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Chris Fry Chris Fry created this group on SportProjections.com.

 

2008 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions

Contributor: Aaron Jay Sapiro, mvn.com/mlb-dodgers

2007 Record: 82-80

2007 Summary: We failed. The big bats failed as we finished second to last in the NL with only 129 Home Runs. The clutch bats failed as we finished last in the NL with a .395 SLG with RISP, and dead last in all of Major League Baseball with a .327 SLG with RISP and two outs.

The bodies failed, 15 Million-Dollar Man Jason Schmidt was lost early in the season, along with other pitchers Randy Wolf, Yhency Brazoban, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Chin-Hui Tsao.

There was turmoil in the locker room, and management flipped-flopped on whether to go with the vets or embrace the popular LA youth movement.

In the end, everyone pointed fingers, and the team finished 25-32 in the last two months of the season, while division foes Arizona and Colorado battled it out for the chance to get swept in the World Series.

2008 Key Additions: Yes, Joe Torre is a manager and doesn't actually play, but that's still got to be the biggest acquisition of the Dodger off season. Andruw Jones, arguably the best defensive Center Fielder of this decade will be in Dodger Blue. And Hiroki Kuroda, who went 103-89 with a 3.69 ERA in 11 years in Japan will be the fourth starter. Gary Bennett was added as the backup catcher.

2008 Key Losses: Not much. Luis Gonzalez is gone thank goodness. Randy Wolf, Mike Lieberthal, Rudy Seanez, Roberto Hernandez, Mark Hendrickson, and David Wells are no longer Dodgers. But the biggest loss was probably Backup
Infielder/Clutch Pinch Hitter/Longest Tenured Dodger/Fan Favorite/The Killer Tomato, Olmedo Saenz. He'll be sorely missed.

2008 Starting Lineup:
This is what it should be:
1. Rafael Furcal SS
2. Russell Martin C
3. Matt Kemp RF
4. Andruw Jones CF
5. Jeff Kent 2B
6. James Loney 1B
7. Nomar Garciapara/ Andy LaRoche/ Anyone healthy enough to play third 3B
8. Juan Pierre/ Andre Ethier LF

2008 Starting Rotation: Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Esteban Loaiza

2008 Closer: Takashi Saito

2008 MVP: Russell Martin. The do-everything catcher is back again as the cornerstone of the Dodger franchise. In his first full MLB Season last year, he was the NL's starting catcher, was the Gold Glove winner as the league's best defensive catcher, and won the Silver Slugger as it's best offensive catcher.

And, oh by the way, he lead all NL catchers in Games, At Bats, Runs, Hits, Home Runs, Total Bases, Stolen Bases, Batting Average, Slugging Percentage, and On Base Percentage.

No one works as hard as Russell does. If he can continue to blossom offensively while managing the pitching staff the way he has proved he can do, he is clearly the most valuable player on this baseball team.

2008 Season Prediction: Joe Torre's only here for there years, and we overpaid for Andruw Jones so we could have him for only two. The talent level of this team is easily comparable to if not better than the cream of the National League. This is an organization and a nation of fans that needs to win now. We've had one total playoff victory since Tommy and Gibby in '88. Certain things can be accomplished, but as a team, I'd say anything short of a World Series appearance would be a letdown.

Standings Prediction:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

latimes.com

Can Dodgers' road get any lower?

Readers continue to weigh in on the McCourts.

Mark Cuban says he wants to buy the Dodgers but, oh yeah, they're not for sale. Jamie McCourt, the "baseball girl," has her own plan to buy the team -- good news for Little League presidents throughout the city. The mediocre left fielder announces that he will indeed come back to suck up $20 million of the payroll, thus insuring that Juan Pierre and his exciting brand of ball will stay on the bench. It's the third day of the general managers' meeting, and not a word of activity from Ned Colletti.


Matt Kemp and Orlando Hudson win Gold Gloves

Manager Jim Riggleman will have interim tag removed in Washington.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp won his first Gold Glove on Wednesday but was already looking ahead to his next.


Dodgers put a low price on decades of experience

George Genovese, the team's 87-year-old scout, gets a 56% pay cut -- to $8,000. Times are tough, the club says.

After spending the last couple of weeks choking on the McCourt divorce numbers -- $6,000 a year for birthday parties? -- Dodgers fans can finally relax.


latimes.com

Attention: Blue Notes is moving!

Hey folks. There are some things afoot regarding Blue Notes in which (we hope) you'll be interested. The first is some excellent news for LAT.com baseball readers: Jon Weisman's Dodger Thoughts is joining our ever growing blog family. (It can...


Manny G?

Interesting stuff today from ESPN.com's Buster Olney on The Manny Situation, and how the Giants might still fit into the equation: "...Lo and behold, the Giants have emerged as a player in this bidding. But it remains to be seen...


Hopefully, Dodger fans didn't have their hearts set on Jon Garland

Because he not only ain't pitching for the Blue anytime soon, he'll be part of a divisional rival's rotation. Garland and the D-Backs have agreed to terms after some on-again, off-again banter. Garland was on the Dodger radar, but talk...


dailynews.com

mlb.com

Torre's Safe at Home gala remains a hit

Torre's Safe at Home gala a hit

Sarah's take: Dodgers receiving due credit

Sarah's take: Dodgers receiving due credit

Torre extension talk is just that for now

Torre extension talk just that for now

dodgerthoughts.com

Dodger Thoughts: Cheers

Dodger Thoughts is moving.

Dodger Thoughts: Molly Knight KOs Joba Chamberlain

ESPN.com writer and Dodger Thoughts bonne amie Molly Knight showed Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain who's boss.

Dodger Thoughts: This Chat's on Me

You don't have to go home, and you can stay here.

insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com

Lineup at Maryvale

The finale on the road...after thousands of miles, thousands of swings and thousands of pitches, the team heads home tonight. Here's the lineup for today: Pierre, LF Furcal, SS Kemp, RF Loney, 1B Jones, CF Martin, C Abreu, 2B DeWitt,...

A busy day in the desert

We've got a lot going on today, as everyone is gearing up towards the Coliseum game and Opening Day. Throughout the late morning and early afternoon, we'll be hosting conference calls with a number of the former Dodgers who played...

Rocky Road

Happy Easter to those who celebrate...here's the lineup for the game, which can be seen on KCAL... Pierre, LF Abreu, SS Loney, 1B Kemp, CF Ethier, RF Hu, 3B Bennett, C Martinez, 2B Billingsley, P And as mentioned below, some...

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