As we sit and wait for the NLDS to start on Wednesday night, we all know that Joe Torre will have to submit his 25-man roster for the first round by Wednesday morning. I put some thought into what the roster should be, so here's my thoughts:
Slam Dunks (20 total)
Infielders - Russell Martin, Brad Ausmus, James Loney, Orlando Hudson, Ronnie Belliard, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake
Outfielders - Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre
Pinch-Hitter - Jim Thome
Starting Pitchers - Randy Wolf, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley
Relief Pitchers - Jonathan Broxton, George Sherrill, Hong-Chih Kuo, Ronald Belisario, Ramon Troncoso
The Rest (5 total, with reasons why)
Juan Castro - Can play both short and second off the bench. Committed only three errors in 57 games. Hit .277, but can lay down a bunt.
Mark Loretta - Only hit .232, but is still Torre's favorite to pinch-hit. Gives a calm, veteran presence in big at-bats. Can play second or third, and is a very good glove like Castro.
Vicente Padilla - Ended the season on a high, with 10 strikeouts in six innings against the Rockies. Is 4-0 with a 3.22 ERA with the Dodgers, far exceeding all expectations. Could very well find himself getting a start down the line.
Jon Garland - Like Padilla, has been a great addition late in the year. Is 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Won a World Series ring with the White Sox in 2005. Could either start or come in for long relief.
Guillermo Mota - Gets the slight edge over James McDonald based on numbers against righties. Mota's BAA is .238, McDonald's is .282.
The only obvious names left off would be Doug Mientkiewicz, Jeff Weaver, and James McDonald.
Mientkiewicz would be expendable because they have Thome as a lefty off the bench, plus Castro and Loretta are far more versatile. Weaver isn't needed because Garland and/or Padilla can throw long relief. McDonald doesn't have quite the experience or numbers against righties.
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