Robert Timm of Dodger Dugout

1.  How is your team significantly different this year from last?

This is, essentially, the same team as last year.  The most notable goners:  Randy Wolf, Orlando Hudson, and Juan Pierre.  Depending on how you look at it, Vicente Padilla replaces Wolf in the rotation, re-opening another spot for a fifth starter battle.  Blake DeWitt looks to take over from Orlando Hudson and Ronnie Belliard at second base.

Another aspect that might be viewed as ‘significantly different’ is the McCourt divorce.  It’s probably safe to assume that the ongoing drama of the owners impacted the Dodgers maneuverability in free agency, despite what they themselves say, but it should not impact what the team does mid-seasson. GM Ned Colletti’s typical M.O. is to make cash neutral trades near the deadline (see:  Blake and Manny in ’08 and Thome, Belliard, and Garland in ’09).  Look for L.A. to do the same to shore up any holes in 2010.

2.  List the projected Opening Day lineup and starting rotation.

Rotation: Kershaw, Billingsley, Kuroda, Padilla, Ramon Ortiz (yes, that Ramon Ortiz).  Oddly, Joe Torre named Vicente Padilla as his Opening Day starter.

3.  What are two reasons for optimism for the upcoming season?

1) Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp are developing into superstars.  The duo could be serious Cy Young and MVP contenders this season.

2) The Torre Factor.  While many ‘experts’ have slotted the Dodgers to finish 2^nd or 3^rd in the division, they seem to forget that Joe Torre has led his teams to the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons.  He is, quite simply, the best manager in the NL West (sorry, Jimbo). Toss in that no team in the NL West made a humongous splash in the off season and it’s hard to believe that Joe Torre won’t take the Dodgers deep into October again, even if the race goes down to the wire.

 4.  What is the greatest area of concern this year for your team?

The starting rotation.  The starting pitching has the potential to be the best in the NL West, one through four.  It also is capable of being quite mediocre.  (Interestingly, this looks to be the case for every team in the division.)  Kershaw figures to be the most consistent going in to April, while Billingsley’s topsy-turvy season (3.38 ERA before All-Star Break, 5.20 after) cause many to wonder which version 2010 will bring.  Hiroki Kuroda can be a solid No. 3, though it wouldn’t surprise a single peanut vendor if he found himself on the DL for most of the season.  Was Vicente for real?  Padilla posted a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 innings down the stretch for L.A. last year, well below his career ERA of 4.33.  We all know that pennants are won and lost on pitching.  The Dodgers are capable of falling on either side of that fence.

5.  Who is one player we should look out for, and why?

Matt Kemp is fast becoming a household name.  He’s your basic five-tool player who possesses 40-40 skills and can hit over .300.  He earned both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove award last season and the Dodgers are looking at him to be the new face of the franchise.  Kemp bounced up and down the batting order last season, mostly hitting towards the bottom of the order.  Joe Torre figures to bat Kemp second this season, in front of Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez, and so a spike in production could result in Kemp having a monster season.  Baseball Reference groups him with Andre Dawson, Carlos Beltran, and Vernon Wells through his age 24 seasons.  The future looks bright for Matt Kemp.  And the future is now.

6.  How do you rank the NL West for 2010?