Opening Day is upon us! The Dodgers will travel to Pittsburgh to begin their defense of the NL West title. They'll be looking to win their third straight division crown.
Here, I will take a look at five areas of strength and five question marks heading into the '10 season.
Strengths:
1. Strong end of the bullpen
There might not be a better end-of-game combination than George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton. Both men were simply electric last season, and pretty much turned games into seven-inning contests. In 27 2/3 innings, Sherrill gave up only two runs for an 0.65 ERA. Broxton saved 36 games while striking out 114. When two legit closers are available, it's hard for the opposition to stand much of a chance.
2. Powerful outfield
A full year of Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier is a scary thought. Kemp and Ethier enjoyed breakout '09 campaigns. Kemp hit 26 homers, 101 RBIs, and stole 34 bases. Ethier hit 31 homers, 106 RBIs, and was the walk-off hero all year long. If Manny regains his form that he had before his suspension, then the middle of the order will be perfectly set.
3. Clayton Kershaw, future ace
Kershaw didn't get much help from his offense, posting only an 8-8 record. But, a 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts showed what kind of electric stuff he truly has. He kept getting better as the season went on, another great sign. This could be the year he takes the next step in being one of the league's best hurlers.
4. Veteran presence
Key members of the run the last couple of years have been Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Ronnie Belliard, Brad Ausmus, and Vicente Padilla. Each player brought veteran experience and have really provided a lift where needed. Give GM Ned Colletti credit - he isn't afraid to bring in older players in order to provide a spark, and that's exactly what has happened.
5. Bench support
One of the areas of strength I believe was overlooked last season was the ability of the bench to be productive. Guys like Juan Pierre, Juan Castro, Belliard, and Ausmus were solid, and Charlie Haeger and Eric Stults gave good spot starts. The names are changed, but I like who Joe Torre can turn to. Belliard and Ausmus are back, and they are joined by Reed Johnson, Garret Anderson, and Jamey Carroll. All five have plenty of starting experience, which makes resting the starters easier. If the spring is any indication, then Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz look ready to provide a spark as well.
Question marks:
1. Will the before or after Manny Ramirez show up?
When you think of the Dodgers, you think of the whole Manny scandal from last year, and rightfully so. Simply put, the Dodgers can't expect to go further in the postseason if Manny hits at a .255 rate like he did after the All Star break last season. He's still the focal point for every opposing scouting report, and he needs to deliver.
2. How will the Dodgers replace Randy Wolf?
Wolf was awesome last year, going 11-7 (no run support) with a 3.23 ERA. Then the Dodgers didn't offer him arbitration, something that greatly angered fans. He's taken his act to Milwaukee, and the Dodgers never did replace him. The main guy I can think of to step up in his spot is Chad Billingsley. If he can regain his pre-All Star form, then the Dodgers have their answer.
3. Will Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake hold up?
I've already mentioned how both men have brought a great veteran presence, but as the years go by, the injuries pile up. Furcal played in 150 games last year, but still was banged up at times and hit only .269. Blake battled a bad hamstring as the season wore on and hit a measly .167 in the playoffs. Joe Torre has stated that he intends to give both men more time off, which is necessary. The Dodgers have good backup options in Belliard and Carroll, but neither man can compare to a healthy Furcal and Blake.
4. Can Hong-Chih Kuo stay healthy again?
It's easy to continually ask health questions, but with Kuo already on the 15-day DL to start the season, it's an important one. He began last season almost identical to this one, as elbow problems had him out from May until July. Once he came back, however, he was great. Rarely, if ever, pitching on consecutive days, he used his powerful stuff to post a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings, giving a great lift to the bullpen. If he's healthy, he's a great option to bridge the gap to Sherrill and Broxton at the end of the game.
5. Will Ned Colletti make another big splash during the season?
The last two seasons have earned Colletti a contract extension. In addition to back-to-back NL West titles, some great maneuvering at the trade deadline have given the Dodgers a needed lift. Two seasons ago it was Manny. Last year it was Padilla, Belliard, Jon Garland, and Jim Thome. Who will it be this time? In looking at the roster, the biggest area of improvement would be starting pitching. So, look for the Dodgers to be linked to rumors about getting another big arm as the season progresses.
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