Los Angeles Dodgers 2002 Season Previewby Randy Rosenblatt Wait 'til next year (Again) A year ago in this space, we broke the story that the widely recognized Dodger team colors were being unceremoniously retired. Instead, the report went, for the new millenium the team was presenting a new color scheme: Dodger green, based on the double premise that Shawn was touted to be the franchise savior and the color on the team's faces from the envy they'd feel towards the better teams in the West by mid-season as they faded out of the Division race. To say nothing of the green they had to shell out to buy a mediocre team. But something happened along the way, and the Dodgers actually had a better-than-mediocre season, finishing a surprising 3rd in the NL West, in spite of losing 3/5 of its stalwart starting rotation to season-ending injuries and being forced to use the Disabled List 20 times during the season. The surprising season awarded rookie manager Jim Tracy a 2nd-place finish in Manager Of The Year voting. Well, this just in from Dodgertown: the club intends to change it's colors again. Dodger green didn't work, so they are now turning to --dig this!-- Dodger brown. Yeah, that's right, brown as in Kevin, on whose shoulder and healing elbow the team's success might rest; brown, to match the stagnant summer skies above the storied Stadium; and brown, as in b-o-r-i-n-g!! Brown loafers in a league bristling with snappy patent-leather Gucci's. The team's one stroke of color, -- albeit darker shades -- Gary Sheffield, was finally granted his yearly demand for freedom from the shackles of his $10 million per year contract with his allegedly-disrespectful employer, when he was shipped to Atlanta, for ex-two-sport man Brian Jordan and yet another mid-level-pitcher-who-fortunately-happens-to-be-a southpaw, Odalis Perez, who will be kept just long enough to insure that super-starters, Brown and Andy Ashby are sound after last years' twin season-ending repairs of torn flexor muscles. New GM Dan Evans took on the largest payroll in the NL, and has tried to solidify a team of a few stars and a large contingent of seemingly mid-level players. Darren Dreifort, out for another year recovering from Tommy John surgery, has been replaced by a hopeful Hideo Nomo -- acquired off-season after unstellar tenures with the Mets, Brewers, and Tigers and a decent one with the Red Sox -- with dreams of reigniting the smoldering mystique of 1995-96-97 Nomomania. Chan Ho Park was not re-signed, but the team took the comparatively inexpensive gamble that Japanese star southpaw import, Kazuhisa Ishii, will live up to his star billing and even approach his Japanese lifetime numbers of 78-46, and 3.38. By not exercising its option on closer Jeff Shaw, the team finds itself without a certified closer, but could benefit by a closer-by-committee made up of front-runner Eric Gagne (11-14, 4.61 in 48 starts, 10 relief appearances, no saves in parts of 3 seasons -- but who sports a lively 97 mph fastball), moved to that position after the unexpected and questionable trade of potential workhorse Matt Herges to the Expos, Paul ("The Big Q") Quantrill (11-2, 2.04), and Giovanni Carrara (6-1, 3.14), who scorched this year's Venezuelan winter leagues. Long relievers and possible-5th starters include dog-eared 39-year old Terry Mulholland, Perez, and Omar Daal (the first "double-a" since Aaron), who was recently quoted "I don't feel I have to prove anything to anybody" after giving up 5 runs in 1-2/3 innings. 45-year old Jesse Orosco (1,131 career appearances, all-time record) will be reliving his childhood by sitting on the bullpen bench until he's released. Just-acquired Guillermo Mota (no relation) is a young reliever, but will probaly begin the year in the minors. Either one or both Daal and Perez will be used as trade bait, but not until the starters' health have been ascertained. Scuse me while I yawn. . . The infield remains suspect, with a hopefully resurgent and healthy Eric Karros (bad back and knee) at first (last years' .235 - 15 - 63 left much to be desired); the tandem of light-hitting Alex Cora (.217 BA) and Mark Grudzielanek (.317 OBP) are vying for second base; Adrian Beltre has the potential to have a break through year after playing a partial ho-hum season in '01. But it may be at shortstop that will make or break the teams success. If slick-fielding Venezuelan hot prospect Cesar Izturis (acquired in a winter trade with Toronto) can handle the pressures -- and breaking balls -- of MLB, he could be the teams sparkplug for years to come. Team leader, Shawn Green, coming off a stalwart (.297 - 49 - 125 - 121 runs - 31 doubles - 20 sb in 24 attempts) year heads a question mark outfield, whose strength is directly tied to how well Jordan (.295 - 25 - 97 - 32 doubles) can replace Sheffield's output, and who ends up filling last years' season-long slump in center. In 2001 the team paid almost $9 million to the anemic tandem of lead-off specialists Tom Goodwin (.231 - 4 - 22, .286 OBP) and Marquis Grissom (.221 - 21 - 60 - .250 OBP - 107 Ks - 16 BBs), one of which will not be on the team by opening day. Frontrunners are McKay Christensen (a promising .327 BA - .400 OBP in 28 games last season), and a surging Dave Roberts, acquired from Cleveland, having a great spring. Of course, behind the plate, and backing up at first is Paul LoDuca, coming off a surprising A+ season (.320 - 25 - 90 - 30 Ks - 28 doubles - 460 AB) while playing four positions and hitting in six different spots in the order, which saw him rise from obscurity to one of the games real stars, somewhat reminiscent of Mike Piazza's sudden rise ten years ago. If he can maintain last years' surge, LoDuca will anchor a team adrift in the storm of the NL West. We see no higher than a 3rd place finish in the West, fighting to stay over .500 most of the season.
12 KEYS TO LOOK FOR: Ten Years Ago...Our Dodgers Preview from April 1992, by Bob Brigham:Strengths: Candiotti is going to fool some people in the NL with his knuckler, including Dodger carchers Mike Scioscia and Carlos Hernandez. Orel Hershiser is on the short list of great active pitchers---when he is healthy. I think he is back. He better be, because Ramon Martinez' arm is beginning to look like it might have been made by Corning. Could Lasorda have used him to much in '91? Tommy, can you make it with only two lefties, starter Ojeda and reliever John (No more than 2 batters) Candelaria? The biggest concern is closer Jay Howell, whose shoulder is really hurting. The Big IF-Dealing Murray to the Mets was not a bad move. Trying to replace him with Kal Daniels? Bad move. Eric Karros is ready. He won't do to NL pitchers what he did in Albuq. but he will do more than Kal. Certified first baseman. Juan Samuel, happy or not, will be adequate at second. Will Jose Offerman ever develop the discipline needed to play in the bigs? Such natural gifts, such sloppy fundamentals. Lenny Harris, the most underrated Dodger, is my pick at third against righties, Mike Sharperson against southpaws. LA has a punctuation mark outfield-Strawberry, who should stop giving his unsolicited advice and use his enormous gifts, is a quotation mark. Brett Butler even at 35 is always in shape and gives 100 percent. !!! The big Q is Eric Davis. Playing left rather than center will take some of the wear off him, but it's his vision that I wonder about. Fitted for contacts in '90, he became a contact hitter. He doesn't like them and I'm worried he's not seeing the ball. Outlook: More L-R balance in the line-up. They need about 100 more runs this year, and it will take career years by Straw, ED, Daniels or Karros. Don't bet the farm on that. Where will they finish? They will finish in Houston, Oct. 4. OK, OK. I say third, below the Braves and Reds. Leave feedback on our message board. |