The Dodgers Coaching Staff

Almost the whole Dodgers coaching staff is returning from last season, whether its in the same roles or in new roles, but the fact that their whole staff is returning its a huge plus. The reason its a huge plus because the players know these coaches and are pretty comfortable with them. If there were an entirely new coaching staff, it would take the Dodgers longer to get comfortable with the whole staff.

Don Mattingly is returning for his third season as a manager and he is due up for an extension after this season. He is a players coach and that is what I would like to have in a manager. Someone, who would listen to their players and what they have to say and the manager would do their best to make and keep the player happy. I believe that Mattingly should the Dodgers Manager for years to come because I like his coaching style and he has a strong voice in the clubhouse or the locker room. He has played in the major leagues before, so he understands what the players want.

Rick Honeycutt, I have to say that he is one of a few very important pieces of this Dodgers coaching staff because he's the pitching coach, the Dodgers have placed in the top 5 every year in pitching ERA (earned run average). Meaning that the lowest runs given without errors. I really like what Honeycutt has done with the pitching that the Dodgers have. He helped Kershaw become the ace of the pitching staff the bullpen has held it together throughout the long season. I expect the Dodgers to be really dangerous in pitching this year and placing in the top 5 again because they have a solid veteran bullpen and an All Star rotation.

There are three new additions to the coaching staff. Mark McGwire will be joining the Dodgers as the new hitting coach after spending his last three seasons serving the same position with the St. Louis Cardinals. McGwire will be the most important piece, along with Honeycutt, this year as the Dodgers prepare themselves for a run to the World Series. Good offense will create good pitching, but great offense will create fantastic pitching. Pitching and hitting coaches go hand in hand. McGwire will have an assistant hitting coach in John Valentin. Valentin was promoted from within the Dodgers organization in the minor leagues. Chuck Crim was also promoted from the minor leagues in the organization and will be become the new bullpen coach. I believe these were very good hirings for the Dodgers because these guys know how to do their jobs so well. So I expected the Dodgers to be in the top 5 in offense and pitching this year.

I like the McGwire hiring a lot because he has lead his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals as hitting coach, to the top five in the offense category. McGwire brings his wisdom to LA and will hope to duplicate his success.

I expect this season to be a fun season to watch for pitching and offense because there is an all star rotation and a very deep bullpen. I expected to see the offense transform under McGwire into offense giant. When the pitching staff pitch well, good things will happen for the Dodgers. This coaching staff is the key because they have to make sure to put the right players on the field, especially in the later innings. That is what I believe will make the Dodgers successful.

The Dodgers' Bullpen

Coming into this spring training, the Dodgers have made the bullpen stronger and I was very happy with the moves that they made to improve the bullpen. They brought back closer Brandon League with a new contract for three years for $21 million. They also added left hand pitcher J.P. Howell, which I believe is a very good signing for the Dodgers because with the loss of Randy Choate to free agency, it was really needed with current Dodger, Scott Elbert, who had arm surgery and is expected to be out until May.

All the pitchers that are returning are setup man Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, Matt Guerrier and Steven "Paco" Rodriguez. Chris Capuano or Aaron Harang or Ted Lilly or Chad Billingsley will all be battling for spots in both the starting rotation and the bullpen.

I expect Chris Capuano to make the team in the bullpen and Ted Lilly to start the season on the Disabled List (DL). Capuano over the other candidates because he carries a unique talent that the other pitchers don't have, throwing left handed. Lilly is staying on because he has a contract with the team. Billingsley will in the starting rotation. That leaves Harang left and he will be traded.

There are non-roster invites such as Peter Moylan, Mark Lowe and Kevin Gregg who are all vying for the last two bullpen spots. They will also have to compete with the pitchers who lose out on the starting rotation spot. I believe it will be Mark Lowe or Peter Moylan that will compete for the last spot because Lowe has the playoff experience that can be important to the Dodgers' playoff success. Moylan is a hard throwing, flaming pitcher that could be useful on the team, but I believe that his arm could blow out easily, considering that he is coming off a serious shoulder surgery. Since they are non-roster players means it is a strong chance they do not make the team. The odds are against them with a 50-50 percent chance.

The Dodgers Bench

The Dodgers had one of the most dependable benches in the league last season and I expect this year's bench to be the most dependable bench again. Considering the amount players that can play multiple positions.

The competition for the backup roles on the bench will one of the things on list to keep an eye on because some of the spots are not guaranteed and some non-roster players might play really well during spring training.

I expect utility men, Jerry Hairston Jr., Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker to all make the team, Juan Uribe is going to need a really strong spring training to prove that the Dodgers should keep him for one more season. Uribe, originally started off as a starting third basemen back in the 2012 season, but he has had two bad seasons due to injuries and just not being in shape. I believe that Uribe can be a serviceable bench player as a backup corner infielder, playing third and first base.

The competition that I am most interested in is who wins the backup catcher, Tim Fedorowicz or non-roster invites Jesus Flores or Ramon Castro. I believe that Fedorowicz can win the job because the Dodgers management have plans for him to be the starting catcher of the future. Fedorowicz will get strong competition from Flores and Castro. Castro is a longtime major league veteran and has a very long career as a backup catcher. So I believe that the race for the back up catcher will between Fedorowicz, Flores and Castro. My opinion though is that Fedorowicz will win the job, but its in the air because everyone can have good or bad days

Schumaker is expected to play backup outfielder and second base, but he has the ability to play all outfielder positions as well. Hairston will be backing the corner outfielders and third base. He can also play second, shortstop and maybe first base. Punto is one of my favorite bench players on the Dodgers, I believe that he will play second base and third base. I think Punto is learning to play first base this spring, along with Hairston, Uribe and maybe one of the backup catchers.

The Dodgers Infield

It has been ages since the infield is filled with extraordinary talent with the likes of Steve Garvey at first base, Davy Lopes manning second base, Bill Russell at shortstop and Ron Cey in the hot corner at third base. This year, the Dodgers are half way there, with Adrian Gonzalez taking over first base, Mark Ellis playing second base, Hanley Ramirez playing shortstop and Luis Cruz taking control of the hot corner at third base. I consider the catcher a part of the infield, but it gets the least recognition of being the infield. A.J. Ellis will be controlling the plate and taking care of the pitching staff.

I am so happy that first base has a legitimate defender/power hitter in Gonzalez at first base. Gonzalez came over in a monster trade from Boston that brought himself, pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford, and utility man Nick Punto last season. My expectations for Gonzalez is that he will bring in at least 90 runs and also hit at least 25 home runs. That is the expectations that everyone expects out of a first baseman. Gonzalez is entering his prime years, so I expect him to produce very well and I believe in him that he will representing the Dodgers and Los Angeles fans at this year's All Star game.

Mark Ellis is a defensive wizard, I expect him to play his role on the team really well. I expect Ellis to get a lot of good pitches because he has Crawford in the 2nd spot, with outfielder Matt Kemp in the 3rd spot, Gonzalez in the cleanup or fourth spot, outfielder Andre Ethier in the fifth spot and Ramirez in the sixth spot. The players batting behind Ellis are very dangerous hitters to face. I am expecting Ellis to play really well this season.

Ramirez, I have a lot of concerns with him playing at shortstop because he couldn't get to play shortstop in winter ball because of a shoulder injury, but this guy is so athletic that I wouldn't be surprise if he plays really well at shortstop during the season. The other concern is that he is one of those players that you have to keep in check and make sure he is happy in Los Angeles because otherwise his play on the field will start to affect him and he will become unhappy.

Cruz was surprise last year, getting the starting job at third base. His defense was stellar and he hit a .290 batting average. Cruz is a fan favorite at Dodgers Stadium, count me as one of them, so I expect Cruz to keep up the good work and hustle. I think he is eager to prove that he belongs in the big leagues and he won't waste the opportunity to stay in the big leagues. I believe Cruz will be the starting third baseman on Opening Day with a good spring.

A.J. Ellis plays catcher, like Cruz, was also a surprise last season, especially at the plate. It was expected of Ellis to play good defense and control the pitching staff, but no one expected him to have that good of a season on offense.

This infield will exciting to watch, especially at the plate on offense because there is so much talent on the field that I believe that it will be unbelievable. I believe that Gonzalez and Ramirez will have all star caliber season and Cruz will be cruzzing (see what I did there?) through with another outstanding season and Mark Ellis will start off the offense with getting base A LOT. I think that the pitching staff will have a fun and more relaxing time pitching this season.

The Starting Rotation

The Dodgers are coming into Spring Training with pitchers anxious to get started and are looking forward to great pitching season.

Back in 2011, Clayton Kershaw won the Cy Young award. He is coming off a down year, yet he came in second to former pitcher, R.A. Dickey, in the Cy Young award race. The only reason it was a down year because the team offense couldn't produce enough run support. He will be this year's Opening Day starter for the third consecutive year in a row.

Zack Greinke, who just signed with the Dodgers this offseason on a six year deal, $147 million, will the team's number two starter behind Kershaw. Greinke is a former Cy Young winner with the Kansas City Royals. Greinke won't have to play the role of being a ace, which had done with every other team he has played with.

I am very excited for the first two pitchers, it is possible that the Dodgers might have the best 1-2 punch duo in Kershaw and Greinke. The fact that the two pitchers both are former Cy Young winners makes very excited because we haven't had that in Los Angeles since the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era and that was a LONG time ago. I believe Greinke, who is a new addition to the team, will fit well because Dodgers stadium is a pitchers ball park. That is why Kershaw has done very well with the Dodgers.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, the 6-2", 215 pounder left handed pitcher, came from Korea to sign with the Dodgers during the offseason. The Dodgers won a bid to talk to Ryu for $24.1 million, then signed him to a 6 year deal for $36 million. Ryu will be slotted into the 3rd spot in the starting rotation behind Kershaw and Greinke. Ryu, to me is a very interesting player to watch, considering that he is coming over from Korea, I know nothing about him except that he was the best pitcher from all of Korea. I believe he will do well at Dodgers stadium as well as Kershaw and Greinke. Ryu, like Carl Crawford, who hasn't played a single game yet in Dodgers uniform, are going to be very exciting to watch and see them playing well with success for the Dodgers.

The final two spots in the starting rotation will be up for grabs. The competition consist of Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang and Ted Lilly. Billingsley and Beckett are favorites to take the last two spots coming in, but anything can happen considering Billingsley's arm might fall off and have tommy john surgery. Beckett came to the Dodgers in a trade from Boston last August and pitched well in the last two months of the season. Capuano and Harang both signed with the Dodgers last year and performed what the management expected of them. I expect Beckett and Billingsley to win the last two spots.

The Dodgers' Outfield

Although the Dodgers starting outfielders have big resumes, but there are still a few questions regarding, the players who are coming off serious injuries. Outfielders Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp, both had serious shoulder injuries last season that required surgeries. Andre Ethier was healthy all last season.

Crawford had Tommy John surgery, usually required by pitchers, when he was with the Boston Red Sox. Three days later, he was a part of a monster trade that sent him to Los Angeles, along with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, starting pitcher Josh Beckett, and utility man, Nick Punto. After getting the Tommy John surgery, pitchers would have to sit a year for the surgery to heal, but in Crawford's case, it was a different story. He would sit out only 6-8 months for his arm to heal since he is an outfielder. Crawford should be able to bat in the 2nd spot and man the left field for the Dodgers, come Opening Day.

Crawford is one of the few players that I am excited about because just two years ago, he was the most coveted player in free agency. After being in Boston for two toxic years, I believe he will get a fresh start here in Los Angeles because he is a better environment, he is on a team that is in playoff contention and he won't be relied on too heavily. I am rooting for this guy to do well in Los Angeles. If plays like he did back in his Tampa Bay Rays' days, the Dodgers outfield could really exciting and dangerous to watch. This would be bad news for other teams.

Kemp, who is also coming off serious shoulder surgery, is on track to start on opening day in center field. Kemp who was 2nd place in the MVP race two years ago, is expected to be one of the leaders in the star-studded clubhouse and is also the face of the franchise. Kemp, a year ago, only help and protection in the lineup was right fielder Andre Ethier. Now, coming into spring training, he is going to have a lot of help in the batting order. Crawford, Ethier, Gonzalez, and shortstop Hanley Ramirez will be protecting Kemp. Kemp will be batting cleanup or the fourth spot and playing in center field on Opening Day.

Kemp is one of the few players that I have faith that will start the season on fire and he could be a early candidate in the MVP race. He is a very special player that has the ability to do everything, playing solid defense, hitting home runs, steal bases, getting extra base hits (meaning hitting doubles) and throwing players out from center field to home plate. He is so athletic that it's so exciting to watch. I am very glad he signed a big extension to remain with the Dodgers for the next 6-7 years.

The last outfielder of the three is Ethier. Both Ethier and Kemp have played together through the smooth and rough times. Now this spring, Ethier should be able to relax more often with the heavy workload being split up between Crawford, Ethier, Kemp, Gonzalez and Ramirez.My only concern for Ethier is can he still hit left-handed pitchers. I hope he will work with new hitting coach, Mark McGuire. Ethier is starting his first year of his most recent extension which is for 5 years for $80 million. Ethier should be batting fifth in the lineup and playing right field on Opening Day. If he can improve his hitting against left-handed pitching, then the opposing pitchers will have a lot of fear facing these outfielders in the lineup every night.

LA Dodgers Report to Spring Training in a Couple of Days!

Today is a preview of what the situation the Dodgers will be heading into spring training. For the next couple weeks, I will be focusing more on the Dodgers roster, breaking down the roster competition, who should make the team, the injuries and etc.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to spring training at Camelback Ranch in Arizona in a couple of days. This spring training is going to be a important one for the Dodgers. Coming into spring training with new ownership and completely whole new team. The expectations for the Dodgers are very high.

Ned Colletti, the Dodgers general manager, was able to get big name players during the last two months, acquiring the likes of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, shortstop/third baseman Hanley Ramirez, starting pitcher Josh Beckett, reliever Brandon League, and outfielders Shane Victorino and Carl Crawford. During the offseason, Colletti's biggest splash was the signing of starting pitcher Zack Greinke to a 6 year deal for about $146 million.

All these moves that Colletti has made since the trade deadline in July has made me a very happy man because in the previous ownership, (long story short, old owner took money from the team) there was not enough money to get star players or the ability to make big trades. All the big name players that came to Los Angeles in the past few months has me excited for this 2013 season because the expectations are high, but not hard to achieve. The players just have to be themselves.

With a new team in place, the Dodgers will need this spring training to get to know each other, but that will be a tough one to work with considering that some of the star players will be playing in March at the World Baseball Classic. Gonzalez and third baseman Luis Cruz, a surprise gem in last year's season will be playing for Mexico, Ramirez with Dominican Republic, Relief pitchers Ronald Belisario and Steven "Paco" Rodriguez Belisario withe Venezuela and Rodriguez with Spain, and Utility man Nick Punto with Italy. New starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu, whom the Dodgers also signed this offseason from Korea, will not participate in the Classic with Korea. Along with ace Clayton Kershaw and Greinke for USA.

I am excited to see what Crawford brings to Dodgers, I am hoping for the all star player that he was back with the Tampa Bay Rays, his first team. I am confident that Kemp will be back to his all star form because he is very motivated to get back on the field to play the game that he loves. The only question I am concerned with is that Kemp is being too cautious his body because his goal is to be healthy for season.