[PilotMan]

The 1993 Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Roster


A promising off season and the hope of a team looking to continue moving toward .500 baseball. The Dodgers finished the off season #11 out of 28 teams in change of WAR. The team also is still ranked as the #1 Farm System in baseball. They have the #3, #5, #11 and 7 overall players ranked in the top 100 in the MLB. Here's the rundown of who we have this season.


Pitchers

1. Don Robinson – At 35, Robinson threw over 200 innings last year and came back on an arbitration deal. He's average at best, with average skills and average pitches.

2. Rene Arocha – Now 27, his rookie year could've gone better, but he should still be able to eat some innings and keep games close-ish.

3. Pat Rapp – 25, posted replacement level stats last season and an ERA just below 5. An improvement would be nice. Plans to eat more innings this year.

4. Peter Chapin – 34, In his 4^th season pitching for LA, was the only pitcher with a winning record last year. Posted his best season since 1985 with his 104 ERA+.

5. Chris Holt – 21, one of LA's best pitching prospects split time between AA, AAA, and LA last year. Holt was a first round pick, flashes good control and a solid curve.

RP Bobby Castillo – 37, the LA native comes home on a minor league deal and makes the team. We haven't seen him since '81. He's pitched for 8 teams since then. Posted a 6.53 ERA for the Pirates and Cubs last season.

RP Scott Baker – 29, somewhat reliable, he will hit 98 on the gun and flashes a plus fastball. Still not much more than replacement level numbers however.

RP Edward Lindsey – 33, the 2-time All Star starter has struggled with major injuries the past few years and has been reduced to a spot starter and pen addition. He missed all of last season and only pitched 46 innings this decade. He could be reliable, or not.

RP Todd Worrell – 33, a former All Star, he arrived on an ultra cheap one year deal. Put up career worst numbers last year for Atlanta, but still threw 48 games. His stuff is above average if he can rebound he'll be worth it.

SU – Sergio Del Rosario – 27,. has electric stuff, and a plus plus fastball. Can his 102 on the gun. Injury prone to the max. Limited to 23 games last season. Could close.

SU – Jose Cleto – 24, even more electric stuff, and an even better fastball with a plus change. Can hit 100 on the gun. Is a power pitcher who could close. Injuries limited him to 20 games last year including time in Texas prior to trade.

CL – Bob Patterson – 33, career best numbers last year in saves and ERA. Uses a plus fastball, with good control to set batters up. Fastball registers upper 80's. Lefty who can shut down lefties.


Catchers

Rick Wilkins – 25, young, but looks to have the position locked down for the near future. Needs to improve on his .642 OPS. No other glaring weaknesses, or plusses.

Hector Villanueva – 28, makes over 5 times what Wilkins does to play backup. He's a solid backup, decent defensively, and occasionally hits it out of the park. Posted a higher WAR in 61 games than Wilkins did for the whole season.

First Base

Fred McGriff – 29, He's never won a gold glove, but is always a threat at the plate. The biggest offense weapon in LA since Fred Lynn. Will help fill the seats too as he is very popular.


Second Base

Geronimo Pena – 26, Missed over 50 games last year with injuries. An average fielder with good range. Has plus plus speed and an average bat.


Shortstop

Rick Parker – 30, more of a utility guy. Missed most of last year injured, but hit over .300 in AAA. Rule 5 pickup, looks to start for now. Probably a liability with the bat, but posseses good speed.


Third Base

Steve Buechele – 31, singed on a minor league deal. Was a starter in KC last year. Hit 14 HR's. Committed only 9 errors last year with a +5.9 ZR. Could play 2B. Average everywhere else. Could be an upgrade over Caminiti.


Scott Coolbaugh – 26, will cover first and short too. A big swing and hit or miss kind of guy. Average in the field. Has yet to see major success beyond a reserve role.


Dave Hansen – 24, used as a pinch hitter all season last year, he doesn't figure anywhere else on the depth chart. Good eye to make a pitcher work, average in the field, but a below average contact hitter.


Outfield


Rickey Henderson – 34, the vet on the squad and team MVP last year. Should benefit greatly from McGriff. Plus Plus speed, and a great eye. Makes solid contact with occasional power. Tends to be a clubhouse distraction however.

Lee Stevens – 25, the odd man out after McGriff came. Looks to be a primary backup at first, and all 3 outfield positions. An improved and solid defender, hit 44 doubles last year and is still developing his power.

Darren Lewis – 25, plus plus speed that can rival Henderson's. He's a very good defender covering the most space of anyone else. His numbers dropped some last year, but he's still got a good eye, and makes decent contact.

Carl Everett – 21, made a big splash after his call up, missed time with injuries however. Plus plus speed, can play all three outfield positions. Still a bit of an unknown with the bat. Has good potential, but for now it's unfulfilled.

Darryl Boston – 30, one of the few guys making over a million a season, he had a massive drop in performance and production. Still has above average speed, and average power, his defense isn't up to par, and his impatience at the plate can cost him.


Who's Out


P Joe Grahe – 25, Grahe suffered yet another major arm injury in spring training and won't be back until the fall.


P Lyle Swepson – 27, couldn't break in with the new arms, and despite being a reliable arm last year. If he clears waivers he could be back sometime this year.


P David Peck – 31, another heavily used guy from last year who didn't make it. Mostly a filler role here and there, may find it difficult to continue his Major League career in LA if he clears waivers.


2B Dave Rhode – 28, didn't make the main club and has more competition for the utility role than previous years. Rhode could get the call back. Only played 11 games last year, and you'd have to think it might be even less this year.


Who's In the Minors


3B Mike Busch – 24, A corner infielder who flashes a big bat. The acquisition of McGriff makes his ML tenure in LA unlikely. He could be called on if injuries mount.


1B Mike Marshall – 33, Last ML at bat was in '91. Plays the same as Stevens, but with less of everything. Still trying to keep the dream alive.


OF Jesse Barfield – 33, Just like Marshall, he still wants that shot. Hit 21 HR's in Albuquerque last year. Still has a cannon arm and good defense. You never know with this guy.


P Andy Pettitte – 20, pitched enough innings last year to get off the top prospects list. Somehow didn't make the ML team, despite being the most talented pitcher in the organization. Doesn't figure to be in the minors long.


P Matt Young – 34, Has 99 career wins, could fill in as a left/spot starter. Has good life on his fastball. Threw only 28 innings last season. Recently recovered from a partially torn UCL.


P Tom Bolton – 30, a Red Sox staple, signed a minor league deal this offseason. Not a starter any longer, this lefty should see action if someone like Lindsey can't stay healthy.


P Tony McKinney – 27, used a lot last season he starts the year in the minors. His stuff may not be quite good enough, but he still has fair control and decent movement on his pitches. Boasts a career WAR of -1.7.


Down On the Farm – Top Prospects


OF Richard Hildalgo (#3 ML, #1 Team) – 17, looks like a possible, legit, 5-tool player. Hit .257/.362/.324 in rookie ball last season. Starts the year in Rookie once again.


OF Bobby Abreu (#5 ML, #2 Team) – 19, tore through A ball last season. Lead Bakersfield to the title, and was runner up for the California League MVP. Won the Silver Slugger in the California League AND in the Florida League for RF. Playing A ball again for now.


3B Scott Rolen (#11 ML, #3 Team) – 18, first round pick from this season, starts his career in Rookie ball.


P Chris Holt (#36 ML, #4 Team) – 21, former first rounder starts the year in the Majors. Rose up from AA last season. Pitched well in 3 ML appearances. Might stick or might give way to Pettitte sooner or later.


P Shawn Estes (#40 ML, #5 Team) – 20, former first rounder has struggled to make progress. Starts in Rookie again after posting a 5+ ERA there last season. High hopes still exist for this lefty.


C Raul Rodarte (#72 ML, #6 Team) – 22, former first rounder was a catching prospect, however, he is developing at all the infield positions and center too. A good eye, quick and moved up from A to AA last year.


OF Pedro Valdes (#82 MLB, #7 Team) – 19, another first rounder. Has spent 2 years in Rookie ball and starts there again. Has put up good numbers though, look for him to move up this year.


P Ismael Valdez (#96 MLB, #8 Team) – 19, former 2^nd round pick, played Rookie and Short A last year and starts the year in AA. Needs to work on his control, but possesses a solid curve among his 4 pitches.