It's Time For Dodger Baseball

Dodgers' rotation of questions
February 8, 2010 | 7:00 am
OK, let’s talk about your deepest Dodgers fear, that open secret still too close to home for the faithful to willingly address:

Starting pitching.

Don’t shudder now, this has to be done. Crossed fingers and heavenly gazes will not get it done.

Truth is, the Dodgers' rotation could just as easily be the best in the N.L. West as it could be the fourth-best.

Each of the first four starters arrive this spring with serious questions, and there is precious little depth behind them. And as it always is, depth will be needed.


Hiroki Kuroda, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Vicente Padilla will head into spring with the first four spots secured. Eric Stults and James McDonald lead a long list of potential fifth starters.

Kuroda, 35, is coming off a reasonable season, considering he twice lost time to injury. Yet 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA was hardly an improvement from his previous season, and at his age, further injury is always a risk.

Kershaw remains an absolutely exciting prospect. He enjoyed an excellent sophomore year (11-8, 3.35, 201 strikeouts). He also threw a career-high 171 innings and will probably throw more this season. As much as he looks like a coming ace, the Dodgers will have to closely monitor the effect of the extra work.

Billingsley is in danger of becoming an enigma. There are times when he looks brilliant, and others when he appears fragile. He got off to a strong start last year and seemed to have built his confidence, only to fade in the second half. This is his fifth year, and he needs to pull it together.

Padilla essentially replaces innings-eating Randy Wolf in the rotation. After coming to the Dodgers Aug. 20, the mercurial Padilla, counting the postseason, went 5-1 with a 3.20 ERA. He did not throw at hitters, cause a riff in the clubhouse or say his daddy was bigger than your daddy. Now, can he keep it together a full season?


As a group, it could be strong. Then again, it’s not a stretch to imagine it going the other way.

Now look at the projected rotations of the Dodgers' N.L. West rivals.


Arizona: Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Billy Buckner.


Colorado: Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jorge De La Rosa, Jeff Francis and Jason Hammel.


San Diego: Chris Young, Jon Garland, Mat Latos, Kevin Correia and Clayton Richard.


San Francisco: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito, promising phenom Madison Bumgarner.

Only the Padres are obviously overmatched. Lincecum is coming off consecutive Cy Young award-winning seasons and leads a deep staff. Webb and Haren are potential Cy Young winners for Arizona. Colorado is solid one through five.

Of course, none of the rival staffs figure to be supported by the kind of lineup the Dodgers will put together.

But to win consistently, the Dodgers will need plenty of rotation questions answered. If they expect to repeat in the West and finally advance to the World Series, the answers will all have to be positive.

And that’s pretty questionable.

-- Steve Dilbeck

"Truth is, the Dodgers' rotation could just as easily be the best in the N.L. West as it could be the fourth-best.

Each of the first four starters arrive this spring with serious questions, and there is precious little depth behind them. And as it always is, depth will be needed."
this could be said of every staff in baseball..At least in our division..
train

Before the 'What are you thinking" comments come flying my way (I realize what I am about to say seems pretty far fetched), Does a deal centered around Manny Ramirez for Cliff Lee sound reasonable at the trade deadline?

Cliff Lee has made it known he wants to try free agency. Would it be worth it to the Mariners to attempt to get some value back?

Just a hunch but I really believe that our rotation will be just fine barring any injuries. My big sleeper canidate that will be a pleasant surprise is Carlos Monasterios! Logan White always has his magic wand and I really think Carlos is the next rabbit of out the hat, ala Belisario of last season.

I think it depends on how the M's are doing and if they are in the Al West race. The thing is Manny isn't the #1 go to guy, but he is still a BIG part of the success of this team. So at this point I'm standing pat!

To me, this has a ZERO % chance of happening. Plus i dont think we'll need him..
train

Yeah, I don't think it'll happen either. But I also think Monastarios will be a pleasant surprise this ST. It will be an interesting ST with all the pitcher's competing for a spot in the rotation. As well as 2B.

THIS

Plenty of descions to make Mr. Torre.

Yes Mr. Torre - so many decisions to make!

Yes Mr. Torre - so many decisions to make! [/quote]


That's one of the reasons we have spring training.

That's one of the reasons we have spring training. [/quote]
please God, dont ask me to make a decision, and next, dont ask Torre....
train

I'm sure glad the it's Joe Torre pulling the strings and not Grady Little!! I could see it now our starting infield would be Mark Sweeney, Jeff Kent, and Nomar! Yikes

I think it depends on how the M's are doing and if they are in the Al West race. The thing is Manny isn't the #1 go to guy, but he is still a BIG part of the success of this team. So at this point I'm standing pat![/quote]

To me, this has a ZERO % chance of happening. Plus i dont think we'll need him..
train[/quote]

Yeah, I don't think it'll happen either. But I also think Monastarios will be a pleasant surprise this ST. It will be an interesting ST with all the pitcher's competing for a spot in the rotation. As well as 2B.[/quote]

He will get every opportunity to prove his status. Any footage anywhere of him?

To me, this has a ZERO % chance of happening. Plus i dont think we'll need him..
train[/quote]

Yeah, I don't think it'll happen either. But I also think Monastarios will be a pleasant surprise this ST. It will be an interesting ST with all the pitcher's competing for a spot in the rotation. As well as 2B.[/quote]

He will get every opportunity to prove his status. Any footage anywhere of him?[/quote]

i'm waiting for kensai, at memoriesofkevinmalone, he has said that he will soon..
trrain