Well, after the Marlins preview, let's see who the hat has to check out today...

Hmm, we stay in the National League.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Team Preview

Well, so much of the Dodgers having the most talented group of youngsters in the division.  After a decision to commit too long to the veteren's, the Dodgers have instead decided to embrace their youthful core for the lack of better alternatives.  Still blessed with a solid farm system and a lot of pitching talent, the Dodgers aren't going to be a foe to be triffled with this season.  Still, there are some weaknesses on this team, mostly due to vets that have no business starting likely to be started anyway, thanks to Joe Torre.

Starting Rotation

• Brad Penny (RHP) – Underrated by many, Penny is a top of the rotation starter that can flat out dominate when he’s healthy.  His contract is a steal and the Dodgers wisely held onto him last season after debating about shopping him around.  It’s almost a sure bet that he’ll get his club option exercised next season, giving the Dodgers an extra season before bringing up uberprospect Clayton Kershaw.
• Chad Billingsley (RHP) – A good young pitcher, Billingsley showed last season that he could become a top of the rotation starter if given the chance to prove himself.  With a good combination of stuff and poise, Billingsley should rise through the rotation and establish himself as the next staff ace.
• Derek Lowe (RHP) – Lowe is an innings eater that will generate a lot of groundballs and should post respectable numbers.  All in all, it probably would have been best for Boston to keep him, as he was a good fit for their park, but overall he’s done rather well for himself in LA and should look to cash in free agency next season.
• Hiroki Kuroda (RHP) – The latest Japanese Import, Kuroda is a decent pitcher.  His fastball clocks in the high 80’s/low 90’s with some sink and he’s got a good curveball and a decent breaking ball.  He commands all of his offerings well, however, and though he had a bit of elbow trouble, it was cleared up by Dr. Lewis Yocum.  All in all, he’s a solid bet to be a good number four starter and isn’t expensive. 
• Jason Schmidt (RHP) – Well, it turns out the Giants did know what they were doing when they didn’t make a bigger push to keep their ace.  Schmidt is likely going to be the fifth man in the rotation due to his need for a slow recovery from shoulder surgery, and will likely never be the guy that the Dodgers hoped they signed.  But he could be a very good middle of the rotation man if he successfully bounces back.

Bullpen

• Takashi Saito (Closer) – One of the more effective closers in baseball, and one of the bigger bargains to boot, Saito is money in save opportunities, though I would caution that he is older and he has a lot of mileage on his arm.  Grady Little actually did a good job of keeping him fresh and not abusing him.  The man replacing him isn’t as kind.  Still, a decent season should be expected from him. 
• Jonathan Broxton (Setup Man) – The Dodgers’ closer of the future, Broxton is built like a bull and has great stuff to go with it.  He’s also a prime candidate to be overused by Joe Torre.
• Joe Beimel (LHP) - A dependable lefty that shouldn't be in anymore bar fights anytime soon, Beimel helps augment what should be a dynamite setup corps.
• Hong Chi Kuo (LHP) – Kuo had the stuff to be a starter, but not the stamina.  So, he returns to the middle relief/swingman role that he did well in back in 2006.
• Scott Proctor (RHP) – The one guy that was probably the least thrilled about Joe Torre coming to LA?  Proctor, who was overused by Torre during his time in New York as Torre lost confidence in reliever after reliever and kept on using his old reliables.  Proctor likely could have had a long career as a setup man if Torre wasn’t
• Esteban Loaiza (RHP) – The odd man out of the rotation mix, Loaiza was awful in his limited innings as a Dodger and now will have to accept a swingman role unless he wants out completely. 
• Rudy Seanez (RHP) - A retread of sorts, Seanez isn't exactly an elite reliever anymore, but as long as the Dodgers don't overexpose him, he should be a servicable reliever at best.

Starting Lineup

• Rafael Furcal (SS) – Still a good shortstop with a solid bat, power and speed, Furcal is entering the last year in his deal and wants a contract extension to stay with LA.  I don’t think it’ll happen, now with Hui down in Triple A ready to start, so expect Furcal to have a solid year before leaving LA to go elsewhere, giving the Dodgers some nice draft picks in the process.
• Juan Pierre (LF) – Does Pierre deserve to be starting ahead of the more talented Andre Ethier?  #### No.  Does that mean he will?  Yes, because we have seen throughout the ages that there is one common trait about Joe Torre.  He always starts his veteran’s and won’t start a youngster unless he has no choice.  In this case, he’ll likely start Pierre in left, where his speed should help him, but other than that, he’s got little value.
• James Loney (1B) – A nifty young player that the Dodgers finally appear to be done screwing wtih, Loney has a solid bat with plenty of power potential and should be a solid middle of the order presence for years.
• Andruw Jones (CF) – Last season’s down year resulted in Jones going from the top centerfielder on the market to a considerable risk.  I do credit the Dodgers for getting him at two years, as if he bombs, they’ll only be on the hook for one more year, unlike Juan Pierre.  Jones is still a good defensive center fielder who hits for power and shows some patience, but he also lengthens his swing as he tries to crush the ball and he’s lost a step as far as his speed goes.  Still, he’s an excellent buy and should give the Dodger lineup more thunder. 
• Jeff Kent (2B) – Kent can still hit and he’s still a reliable power source in the middle of the order, but he has no business playing second base anymore.  He really should be either at first base or a DH, but he doesn’t seem inclined to do either.  Still, expect Kent to put up some serious numbers here, especially if the Dodgers finally allow Kemp and Loney to stay in everyday and not want to switch to retreads and vets with nothing left in the tank.
• Matt Kemp (RF) – Kemp has all the tools to be a superstar, as he could become a power hitting right fielder in the mold of a J.D. Drew, but he’s still raw in several facets of the game.  Nonetheless, these flaws will only be worked out with playing time, so the Dodgers need to play him, as he is a big part of the Dodgers’ future once some of the vets move on.
• Russell Martin (C) – One of the best young catchers in the NL, Martin was probably a bit overworked last season, but his offensive performance didn't suffer much for it.  Overall, I think he's a great young player that should continue to be a presence in the lineup.   Also, he'd be a nice fit hitting second, but that likely won't happen.
• Nomar Garciaparra (3B) –Nomar is no longer the offensive player he was and he’s too brittle for the hot corner, so I’m not sure why Torre would start him, as his power is gone and all he really is able to do is hit for a superficially high average.  But, as I said, Torre won’t start kids unless he has no choice, meaning that the Dodgers will see a lot of Nomar hitting 8th.

Bench

• Andre Ethier (COF) – Ethier would be a solid left fielder, but it seems that the Dodgers are determined to get as much use out of Juan Pierre's contract as possible.  Plus, knowing Torre's affinity for Vets, and it's likely that Ethier will strictly be used in pinch hit duty until Pierre plays himself out of the lineup.
• Andy LaRoche (CINF) – Another casualty of Joe Torre will likely be Andy LaRoche, who will be on the bench as Nomar Garciaparra is started.  Still, I do give the Dodgers some credit to committing to at least carrying with the big league club.  LaRoche has all the tools to be a star third baseman in the mold of Troy Glaus, though only the Dodgers
• Gary Bennett (C) – A decent backup catcher with an okay bat, look at Bennett to be able to relieve Russell Martin, who was overworked last season.
• Wilson Valdez (UTIL) - Strictly a gloveman with no offensive value.
• Tony Abreu (UTIL) – A decent utility man, Abreu will likely backup all the middle infield positions, plus get the occasional start in the outfield.  He’s not a bad hitter either and could pinch hit in necessary.

Minor League Notables

• Clayton Kershaw (LHP) - The Dodgers' top prospect, Kershaw has already reached Double A at the age of 19.  He's got a big fastball and slider and potentially could be a major league ace.  While the Dodgers won't rush him, it's not inconcievable that Kershaw could get a big league look in the pen at the end of the season.
• Chin-lung Hu (SS) - Chien Ming Wang's ex-classmate, Hu has an incredible glove and enough of a bat that he won't be a drag on the offense.  He'll likely be Furcal's successor at short, though he could be called up in case of injury.
• Justin Meloan (RHP) - A solid setup man, Meloan is also a potential call up should one of the relievers flame out.

Final Analysis

Overall, the Dodgers have a good squad and will be in the mix for the National League Wild Card.  However, I don't feel that they'll have quite an easy run at the division or the WC thanks to the rise of the Diamondbacks and the Rockies.  Overall, this squad is dependant on it's youth.  If Torre decides to play the vets like Pierre and Garciaparra over more deserving talent, it will ultimately cost the Blue Crew at chance at the post-season.

Final Prediction - 2nd Place, National League West 

Alright, just a quick rundown on the Santana Sweepstakes.

On The Block – Johan Santana

The reason for this?  Why not?

The Why:  Santana is entering his walk year and the Twins have already made it known that they won’t give him Barry Zito’s deal to keep him, mostly because of owner Carl Pohland, who one of the cheapest owners in sports, and they may want to see if they can acquire talent for him to help the club in the long run, as the system is starting to run a little dry thanks to some over-conservative drafting.

The Rumored Asking Price:  Three to four good prospects, that are either ready to start immediately or are close to.

Can A Trade Be Done:  Yes, provided that a window for a contract extension is granted to the acquiring team.  Otherwise, no team is going to give up a top of low cost talent in exchange for a one year rental.

The Good:  Santana is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball and could be the ace of ANY rotation.  He’s dominant, has proven to be healthy, and can pitch in the AL and has done so in many of the best hitters parks in the league.

Potential Hang-ups:

• Money – It’s going to be costly to extend Santana, who could be baseball’s first $20 million pitcher.  That’s a LOT of money and many couldn’t afford him. 
• Prospects – The Twins want high ceiling talent and a lot of it, which is going to make things difficult, as many teams simply don’t have farm systems that deep to send the necessary talent back.  So, that limits the amount of people that are legitimate suitors even further. 

Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order

• Boston Red Sox – Ummm, Boston apparently would be interested in Santana (but it makes no sense really, as they have a solid rotation already that is very cost effective), but they would likely offer the Twins a package of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and probably infield prospect Jed Lowrie, plus a player to be mutually decided on.  The problem is that they would only give up Lester and would balk if asked for Ellsbury or Buchholz. 
• Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers certainly have the ammunition to try and make a deal, with them offering a package that would include Andy LaRoche, their top third base prospect, Andre Ethier, who could start in left field, Matt Kemp, who would start in right, and likely Chad Billingsley, the top lefty prospect in the minors.  That is a hell of a package and would give the Twins immediate bonuses to three of their lineup spots while giving them a stud pitching prospect as well.  The problem is that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt might not like the price tag it would take to extend Santana. 
• New York Mets – Omar Minaya seems determined to make a huge splash, and has said he’s saving his trade chips for a front of the rotation pitcher.  There’s just one problem:  most of the Mets’ prospects suck.  Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey have had their stocks take hits and they lack many other positional players to send back to Minnesota.  The best thing they COULD do would be to see if the Twins still want to do that Matt Garza-Carlos Gomez swap.  I’d be all over that in a second.
• New York Yankees – The Yankees are sure to be in on Santana, and apprently, after the Game 4 loss to the Indians, they immediately called the Twins asking what it would take to build a package around Chein Ming Wang to get Santana.  This was purely rumor, but any deal involving Santana would likely involve New York.  Wang wouldn’t be attractive to the Twins as he’s going to be getting expensive short and he really isn’t what they’re looking for.  They’d likely ask for a package centered around Melky Cabrera and one of the Phil Hughes/Joba Chamberlain duet, with Robinson Cano thrown in for good measure.  The Yankees would likely balk and try to see if Ian Kennedy would get the job done, after which they’re promptly be laughed at and hung up on.  That’s really how it would go down, as New York is so protective even of their worst prospects that it’s hard to get a deal done.  However, with Hank Steinbrenner spilling the beans about the negotiations to get him, this deal may have legs after all.
• Texas Rangers – Texas certainly has the ammunition to make a deal, with a package likely having to center around Eric Hurley, their top pitching prospect, Ian Kinsler, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which would allow them to use Mauer at DH more often.  It would be a good trade package, but wouldn’t be enough to compare with what other teams may offer. 

If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now...Traded To The New York Yankees For RHP Phil Hughes, RHP Ian Kennedy, CF Melky Cabrera and OF Austin Jackson

Will A Deal Ultimately Happen – Yes.  Frankly, the Twins could see themselves as being able to bounce back in contention with the return of Francisco Liriano, but let’s be reasonable.  The Twins also have a lot of holes and their owners’ reluctance to spend money means they can’t buy themselves the necessary fixes to help remedy the problem.  As a result, they’ve got to move him now to be able to at least reload with their current nucleus.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Possibly the best prospet machine in baseball right now, the Dodgers have long been lauded for their farm system and recently have begun churning out replacement parts for older talent that was brought in as a stopgap.  Much credit should go to Logan White, the Dodgers' scouting director who, quite frankly, knows talent when he sees it.

However, the work of White is at risk of being undone by Ned Colletti, who has favored proven veterens over younger players, similar to his mentor, Brian Sabean of the San Francisco Giants and has shopped some of these players for potential deals.  Such a move would be a mistake and someone needs to take White aside and explain to him the benefits of letting you have your young players play.

With that said, this is a strong system.  It's not quite where it was two years ago because of all the graduation, but it's very, very good.

Dodgers Top 15

1 – Clayton Kershaw (LHP)

• DOB: 3/19/88
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2006, Texas High School
• 2008 Club:  Jacksonville Suns (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/210
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  The Dodgers loved Kershaw before the draft, but figured that the Tigers would take him before they picked at seven. To their surprise and delight, Andrew Miller wound up with the Tigers and the Dodgers had their man.  Since then, Kershaw has destroyed the lower minors and eventually was tested by being promoted to Double A, skipping the California League.  It was a test that he passed with flying colors.  He even was tabbed to play in the Futures Game at the All-Star Break.  All in all, Kershaw is easily the best of the baby Blue Crewers and should be coming soon to the Chavez Ravine. 
• The Good: Kershaw has good size and has clean mechanics.  His fastball sits at 92-94 mph, and has touched 96 at times.  He throws two solid off-speed pitches, a curveball and a changeup, and both rate as plus.  His command and control are impeccible.
• The Bad: You might wonder if the Dodgers are rushing him a bit, as he tired near the end of the season,  but other than that, he’s got no real weaknesses showing yet. 
• Projection: High.  The Dodgers are pleased with the progress that Kershaw has been making and are continuing to take their time with them.  With the Dodgers still having a lot of veterns in front of him, they can afford to be patient with Kershaw, unless he forces their hand. 
• What He Can Be:  An Ace
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Kershaw will head back to Florida to sit at the top of the rotation, and may even be in line for a September Call Up, unless he exceeds 150 innings this year.  For those of you in Vegas, he may be there come July of next year.

2 – Chin-Lung Hu (SS)

• DOB: 2/2/84
• Signed: 2003, Taiwan
• 2008 Club:  Las Vegas 51s (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 5-9/150
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Rafael Furcal was signed to a three year deal, partially because it would enable him to test free agency again while he's young, but partially to also allow Hu time to mature in the minors. The gamble has paid off for the Futures Game MVP, as he answeredhis doubters by hitting .329/.380/.508 in 82 games with Jacksonville, .318/.337/505 in 45 Games with Vegas and performed above expectations with LA in September. 
• The Good:  Arguably the top defensive player in the minors, Hu has remarkable instincts, range, and an strong arm.  He's made great strides in his plate discipline as well.  However, improved by making solid contact with the bat and showing some power. 
• The Bad:  Despite his offesnive increase, Hu still needs to show some more discipline at the plate if he wants to increase his walk totals. 
• Projection:  Low. Defensively, Hu is ready now.  He just needs his bat to develop just a bit longer.
• What He Can Be:  A average startign shortstop. 
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Furcal will play out the last year of his contract for the Dodgers, meaning Hu will return to Las Vegas for some final tuneups.  However, he will replace Furcal next season.

3 – Andy LaRoche (3B)

• DOB: 9/13/83
• Drafted: 39th Round, 2003, Grayson County Texas Junior College
• 2008 Club:  Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/215
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  The younger brother of Adam, Andy was drafted back in 2003, probably for the sheer hell of it to see if he could be signed, and the Dodgers were able to convince LaRoche to turn pro for a $1 million bonus to convince him from transferring to Rice.  Since then, LaRoche has more or less performed well, though last season was a bit of a drop of for him.  LaRoche is entering a critical year in his development, as he’s more or less ready, but the Dodgers seem to be hesitant of giving him the starting third base job. He may be a prime candidate to be traded.
• The Good:  LaRoche is an excellent hitter with good bat control and he has some power, plus excellent plate discipline.  He’s a solid defender at third and will probably stick there thanks to his strong arm. 
• The Bad:  Despite having some power, LaRoche doesn’t have the same power that older brother Adam does.  He also is pretty slow.
• Projection: Low. LaRoche should be starting now, but the Dodgers’ efforts to try and bury him has me wondering if he’ll stay with them.
• What He Can Be:  An All-Star third baseman.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  If the Dodgers don’t trade him, look for LA to move the disappointing Nomar Garciaparra to clear the way for LaRoche to start, unless the recent Veteren griping convinces them otherwise.

4 – James McDonald (RHP)

• DOB: 10/19/84
• Drafted: 11th Round, 2002, California High School (D&F)
• 2008 Club: Las Vegas 51s (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 6-5/195
• Bats/Throws: L/R
• The Skinny:  McDonald had always been sort of inconsistent in terms of his performance until this year, where he had one of the best breakouts in the minor leagues this year, where he went 13-9 with a 3.07 ERA, showing some improve command and control along the way.  Interestingly enough, McDonald was drafted as a pitcher, switched to the outfield, then switched back, a move that cost him some development, which the Dodgers are now trying to compensate for.
• The Good:  A tall pitcher, McDonald thorws in the low 90’s, touching 94, with the potential for more there considering his frame and size.  He has a good three pitch mix when you consider his two complimentry pitches, a plus curveball and a good changeup.  His delivery, due to his size and arm action, give him a fair amount of deception as well.
• The Bad:  McDonald allows more than his fair share of home runs, which could be a problem in the Chavez Ravine, which allows a fair amount of homers.  There is also some concern that McDonald’s temporary move to the outfield may have stumped his growth a bit.
• Projection:  Average.  McDonald could gain some more mass and in turn could gain some more velocity.  He needs to also be able to take on a starters workload, something that has been stunted a bit because of the experiment in the outfield. 
• What He Can Be:  A Number Three Starter
• 2008 Course Of Action:  McDonald is moving up rather quickly and has a good chance of making an appearance for the Dodgers late this season if he keeps it up. 

5 – Jonathan Meloan (RHP)

• DOB: 7/11/84
• Drafted: 5th round, 2005, University of Arizona
• 2008 Club: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Height/Weight: 6-3/225
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny: One year after working his way back from elbow soreness, Meloan had another good year, dominating Double A and Triple A before earning a trip up to LA in September, which kinda killed the buzz on him a bit.
• The Good: A power righthander, Meloan has an impressive one-two punch in his 92-94 mph fastball that can reach 97 and a spike curveball with good sink that simply is a #### pitch.  He domiantes both lefties and rightines and has excellent command.
• The Bad: He still struggles with control at times, but the big red flag is Meloan's injury history, which still keeps some people wary as to how he’ll bear up during the long season. 
• Projection: Low.  Meloan should be competing for a job in the bullpen this spring and could make for a lights out end of the game lineup with him, Broxton and Saito closing things out.
• What He Can Be: A power reliever with closer potential.
• 2008 Course Of Action: Meloan will be given a shot at a bullpen job in Spring and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t leave Florida with the Dodgers. 

6 – Chris Withrow (RHP)

• DOB: 4/1/89
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Texas High School
• 2008 Club:  Ogden Raptors (Rookie)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/195
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Despite the presence of the higher regarded Rick Porcello and Matt Harvey on the board, the Dodgers passed on both because of their representation, Scott Boras, and took Withrow, who may not have even been the best of the non-Boras clients (I liked both Michael Main and Josh Smoker, of the Rangers and Nationals better).  Still Withrow is a good right handed pitcher and despite the fact that Main will probably be better, Withrow looks like he’s a geuine talent in his own right. 
• The Good: An good athlete who was talented enough to project as a two-way player in college, Withrow has a lot of things to like about him.  His tall frame looks like he may be able to add more velocity to his low 90’s fastball with good sink as he ages and he’s got a repeatable delivery that is very smooth.  Withrow also has solid command, as he walked just eight batters as a senior in high school.
• The Bad:  While both pitches, a curveball and a changeup, look like they’ll be plus pitches in the future, they need work so he can be able to spot them properly. 
• Projection:  High.  Withrow is a little more polished than most high school pitchers and looks like he could rise quickly with some proper coaching and development.  He could be a beast in the NL West, especially with all the pitchers parks in that division.  Depending on how he develops, he could be anywhere from a back of the rotation starter to a solid Sidekick to Kershaw.
• What He Can Be:  Let’s call it in the middle and say he’s a middle of the rotation guy.  Nothing wrong with that.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Withrow will likely be headed to Ogden thanks to his polished approach this season, where the Dodgers will work on his offspeed stuff while they watch his innings.

7 – Scott Elbert (LHP)

• DOB: 8/13/85
• Draft: 1st round, 2004, Missouri High School
• 2008 Club: Jacksonville Suns (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-2/190
• Bats/Throws: L/R
• The Skinny: After a good year, Elbert wound up missing almost his entire 2007 season after having to undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery.  He should be ready for Spring Training this year.
• The Good: Elbert misses a lot of bats using a good fastball with heaving boring action that clocks in the 91-94 mph range.  He compliments it with a curveball that breakes late.  Rounding out his mix is a changeup that is average at best.  He’s got a power pitchers frame and all in all, he should be a regular in the future. 
• The Bad: Before the surgery, Elbert’s control was below average and he gave up a lot of walks.  Aside from having to work his way back from the procedure, he’s also going to have that little trouble with the longball mentioned earlier on McDonald.
• Projection:  Average.  Elbert will likely have to work on getting his command together, especially after he lost some development time thanks to his injury. 
• What He Can Be: A Power Pitching Strikeout Artist (not to be confused with a sandwich artist)
• 2008 Course Of Action: Now fully healed, Elbert will be headed back to Jacksonville, where he hopes to get his command together.  If he does, he could rise quickly. 

8 – Blake DeWitt (2B)

• DOB: 8/20/85
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2004, Missouri HS
• 2008 Club:  Jacksonville Suns (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 5-11/175
• Bats/Throws: L/R
• The Skinny: After being demoted to High A after he crashed and burned during his first Double A stint, DeWitt posted good numbers again, forcing the Dodger to promote him to Double A, where he held his own this year and did well for himself.
• The Good: DeWitt has one of the better bats in the system, boasting good bat speed and a smooth swing.  He puts the ball into play and should hit for average power. 
• The Bad: However, DeWitt was supposed to be better than what he’s shown so far and he’ll likely never hit for more than average power.  He’s also got below average plate discpline and needs to increase his walk totals if he wants to hit lower in the lineup.  He’s also a little rough defensively. 
• Projection: Average.  DeWitt still needs to work on his plate discipline as well as his defense if he expects to be an average defender.  Fortunately for him, Jeff Kent is likely going back to LA this season, giving him another year to work and get himself going.
• What He Can Be: A average second baseman who hits for decent power and average. 
• 2008 Course Of Action: DeWitt will likely return to Double A to start, before the Dodgers likely promote him to Triple A in preparation for taking Jeff Kent’s job.

9 – Josh Bell (3B)

• DOB: 11/13/86
• Drafted: 4th Round, 2005, Florida High School
• 2008 Club:  Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/205
• Bats/Throws: S/R
• The Skinny:  Bell came into the season as highly regarded as anyone in the system.  After hitting well for Great Lakes (.289/.354/.470 in 108 games), Bell was promoted to the California League, where he was promptly destroyed. 
• The Good: Bell has the best power potential of anyone in the system from both sides of the plate. He’s got the potential to be a solid defender at the hot corner and has a strong arm to stay there.  He is also showing the ability of waiting on pitches he can drive. 
• The Bad: Bell still needs tow rok on his footwork and accuracy on his throws.  Also, his swing, meant for power, also means that he’s going to be a strikeout machine. 
• Projection: Moderate.  Bell was sent to Hawaii to get some work on his discipline as well as to work on his defense, which will be something to work on during Spring Training.  Something to also consider is this:  with Andy LaRoche the superior defender right now and likely to be in Bell’s way as he rises through the system, would the Dodgers potentially move Bell to left field, where his arm would play and where his defense wouldn’t be as much of a liability.  I think he’d do rather well there, in my opinion.
• What He Can Be: A power threat in the middle of the order.
• 2008 Course Of Action: Bell is heading back to the California League, where he should cotninue to put up monster numbers.  The real topic of interest is to see if he still is a third baseman by the end of the season. 

10 –Ivan DeJesus Jr. (SS)

• DOB:  5/1/87
• Drafted: 2nd Round, 2005, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
• 2008 Club:  Jacksonville Suns (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 5-11/176
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  The Son of Ivan DeJesus, Junior is similar to his father in many ways and wowed scouts with his fielding skills as well showing some skills with the bat. 
• The Good: The son of Ivan DeJesus, Junior DeJesus is similar to his farther, in that he’s a solid defender with good range and a good glove.  A good athlete, he has some solid hitting skills thanks to his compact, quick swing that results in solid compact, as well as showing some great plate discipline, resulting in a high On base Percetnage.
• The Bad:  DeJesus isn’t very fast, nor does he have much power in his swing.  As a result, he’s going to have to continue to walk if he expects to be anything more than a backup.
• Projection:  Average.  DeJesus could make a career out of being a average regular, but to do that, he’s got to keep up the On Base Numbers, otherwise it’s back to potential backup land for him.
• What He Can Be:  An average regular who competes for Gold Gloves.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Now that he’s done his work down in the California League, look for DeJesus to head to Jacksonville, where he should be yet another member of what could be a star studded Jacksonville squad.

11 – Bryan Morris (RHP)

• DOB: 3/28/87
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2006, Motlow State Tennessee JUCO
• 2008 Club:  Ogden Raptors (Rookie)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/175
• Bats/Throws: L/R
• The Skinny: Morris didn’t play at all last year thanks to Tommy John Surgery.
• The Good:  Morris has some solid stuff with a low 90s fastball with excellent movement that touched 95, as well as a curveball that was considered to be the best of the draft.  He also throws a changeup that could eventually be a average pitch as well as a slider (which also needs work.)
• The Bad: Morris had some bad control issues, which may have been a symptom of his need to get Tommy John Surgery.  His delivery was also considered to be a concern, so the Dodgers may tinker with his delivery to get more stress off the elbow.
• Projection: High.  We really don’t’ know what Morris is or will be until he gets back into action, so right now, you’re just going to have to take a wait and see approach.
• What He Can Be: A Middle Of The Rotation Starter
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Morris will likely be held back in Extended to see how well his recovery is progressing before he likely gets assigned with Ogden later in the season.

12 – Josh Wall (RHP)

• DOB: 1/21/1987
• Drafted: 2nd Round, 2005, Louisiana High School
• 2008 Club:  Great Lakes Loons (Low A)
• Height/Weight: 6-6/190
• Bats/Throws: R/R.
• The Skinny: Wall began the season looking like a bust, but after a fantastic second half of the season in which he posted a 3.14 ERA, Wall is starting to re-establish his value and look like a prospect again.
• The Good: Wall was compared to Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett for his frame and potential after draft day and is still a very projectable pitcher.  He’s got a low 90’s fastball with good sinking action and he’s got a good curveball that has the makings of a plus pitch.  He also does a great job of keeping the ball in the park.
• The Bad: Wall needs a reliable third offering if he is to continue his future on the mound.  Many also feel that Wall’s delivery, which is a bit complex, needs to be toned down.
• Projection:  Moderate.  Obviously, there is a lot to like about Wall.  If he can continue his newly rediscovered performance, Wall could easily be a top ten prospect in another year.  As far as physical improvements, Wall could easily stand to gain some more mass, which could result in a little more zip on his fastball, as well as finding a reliable third pitch.
• What He Can Be:  An durable innings eater.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Wall will likely return to Great Lakes to start the season, where he should be able to build off his previous success before heading to the California League, possibly in June.

13 – James Adkins (LHP)

• DOB: 11/26/85
• Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, University Of Tennessee
• 2008 Club:  Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
• Height/Weight: 6-6/225
• Bats/Throws: R/L
• The Skinny:  Adkins put himself on the map with a very strong season debut, but was inconsistent as the year wore on.  He managed to elevate himself on many draft boards due to his carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his SEC Tournament start.
• The Good: Adkins is a big left-hander whose best pitch is a slider that is a major league ready pitch right now.  His fastball isn’t very impressive, clocking in at around 88-92 mph, and he relies on his excellent command and control to get batters out. 
• The Bad:  Beyond the slider, there’s really not much to Adkins.  He pitches backwards, throwing off of his off-speed stuff instead of his fastball and lacks a reliable changeup to succeed as a starter.  Hence, he’s a two pitch pitcher that is going to have trouble as a starter, unless he learns a third pitch soon.
• Projection:  Low.  It’s likely that Adkins was over drafted and more than likely he’ll have to move to the pen sometime in the near future.  Still, he’s got the makings of a decent middle reliever with time. 
• What He Can Be:  A middle reliever
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Adkins will likely begin the year in California, but how long he remains a starter remains to be seen.

14 – Kyle Orr (1B)

• DOB:  9/29/88
• Drafted:  4th Round, 2006, Canadian High School
• 2008 Club: Great Lakes Loons (Low A)
• Height/Weight: 6-5/205  
• Bats/Throws: L/R  
• The Skinny:  A fast riser before the draft, Orr would solidify his status after leading Canada to the bronze medal at the World Junior Baseball Championships.  However, he was terrible in his first full professional season and will likely have to repeat the level again.
• The Good:  The first thing you notice about Orr is the bat.  Orr has plenty of power and could be a monster hitter similar to Boston prospect Lars Anderson.  Scouts rave about his body and mental makeup and he’s gotten a lot of comaprisions to Justin Monreau.
• The Bad:  Orr also strikes out a lot and is limited to first base and the outfield.
• Projection:  Orr is a project, there’s no doubt about it, but he’s got legitimate potential to be a slugging first baseman, a la Morneau if you want to keep with native comparisons. 
• What He Can Be:  A middle of the order power source.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Orr will be headed to Great Lakes again, where the Dodgers can hope that a second time around the league will show off the experience he may have developed.

15 – Preston Mattingly (2B)

• DOB: 8/28/87
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2006, Indiana High School
• 2008 Club:  Great Lakes Loons (Low A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/205
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  The son of Don, Preston was drafted partially on his pedigree, and partially on the fact that he may be a better version of his father, only without the injury issues that plagued him.  The Dodgers liked his potential enough to burn a sandwich round pick on him.  After a decent debut in the Gulf Coast League, Mattingly imploded down in the Midwestern League and will likely repeat.
• The Good: Mattingly is similar to his father in that he’s got good power potential and a sweet, quick swing.  He’s also a superior athlete to his father as well and, as he’s still growing, could even hit for more power than his dad.
• The Bad:  Originally drafted as a shortstop, Mattingly’s defense and arm were poor enough that the Dodgers moved him to second, where he’s still awful.  So, like his father, Mattingly will likely have to move over to first base, like his father.  He can also be overly aggressive at the plate (he struck out 119 times) and needs to be more choosy over their pitches.
• Projection:  High.  The Mattingly the younger could pay big dividends, but he’s going to require a lot of time and patience.  The Dodgers will give it to him, as they’ve done a good job of developing their youngsters.
• What He Can Be:  An above-average first baseman.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  With last years disaster behind him, Mattingly will likely repeat at Great Lakes, where the Dodgers hope that another year of experience will do him well.

Final Notes

Logan White, thanks to the willingness to pay for talent as well as taking advantage of numerous draft picks, has given LA a stacked system, with lots of potential future starters if the Dodgers give them a chance to prove themselves in the majors.  Kershaw and McDonald are as good of a one-two punch in the minors as anyone (even against the Buchholz-Bowden duo in Boston).  In a few years, can you imagine a potential rotation of Kershaw, Billingsley, McDonald, Withrow and potentially Elbert if he stays in the rotation?  That’s a scary thought if you’re in the NL West. 

The key thing to watch here is how the Dodgers move forward.  GM Ned Colletti has begun to show tendencies of favoring veterens, much as his mentor, Brian Sabean, did in San Francisco.  If he continues on this course that he has seemed to be going on, you could see some sort of talent hemmorage in LA as they trade youngsters for vets.  That would kill the Dodgers both in the present and future as they would rapidly become an older, worse of team while some of the kids that they send off would become productive players elsewhere.

The Red Sox Top 15 will be up later, right now I have something that just set me off that I saw on Sportscenter (had no choice, was at the Gym and it was either that or reruns of ER.  And I hate ER.)

Steve Phillips was asked for his recommandations to the Dodgers on how he would make their team a World Series contender.  After hearing him talk, I quickly wondered what reality he was talking about. 

Here are Phillips' takes, more or less, and my own, in full unedited glory.

Step 1 – Trade for Miguel Cabrera or Sign Alex Rodriguez

First off, I will credit Phillips with correctly identifying the Dodgers' need for power in the lineup.  However, this is the wrong way to go with it.  If you take Phillips’ later assumptions into account, it’s going to have to be Rodriguez or nothing, as the Marlins currently are assembling a list of players that they are targeting from different organizations that they would want in return for the potential Hall of Fame hopeful.  One of those is almost certainly going to be Clayton Kershaw, a young lefty that is going to be as good as Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz. 

Kershaw would have to be sent back in any deal that for Cabrera, that's a given.  It was Kershaw that was a sticking point in the Dodgers' failed negotiations this past summer for Mark Teixeira.  

As for A-Rod, he'll cost nothing but money, but it'll be a WHOLE LOT of money. 

My Solution - Why Not Settle With What you have in house?  The Dodgers have a perfectly good third base prospect in Andy LaRoche, who has hit the batting line of .295/.525/.901 in the minors and has averaged 18 Homers and 61 RBIs in an average of 90 games per season.  Why not give him a full season to prove that he can hit?  He's a lot cheaper than Rodriguez or Cabrera and would give a power boost to the lineup as well.

And if you must get rid of LaRoche, go after a cheaper first baseman to save some money for what is about to come next.  The Rangers would be happ to give up Hank Blalock straight up for LaRoche.  The Pirates would be willing to give up Freddy Sanchez if it meant getting LaRoche. 

The only possible way of getting Cabrera might be asking the Marlins if they'd be receptive to a deal of a paid for Juan Pierre (solving their centerfield issue), LaRoche (solving third while improving the infield defense) and including Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton.  That woudl be the only way I could see a deal for Cabrera working, though I would prefer to just use LaRoche.

Step 2 – Sign Andruw Jones, Aaron Rowand, or Torii Hunter to play centerfield and move Juan Pierre to left

Yikes.  Here's another bad idea.

Pierre is a terrible outfielder and has a weak arm as well.  He's probably one of the worst contracts signed in the Ned Colletti era. 

Philips said that acquriing one of the three centerfielders mentioned above would not only improve the offense, but also improve the defense as well.

Here's an idea, which would work with Philips' plan and would still have the desired effect.

Trade Pierre for whoever you can get, preferrably a reliever or a swingman to help the pen and the rotation if necessary.  Second, play Etheir (provided he's not traded, of course) in left, and play Matt Kemp, a blossoming young monster, in right.  If you get Andruw Jones, which would work, in center, congradulations.  You just improved the outfield defense and upgraded the offense to boot.

Step 3 – Trade For Johan Santana

Ooookay, where to start.

Provided you haven't already traded Kershaw, going after Santana creates more problems than it does solve any.

First off, you would immediately open a hole in right field, as it would likely require a package of Kershaw, Kemp and LaRoche to get Santana, even if you do get him to agree to a contract extension. 

Guess what, you just opened a hole in right and third base.

You could play Ethier at right, but I like his bat better in left field.  And it would make the necessary the addition of a Rodriguez and a Andruw Jones in order to fill those holes, leaving you with a much more expensive roster which wasn't necessary in the first place.

The Dodgers could enter next season by making only one foray into the free agent market and that would be it:

Starting Lineup

• Furcal (SS)

• Martin (C)

• Kent (2B)

• Loney (1B)

• Kemp (RF)

• Jones (CF) - Brought In Via Free Agency

• LaRoche (3B)

• Ethier (LF)

Rotation

• Penny (RHP)

• Lowe (RHP)

• Billingsley (RHP)

• Schmidt (RHP)

• Wolf (RHP) - Brought Back

Contracts Traded For Bullpen Help - Pierre (CF) to Marlins For Kevin Gregg (RHP), Nomar Garciaparra (1B) To Texas For Akinori Otsuka (RHP)

And there you have it.  I'm done.  That team I just put together should win 88 games, maybe 90 if the team stays healthy and the youngsters develop.  There was no need to go spend foolishly on several players that may not have been worth it.  That's the reason why you have a farm system.  So you can eventually have young, cheaper, higher upside pieces to build around and eventually contend with.

And all without having to mortgage my best pieces in the farm and to keep the payroll more or less reasonable in the long run.

I'm beginning to understand why Phillips was tossed out so quickly by the Mets.

He just sucked.