, a 14-year veteran with a .299 lifetime average. If Bichette plays well and the Dodgers think they need him, Jordan could be moved to center and Bichette would play left. They'll still be hurting for a leadoff man whatever happens.
Spring chicken: The Dodgers' farm system isn't devoid of talent, but it's sure not rising to the top. The one farmhand who might hook on -- and, given the crowded state of the L.A. outfield, it doesn't look all that likely -- is Taiwanese outfielder Chin-Feng Chen, who had 22 homers between Class A and Class AA last season.
| Arrivals |
|---|
| Pos. |
Player |
From |
Via |
| OF |
Dante Bichette |
Red Sox |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Ricky Bones |
Marlins |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Andy Brown |
Braves |
Trade |
| RHP |
Tim Crabtree |
Rangers |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Kazuhisa Ishii |
Japan |
Free Agency |
| SS |
Cesar Izturis |
Blue Jays |
Trade |
| OF |
Brian Jordan |
Braves |
Trade |
| RHP |
Hideo Nomo |
Red Sox |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Odalis Perez |
Braves |
Trade |
| RHP |
Paul Quantrill |
Blue Jays |
Trade |
| OF |
Dave Roberts |
Indians |
Trade |
| |
| Departures |
|---|
| Pos. |
Player |
To |
Via |
| RHP |
Terry Adams |
Phillies |
Free agency |
| RHP |
James Baldwin |
Mariners |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Christian Bridenbaugh |
Indians |
Trade |
| INF |
Tim Bogar |
TBA |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Jesus Cordero |
Phillies |
Trade |
| LHP |
Nial Hughes |
Indians |
Trade |
| RHP |
Eric Junge |
Phillies |
Trade |
| RHP |
Chan Ho Park |
Rangers |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Luke Prokopec |
Blue Jays |
Trade |
| RHP |
Chad Ricketts |
Blue Jays |
Trade |
| RHP |
Jeff Shaw |
TBA |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Gary Sheffield |
Braves |
Trade |
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| Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training Schedule |
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Home games at Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, Fla.
|
| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Site |
| Feb 28 |
Florida |
1:05 p.m. |
at Viera |
| March 1 |
Houston |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 2 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Lauderdale |
| March 3 |
Florida |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 4 |
N.Y. Mets |
1:10 p.m. |
at Port St. Lucie |
| March 5 |
St. Louis |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 6 |
Florida |
1:05 p.m. |
at Viera |
| March 7 |
Houston |
1:05 p.m. |
at Kissimmee |
| March 8 |
Atlanta |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 9 |
Montreal |
7:05 p.m. |
at Jupiter |
| March 10 |
Houston |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 11 |
N.Y. Mets |
1:10 p.m. |
at Port St. Lucie |
| March 12 |
Montreal |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 13 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Lauderdale |
| March 14 |
St. Louis |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 15 |
Atlanta (ss) |
1:05 p.m. |
at Disney |
| March 15 |
Florida (ss) |
7:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 16 |
N.Y. Yankees |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 17 |
N.Y. Yankees |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 19 |
Houston |
1:05 p.m. |
at Kissimmee |
| March 20 |
Houston |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 21 |
N.Y. Mets |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 22 |
Montreal |
7:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 23 |
Florida |
1:05 p.m. |
at Viera |
| March 24 |
St. Louis |
1:05 p.m. |
at Jupiter |
| March 25 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 26 |
N.Y. Mets |
7:10 p.m. |
at Port St. Lucie |
| March 27 |
Montreal |
1:05 p.m. |
at Jupiter |
| March 28 |
N.Y. Mets |
1:05 p.m. |
Vero Beach |
| March 29 |
Cleveland |
7:05 p.m. |
Los Angeles |
| March 30 |
Cleveland |
1:10 p.m. |
Los Angeles |
| March 31 |
Seattle |
1:05 p.m. |
at Seattle |
ss - split squad All times local.
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