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Playing Pepper 2010: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted on March 6, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Filed Under: Los Angeles Dodgers | Playing Pepper
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Finish: 95-67, first in NL West, lost in NLCS

The last memories Cardinal fans have of the Dodgers aren't good.  After so often dominating the team in blue when it comes to postseason glory, St. Louis went down with little more than a whimper in the NLDS, meaning LA won its first post-season series since 1988.

Will they be able to take the next step this year?  I talked with Matt from Feeling Dodger Blue to get his take on the season to come.


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C70: How was the off-season?  What kind of grade would you give it?

FDB: The off-season was salvaged by a few decent moves to provide infield and outfield depth. Alfredo Amazega, Reed Johnson and the Ronnie Belliard/Jamey Carroll combo platter will be adequate. Pitching is still a concern that wasn't addressed well enough. I give the off-season a C+.

C70: What is the key to success for 2010?

FDB: The success is hinging on the pitching staff. It's really up to Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda. Can Billingsley return to form and can Kuroda make 30 starts and be the guy we've seen glimpses of? Finding a back end of the rotation guy is going to be vital.

C70: What will be the team's strength?

FDB: I think the team's strength will be its bullpen again. With Troncoso, Belisario, Sherrill and Broxton, once they have a lead after the sixth inning the game will be over most times.

C70: What could be their Achilles' heel?

FDB: Getting consistency from the rotation. Right now Clayton Kershaw is the No. 1 pitcher, and he hasn't even turned 22 yet. They need a guy who can go out and shove it for seven or eight innings when the team is in a funk and they don't have that guy that you know is going to be consistent every time out. For the first time in a while, starting pitching is a big question in Dodger Land.

C70: Who will be the team's MVP?

FDB: Matt Kemp. No doubt. He's just scratching the surface. He'll probably win another gold glove, he'll hit over .300, 30-plus bombs, drive in over 100 and steal 30-40 bases. The kid is only getting better.

C70: Will a rookie make a significant impact on the team in 2010, and if so, who?

FDB: I'll throw out two. I'm gonna say John Ely and/or Ivan DeJesus Jr. Ely was acquired in the trade with the White Sox involving Juan Pierre. He has a control pitcher who put up great numbers at Double-A last year. If he is a guy that can hit spots and get people out, he'll have a legit chance of being the fifth starter at some point. DeJesus was derailed last year by a broken leg, so he's a year removed from where he should be. With that said, the second base position is up in the air with Amazega, Blake DeWitt, Belliard and Carroll all looking for
playing time. DeJesus might be able to force the Dodgers hand by playing well at Triple-A this year, and he might end up being their best Big League option.

C70: Who will be the breakout player for the team?

FDB: Did Clayton Kershaw breakout in 2009? Only eight wins, but an ERA of 2.79, an opponents average of .200 and 9.74 K's per nine. If you don't consider that a breakout, then 2010 should see him win 15 or more games, with similar secondary numbers. Kid is legit. Other than him, I would say James Loney is due to breakout and hit 20 bombs and drive in 100.

C70: Which player will drop off the most from 2009?

FDB: Manny Ramirez. And he already basically dropped off in 2009. I'm expecting nothing out of him and I expect his slide to continue.

C70: Who is the most likely player to be dangled as trade bait?

FDB: Manny Ramirez. The Dodgers would eat a significant part of his salary, but an AL team might come knocking for a DH if he seems unhappy or the club is unhappy. This team's trade flexibility is non-existent. Not offering Hudson and Wolf arbitration has put a strain on the farm
system as well.

C70: What will be the team's final record and divisional standing?

FDB: The team is still good enough to win the division, so I say the finish first and go 92-70, besting the Giants by four games and the Rockies by six games.

Thanks to Matt for taking the time to talk about the Dodgers.  I'm sure a lot of Cardinal fans wouldn't mind seeing them have a good year, so as to set up a potential rematch in October.


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Heroes
Lance Berkman (24)
Albert Pujols (19)
Matt Holliday (15)
Chris Carpenter (10)
Kyle Lohse (9)
Yadier Molina (9)
Ryan Theriot (8)
David Freese (7)
Jaime Garcia (7)
Jon Jay (7)
Jake Westbrook (6)
Allen Craig (5)
Kyle McClellan (5)
Colby Rasmus (5)
Edwin Jackson (4)
Skip Schumaker (4)
Daniel Descalso (3)
Rafael Furcal (2)
Gerald Laird (2)
Nick Punto (2)
Marc Rzepczynski (2)
Fernando Salas (2)
Mitchell Boggs (1)
Daniel Descalso (1)
Lance Lynn (1)

2010 Top Heroes: Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (24)
2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
Ryan Theriot (12)
Albert Pujols (11)
Jake Westbrook (10)
David Freese (8)
Ryan Franklin (7)
Jaime Garcia (7)
Fernando Salas (7)
Kyle Lohse (6)
Kyle McClellan (6)
Colby Rasmus (6)
Skip Schumaker (6)
Miguel Batista (5)
Chris Carpenter (5)
Daniel Descalso (5)
Matt Holliday (5)
Jon Jay (5)
Jason Motte (5)
Allen Craig (4)
Rafael Furcal (4)
Tyler Greene (4)
Yadier Molina (4)
Lance Berkman (3)
Mitchell Boggs (3)
Gerald Laird (3)
Edwin Jackson (2)
Trever Miller (2)
Corey Patterson (2)
Marc Rzepczynski (2)
Matt Carpenter (1)
Maikel Cleto (1)
Tony Cruz (1)
Octavio Dotel (1)
Mark Hamilton (1)
Lance Lynn (1)
Nick Punto (1)
Arthur Rhodes (1)
Eduardo Sanchez (1)
Raul Valdes (1)
PJ Walters (1)

2010 Top Goat: Brendan Ryan (14)
2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

    Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2011)
    Adam Wainwright 94.7% (down 0.9%)
    Matt Holliday 91.1% (up 6.6%)
    Albert Pujols 90.4% (down 8.3%)
    Dave Duncan 87.9% (up 0.9%)
    Derrick Goold 87.8%
    Chris Carpenter 86.9% (down 6.7%)
    Matthew Leach 85.5%
    Mike Shannon 84.9% (down 4.6%)
    John Rooney 84.3% (up 8.1%)
    Yadier Molina 83.7% (down 8.3%)
    Colby Rasmus 81.8% (up 5.0%)
    Pop Warner 76.7%
    Jim Hayes 76.1%
    John Mozeliak 74.1% (down 12.0%)
    Ryan Franklin 72.8% (up 3.1%)
    Bill Dewitt 71.0% (down 12.0%)
    Tony La Russa 70.8% (down 10.2%)
    BJ Rains 70.4%
    Ricky Horton 69.1%
    John Vuch 68.9%
    Jeff Luhnow 66.4%
    Skip Schumaker 64.1% (down 17.0%)
    Al Hrabosky 63.2% (up 19.0%)
    Mark McGwire 62.5% (down 10.7%)
    Dan Lozano 58.7%
    Joe Strauss 57.5%
    Kyle Lohse 55.1% (down 11.7%)

    2009
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%


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