It's all about MAGIC

You know your day is off to a good start when you wake up to news of the Dodgers finally being sold.

You know the news is even better when you find out who the owner is.

After going through a lengthy bidding process since the Dodgers were put up for sale last year, it was a group led by the lengendary Magic Johnson that won it all. That's right - the guy whose post-NBA career may have arguably been better than his sensational career on the court has done it again. And it's the fans who come out the true winners.

Look, I haven't said a whole lot about the ownership bids mostly because it hasn't been all that entertaining. I prefer to focus on the action on the field, not off of it. I just didn't see what was so fun about saying "so and so may get the bid, so and so may not." I'd rather know about the players who are actually on the Dodgers.

But now we finally have some closure to a long, frustrating process that had been brewing for a few years. While Magic and his boys may have had to fork over $2 billion just to get the team, what's even more interesting was the $150 million needed to own half of the parking lots and other property in Chavez Ravine. The other half of that deal? You got it, Frank McCourt.

Not to worry, fans. McCourt will not have any say in baseball activities, or even in the parking lots themselves. He just has "economic interest" in them. Gee, how shocking. By the way, when's the last time you've heard so much about parking lots when it comes to watching baseball? Maybe on how expensive it is to park, but that's about it.

I'm a huge fan of the Lakers, so this is obviously just awesome for me. I'm sure millions of other people feel the same as well. If anything, the Dodgers can focus on the field now and get back to playing winning baseball. I think people lose sight of the fact that the Dodgers were in the NLCS as little as three years ago. While the World Series drought has been long (1988), it's not like they've been clueless for a long time.

With Opening Day about a week away, this is a very exciting time to be a Dodger fan. Let's sit back, relax, and watch it all unfold... hopefully with some magic!

Sands to search for his swing in the minors

Jerry Sands may be the future for the Dodgers. But for now, he's the latest young stud to be suffering through a sophomore slump.

Sands has been optioned back to the minors on Tuesday. He's having a horrendous Spring Training at the plate, hitting only .158 with 2 RBIs in 38 at-bats. Throw in 12 strikeouts, and you get the picture that it hasn't been all peaches and cream for him so far.

It's a disappointment for everyone considering that he hit .342 last September after being called back up following a slow start earlier in the year. Just when you thought he had it all figured out, this happens. Don Mattingly envisioned him playing both in the outfield and possibly at first against lefties, giving some power that Andre Ethier and James Loney may have been lacking like last year.

Look, this isn't the worst thing in the world. Sands acknowledged that he needs to settle down and just focus on his mechanics to get going again. Getting away from the majors for a little while may do the trick. He could be a name to remember during the season, as he still has that label of being a potential power threat. Let's hope we see that come to fruition at some point this year.

Wright earns his spot

When his back is against the wall, Jamey Wright is always prepared to come out swinging. Or, more specifically, pitching.

For the seventh straight season, Wright has earned his way onto a Major League team out of Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. He'll earn $900,000 this year with a possible $500,000 more in incentives based on appearances.

On the flip side, John Grabow was given his outright release after being told he would not make the team. Wright's spot on the 40-man roster was cleared when Blake Hawksworth was placed on the 60-day DL. He's been hampered by a sore elbow and staph infection, and will need about six weeks to regain his strength once he's ready to throw. In other words, don't expect to see him for awhile.

As for Wright, it's pretty stunning that he's been able to make team after team despite never really having a solid contract to fall back on. He's pitched in the bigs since 1996 when he broke in with the Rockies. Since then, he's pitched for the Brewers, Cardinals, Royals, Rockies again, Giants, Rangers, Royals again, Indians, and Mariners for the last two seasons. Hopefully he's been able to rent and not buy.

On his career, he's appeared in 526 games with 246 starts. He's 85-121 with a 4.93 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Those numbers aren't exactly pretty, but he has turned things around quite well as a reliever the last two seasons in Seattle, with a 3.41/1.24 in 2010, and 3.16/1.33 in 2011. That's more like it.

According to Don Mattingly, Wright will fill the role once played by Jeff Weaver, which is like a long reliever and spot starter. Who knows, maybe even some short innings as well. With the way the Dodgers went through injuries last year, Wright could find himself to be in a very valuable position.

Lilly banged up, could miss a start

Ted Lilly's stiff neck will cause him to miss his scheduled start on Tuesday, and puts him in jeopardy of not making his first regular season start as well.

Lilly has gone through some therapy and felt better today, but still couldn't even play catch before shutting it down. He also missed a bullpen session a couple days ago.

There's many scenarios that could come into play if Lilly can't go his first start in San Diego. One is to simply swap spots with Chris Capuano, who appeared to be the odd man out for the time being with an off day following four straight games. Another is to place him on the DL and let Nathan Eovaldi make a start or two, delaying his demotion to the minors. We shall see.

The Dodgers have been pretty fortunate this spring in that they haven't faced any major injury issues by any means. Even Lilly's doesn't appear serious, although neck injuries are nothing to mess around with. Hopefully good health will equal a good start to the season.

Early spring rotation results

I know it's early, but the starting five of the Dodgers have all gotten a taste of Spring Training action thus far. Let's take a look at how they fared the first go-around.

Clayton Kershaw
3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (vs. Rangers)
So far, so good for the reigning Cy Young Award winner, as he easily disposed of the Rangers. And it wasn't a B-level squad out there, it was the big dogs like Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltran, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz. Nicely done.

Chad Billingsley
2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. White Sox)
Bills kicked off Spring Training with a solid performance. His biggest focus is working on his mechanics, as he pointed out after the game that a smoother leg kick gave him better control. Let's hope it keeps up. He'll be the #2 starter behind Kershaw, so the Dodgers are counting on him for big things.

Ted Lilly
2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (vs. Giants)
Old Ted didn't start off so hot, as he gave up a couple of homers to the evil Giants. He had trouble locating his fastball, and apparently his curveball wasn't a whole lot better. Melky Cabrera led off the game with a homer, and Brett Pill hit a two-run shot after that. Not the start to the season you want, but at least he's healthy.

Aaron Harang
2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. A's)
The damage was done in the first inning to Harang, as the A's got a two-out, two-run double from Josh Reddick. Harang was able to bounce back and retire the final four hitters. A right foot injury has limited him a bit this spring, so the fact that he was able to go out there as scheduled is a good sign.

Chris Capuano
2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (vs. A's)
Capuano got the win as he threw an impressive couple of innings. The A's aren't exactly a loaded lineup, or even a decent one, but it's good to see the new guy take care of them regardless. The Dodgers had lots of inconsistency at the bottom of the rotation last season, so solid innings from Caps can go a long way.

Spring Training schedule on MLB Network

Spring Training is in full swing, as the Dodgers are now heading down the long road of 34 games before they start to count for real.

Thanks to the great MLB Network, here is the full list of games you can catch over the course of March and into the beginning of April:

Thursday, March 8 vs. A's (delay)
Sunday, March 11 vs. Cubs (delay)
Monday, March 12 @ Angels (delay)
Tuesday, March 13 vs. Rockies (delay)
Thursday, March 15 vs. Royals (delay)
Friday, March 16 vs. Rangers (live @ 1:05 PT)
Saturday, March 17 @ Rockies (delay)
Saturday, March 17 vs. Giants (live @ 7:05 PT)
Sunday, March 18 vs. Angels (delay)
Monday, March 19 @ Indians (live @ 1:05 PT)
Tuesday, March 20 vs. Brewers (live @ 1:05 PT)
Wednesday, March 21 vs. Padres (delay)
Saturday, March 24 vs. Indians (live @ 1:05 PT)
Monday, March 26 vs. White Sox (delay)
Thursday, March 29 vs. White Sox (delay)
Friday, March 30 vs. Brewers (delay)
Sunday, April 1 vs. Diamondbacks (delay)
Monday, April 2 @ Angels (live @ 7:05 PT)
Wednesday, April 4 vs. Angels (live @ 12:05 PT)

Games on TV are always subject to change, but assuming this all stays the same, that's 19 games remaining that you can catch, including 7 live ones. That's pretty awesome.

Kershaw to start both Opening Days

In a bit of a no-brainer, Don Mattingly said on Saturday that Clayton Kershaw will get the ball for both the season opener in San Diego and the home opener against the Pirates. With a four-game set against the Padres and an off-day before coming home, it all works out.

It's a pretty easy decision, as a home opener featuring Aaron Harang or Chris Capuano just doesn't sound as juicy as Kersahw. It's what the fans want to see, and from a baseball standpoint, getting Kershaw as many starts as possible on normal rest should equal more wins. I mean, duh!

Anyway, the first time we'll see the #5 spot in the rotation making a start looks to be on Saturday, April 14 at home against the Padres in the season's ninth game. It's typical for the early part of a season, as there seem to be a few more random off days than later on.

In taking a glance even further down the road, Kershaw could very well make another start on normal rest in Houston on Friday, April 20. That would again cause the #5 spot to be skipped. So, the next start for the end of the rotation would then be on Tuesday, April 24 at home against the Braves.

All in all, if Mattingly chooses to keep starting Kershaw on normal rest and skip the #5 start all of the month of April, here's how the starts will go:

Kershaw (6): 4/5 at Padres, 4/10 vs. Pirates, 4/15 vs. Padres, 4/20 at Astros, 4/25 vs. Braves, 4/30 at Rockies
Harang or Capuano (2): 4/14 vs. Padres, 4/24 vs. Braves

What could go right... and what could go wrong (Part II)

Here is my second installment of the "right/wrong" preview for the 2012 season, this time focusing on the pitching staff.

Starters

Clayton Kershaw
Right: Kershaw posts another line similar to last year: 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 248 K's, 5 complete games, 2 shutouts. Thus, he earns another Cy Young Award.
Wrong: Well... he actually gives up a hit? Maybe a run or two? But seriously, the only scary thing about last year is that he set the bar too high, ala Tim Lincecum, whose "off year" was only a 13-14 record, but with 2.74 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 220 K's. If Kershaw slips a little, people will wonder if a career-high 233 1/3 innings was too much for a 23-year-old.

Chad Billingsley
Right: Bills finally finds any sort of consistency, rather than one good start - one bad start that has plagued him. He uses his stuff to regain his form from his All-Star first-half of '09, when he went 9-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
Wrong: The downfall continues, and we once and for all declare him nothing more than a #4 or #5 starter.

Ted Lilly
Right: Lilly went through one of the more dramatic turnarounds in baseball last year, though rather quietly. He continues his fantastic final two months and gives the Dodgers something close to the 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and .183 BAA. Even a slight increase in those numbers is still good enough.
Wrong: He looks more like the batting practice pitcher he was for the first four months, including the horrific June and July starts.

Aaron Harang
Right: Harang stays healthy enough to post 28 starts again. While he's only made four career starts in Dodger Stadium, maintaining an ERA around 3.65 from the bottom of the rotation will do.
Wrong: Injuries continue to pile up, and he misses the friendly confines of spacious Petco Park, as his home/road splits show (3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP home/4.70, 1.65 road).

Chris Capuano
Right: Capuano gives the Dodgers 33 starts like he did the Mets last season. He slashes the homers (27) and keeps his strikeouts up (168 in 186 innings).
Wrong: Just like Harang, the home/road splits continue to be alarming (3.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP home/5.42, 1.41 road). Plus, while making 33 starts is great... getting pounded in many of them isn't.

Nathan Eovaldi
Right: While it looks unlikely Eovaldi will start the year in the rotation, you have to think at some point he'll get some starts. So, he'll look to use his sharp stuff to make some noise as a promising, young arm. Five of his first six career starts went at least five innings with two or less runs.
Wrong: He either hits a wall or gets bounced around between starting, relieving, and the minors. Hopefully the Dodgers can pick a role for him and stick to it.


Relievers

Javy Guerra
Right: From unknown to 21 saves, it's hard to do any better than Guerra's rookie season. Critics still aren't sold if he's the real deal, so he'll keep on flashing nerves of steel and locking down games at the end.
Wrong: The sophomore slump hits, and the National League has a better gameplan this time around. Or, it could be as simple as Kenley Jansen is just too good, and Guerra has to settle into a new role and doesn't excel as much.

Kenley Jansen
Right: It's hard to top setting a Major League record for K/9 at 16.1. The next step is to be dominant over the entire season, and quite possibly become the next stud closer.
Wrong: Lost in Jansen's terrific season was his rocky start. He gave up four runs in an inning his first appearance, and later in April got rocked for five runs in 1/3 inning against the Braves. Kind of like Kershaw, he set the bar so high for himself, that he'll probably need to weather some sort of storm at some point.

Matt Guerrier
Right: Guerrier reminds fans why he got a three-year, $12 million deal to begin with, as he regains his form from his Minnesota days. He's able to get big outs anywhere between innings 6-8.
Wrong: He doesn't do a whole lot better than a 4.07 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, which isn't bad, but not as good as it was the previous two years with the Twins.

Mike MacDougal
Right: MacDougal continues to erase any doubt that he's washed up, as he made big pitch after big pitch to post a 2.05 ERA in 69 appearances. Even if the ERA goes up a bit, he still can be productive in bridging the gap between starter and closer.
Wrong: While the 2.05 ERA was great, the reality is that a big 1.46 WHIP possibly showed a lot of luck, too. With a career 1.53 WHIP, too many baserunners could easily lead to some horrific outings.

Scott Elbert
Right: Hong-Chih Kuo is history, so the role of left-handed specialist has fallen on Elbert's lap. That could be a good thing, as Elbert appeared in 47 games for a 2.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 34 K's in 34 1/3 innings. Thus, it appears as if the issues that caused him to leave during the 2010 season are over.
Wrong: The sample size is small, so maybe he's still not quite ready to pitch well for an entire season. Plus, fair or not, there's still the possibility of personal issues popping up again, as he's only a couple years removed from it.

Todd Coffey
Right: Coffey won't be asked to get too many big outs late in games, but you never know. He bounced back quite well after getting hammered in 2010, so anything close to the 3.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP he posted with the Nationals last year will do.
Wrong: A career BAA of .283 is a little scary. I can see him getting lost in the shuffle or released if he doesn't pitch well and guys like Blake Hawksworth and Eovaldi are ready to step in.

Josh Lindblom
Right: There's always room for power arms, and Lindblom is no different. He certainly showed what he could do, as after appearing various times in June, he made many more trips to the hill after being recalled in late July. A 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 28 K's in 29 1/3 innings showed he could be ready to take on an even bigger role late in games this year.
Wrong: The experience just isn't there yet, so it's natural that he'll go through a rough patch at some point. And when that happens, will he try to blow everyone away, or will he become better at location and mixing up his speeds? That will be the key.

What could go right... and what could go wrong

With pitchers and catchers on the verge of opening up Spring Training, it's time to start thinking baseball again. Now that the Dodgers have extended Clayton Kershaw for a couple more years, and with no other major player signings coming up, the roster looks to be nearly locked in.

Let's take a look at the projected starting lineup, and what could go right for each of these guys... and what could go wrong as well.

(Coming up soon, a look at the pitching side from the starters and relievers.)

The Lineup

Catcher - A.J. Ellis
Right: Ellis makes the most of finally earning a starting nod, assuming he'll beat out newcomer Matt Treanor. He'll build on his solid September of hitting .323 and give the Dodgers at least something at the bottom of the order.
Wrong: He's a career .262 hitter, and has played in only 87 games over the span of four seasons, a result of being sent up and down numerous times. If he starts the season off slow, it could mean less playing time once again.

First Base - James Loney
Right: It's simple for Loney: he continues to be the hot hitter he was after the All-Star break, when he hit .320. Also, he keeps flashing the great leather he always has.
Wrong: Like I said, it's simple: he goes back to being the lost, powerless hitter he was the first half of the season, when he hit .268 with a mere 16 extra-base hits in 325 at-bats. Ouch.

Second Base - Mark Ellis
Right: The other Ellis provides the same kind of spark that departed veterans Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles gave at various points the last couple of seasons. He's only two years removed from hitting .291 with the A's. Plus, do you know he's only committed 55 errors in 5,577 total chances? That's pretty awesome.
Wrong: He gives little hitting support at the bottom of the lineup, and become just another mediocre, veteran player.

Shortstop - Dee Gordon
Right: Gordon was one of the most electrifying players in baseball last season, hitting .304 and stealing 24 bases in 56 games. He will learn how to be a better leadoff hitter and provide plenty of excitement on the bases.
Wrong: He goes through a sophomore slump as pitchers adjust to him, and he can't up his OBP from .325 last season. Also, his defense doesn't get any better, as 10 errors in basically 1/3 of the games is way too many.

Third Base - Juan Uribe
Right: Remember Uribe? It's hard to considering he was a complete bust last year. But he goes back to being the clutch hitter he was with the White Sox and Giants, winning a ring with each.
Wrong: While he appears to be completely over his sports hernia that ended his 2010 season prematurely, the injury bug strikes again, and his hitting continues to get worse and worse.

Left Field - Juan Rivera
Right: Rivera came to L.A. for pretty much nothing from Toronto, and proceeded to give a nice spark, hitting .274 with 46 RBIs in 62 games. Now he has a chance to build on that and add a few more long bombs in the middle of the order.
Wrong: He turns into the player who got dropped from the Blue Jays in the first place, and continues to watch his power numbers dwindle.

Center Field - Matt Kemp
Right: Kemp's 50/50 prediction comes true! Well, that may be stretching it, but a season close to 40/40 again, along with more highlight reel walk-offs and diving catches leads to an MVP award.
Wrong: Maturity issues strike again, and his numbers fall like the last time he signed an extension with the Dodgers. Also, his strikeouts only get worse, not better.

Left Field - Andre Ethier
Right: Andre the Giant and Mr. Walk-Off returns from his year-and-a-half absence. He gives Kemp some much-needed support, and creates a great 1-2 punch while finding his power stroke again.
Wrong: Andre the Giant is down for the count, becoming only a singles hitter again. Plus, his negative attitude gets in the way of team chemistry, and he earns his way out of town.

Cy Young Kershaw inks a new deal

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed on a two-year, $19 million deal on Tuesday. The signing prevents arbitration, as Kershaw was seeking $10 million as opposed to the $6.5 million the Dodgers were offering. I'd say Kershaw almost got exactly what he wanted, as well he should.

The deal also signifies what is most likely the last major transaction from Frank McCourt, who had to approve of the deal before he's shown the door in April. As Ned Colletti pointed out, McCourt has extended Kemp for eight years, Kershaw a couple years, and was on the verge of perhaps signing Prince Fielder before the Tigers stepped in.

True, McCourt also ran the once proud Dodgers into a cost-cutting laughingstock, but at least he did something right. Right?

Anyway, this contract reminds me of the one Kemp signed a couple years back. In January of 2010, Kemp signed a two-year, $10.95 million contract. While the '10 season was awful, he obviously rebounded in a tremendous way with his MVP-caliber '11. And he did it all without PED's, unlike the other guy who won the award. Imagine that.

Kershaw has already had his monster season, winning the Cy Young and the NL's pitching Triple Crown. All he has to do now is continue to be the ace that he's already become, and he too will find himself with a phat new deal, ala Kemp. It's hard to judge right now what kind of money he can earn, or if it will be anywhere in Kemp's neighborhood. But with a new owner about to come into town, I'm sure he'll get something nice.

With this deal now sealed and delivered, the focus can squarely move onto Spring Training and new ownership. After an offseason full of signing role players (cost-cutting moves, remember), it'll be fun to see the boys report to Camelback Ranch soon, along with the home stretch of getting a new owner. I'm excited, that's for sure. You should be, too.

Coffey added to the bullpen

The Dodgers and veteran right-handed reliever Todd Coffey reached a one-year, $1 million deal this past Friday. The deal also includes either an option for 2013 worth $2.5 million, or a buyout for $300,000.

Coffey is coming off a pretty good season with the Nationals. In 69 appearances spread out of 59 2/3 innings last season, he went 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts. Over his seven-year career, he has a 4.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

So far, his career looks like it's bounced up and down between a good season and a mediocre one. His numbers are certainly better than with the Brewers in 2010, where he had a 4.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. But, he put together a great '09 campaign, tossing a 2.90 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 83 2/3 innings. So, he's proven he can be effective.

Right now he's just another option in middle relief, joining guys like Matt Guerrier and Mike MacDougal. It's hard to see him cracking the late innings, unless youngsters Javy Guerra and Kenley Jansen stumble, which is entirely possible given their youth. We shall see.

Could Prince Fielder have been a Dodger?

According to a report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, that would be a yes.

Heyman reported today that the Dodgers were very much the "mystery" team that emerged in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes, making an offer of seven years and $160. There would've been an opt-out clause after four years, in which he could've taken his talents to the American League to DH if his skills declined.

What prevented this deal from happening? One man: Victor Martinez. The second he went down with a torn ACL, the richer Tigers jumped in with a mammoth nine-year, $214 million deal that obviously blew away the competition. Goodbye, LA; hello, Detroit. And who can blame him?

This is obviously an interesting story for a couple of reasons. One, it showed that the Dodgers, despite slashing payroll to around $90 million this season (low for a big-market franchise), were willing to make a play on a major free agent. Frank McCourt gave his blessing for this deal, which was pretty much his only option. Think about it: would he have dumb enough to say no to this and have word get out? Talk about being Public Enemy #1! Even he's not that stupid.

The second interesting part is that Fielder was willing to take this deal and join a team that's not as good as his old one. Matt Kemp is a stud, Andre Ethier could be, and that's about it. I know money talks, but it's not like he didn't have offers from other good teams, such as the Rangers. The arrival of a new owner in April certainly helps in that the future isn't total bleak.

Who know what could have been, as the Tigers now get the mighty slugger. Maybe the Dodgers will be happy in the long run that they didn't get Fielder, as big guys like him have a tendency to break down faster. Still, watching Kemp and Fielder in the middle of the order would have been nasty. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

And so it goes for the Dodgers yet again.

Kershaw seeking $10 million through arbitration

As Andre Ethier and James Loney avoided the arbitration process on Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw did not. Coming off his monster season that earned him the NL's Cy Young Award, he has requested $10 million for the 2012 season, while the Dodgers countered with $6.5 million.

What's certain to happen? He'll definitely get a raise from the $500,000 he made last year. Seriously. Think about it: the best pitcher in the National League earned less than hundreds of other players, and nearly all of them weren't nearly as good. My how one year can change things.

It's hard to forget just how awesome Kershaw was last season... but here's a reminder anyway. He went 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 248 strikeouts in 233 1/3 innings pitched. Plus, he gave Dodger fans a reason to care, even in the dog days of summer when winning was few and far between. He was that good.

So now the question is whether or not he'll get what he wants and earn double-digit millions. I would have to think that would be a yes. Look at the facts: he'll be 24 at the start of the season, he's already won a Cy Young Award, and he's arguably the top lefty in baseball already. I know the Dodgers have this whole ownership issue going on, but is $10 million really that unreasonable? I don't think so.

Here's to hoping that Kershaw gets what he wants this year, and will soon get a long-term contract like Kemp did that will keep him in Dodger blue for years and years. Oh, and another Cy Young would be nice!

No arbitration for Ethier and Loney

The Dodgers avoided the arbitration process on Tuesday by resigning Andre Ethier and James to one-year deals. Ethier's deal is for $10.95 million, while Loney's is for $6.375 million. Both are raises from last season, as Ethier earned $9.25 million and Loney $4.875 million.

With both men coming off of down seasons last year, it was probably a good thing that neither of them tried to get more through arbitration. It would be hard to picture them making much more than they earned here. It's good for both sides to get this thing over with early.

Ethier matched his batting average from a year ago by hitting .292, but his power numbers dipped for the third straight year. In 2009, he hit 31 homers and 106 RBIs. In 2010, it was down to 23 and 82 as he battled a pinkie injury that derailed his season. Last year, it was down even further to 11 and 62, as a right knee injury ended his season in early September.

Considering the lack of power from everyone not named Matt Kemp last season, Ethier's power slip was even more magnified. When the season was all said and done, it was apparent that he tried to play through the knee pain, but it clearly didn't work. To his credit, he did earn his first career Gold Glove. With a healthier knee this upcoming season, he could be due for a big bounce back.

Loney had probably the strangest season of any Dodger last year. All you really need to do is look at his pre- and post-All-Star stats to see why. Before the break, he hit .268 with a .311 OBP, 4 homers, and 31 RBIs. After the break, he was up to .320 with a .380 OBP, 8 homers, and 34 RBIs. Considering he played in 91 games before the break and 67 after, those numbers become even more amazing.

Combine that second-half surge with the Dodgers' slashing of payroll, and that's why Loney's been brought back. What's never in doubt is his defense, as he's become very reliable at first. What the Dodgers have to hope for is that over-.300 average throughout the year, and not the guy who was hitting .251 in early August.

Assuming Kemp plays like an MVP candidate again, the Dodgers need Ethier and Loney to step up and give much better support if they have any hope of getting into the playoffs. How can that happen? Start with improving against lefties, as Ethier hit .220 and Loney .213. If those numbers are that poor again, you can forget about the Dodgers being a good offensive club.

Kuroda moves on to the Yankees

If signing Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang didn't make it official, this will: Hiroki Kuroda has agreed to join the Yankees with a one-year, $10 million deal. It's contingent on him passing a physical, which will happen soon.

That, my friends, ends the Kuroda Era in LA.

First, a look back at Kuroda's time in Dodger blue. He pitched four years, collecting 114 starts. His record was subpar at 41-46, but his numbers certainly were not. He finished with a 3.45 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 523 strikeouts. Last season was his best one, as despite a 13-16 record, he had a career-best 202 innings, 3.07 ERA, and 161 strikeouts.

I have some mixed feelings on this one. I want to make clear that I am a big Kuroda fan, as he was quietly one of the best pitchers in the majors these last few years. But he was also one of the hottest names to be dealt at the trade deadline this past year, and he exercised his no-trade clause to stay. That was a noble gesture, as he loved pitching in LA, but when it came to resigning in the offseason, they couldn't afford him.

So instead of agreeing to ship off to a contender in the last year of his contract, he stays and denies the Dodgers a chance at a couple of prospects at least. I wasn't too crazy about that then, and I'm even less crazy about it now. What do the Dodgers have to show for his departure? Nothing, thanks to that damn no-trade clause.

Make no mistake, Kuroda will make the Yankees a better team, and he's a definite upgrade over the scrubs they've had in that rotation recently (along with Michael Pineda, who was also acquired). I do think, however, that he'll definitely miss pitching against the Padres and Giants when he's matched up with the Red Sox and Rays. Any pitcher would say that, but I'd be shocked it he puts up a low-3 ERA like he did last year. That's just reality.

In the end, I'm very appreciative for all of Kuroda's efforts the last four seasons. I am disappointed the Dodgers didn't get a chance to build for the future at the trade deadline, though. That does leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.