[PilotMan]

1989 Opening Day Roster


Starting Rotation


Frank Viola (12-12, 3.16 with the Twins)
Bryn Smith (16-13, 3.67)
Ken Howell (6-3, 2.98)
Kelly Downs (17-10, 3.55)
Jim Beattie (5-8, 4.70)


We said goodbye to El Toro, and bring in Sweet Music, Frank Viola, the Twins ace starter. This is an upgrade on paper. Viola is a southpaw and standard 3 pitch starter with above average movement on his pitches. He throws everything for strikes. He's thrown over 200 innings each of his 7 pro seasons. Ken Howell gets promoted to the rotation, and we hope that Smith and Downs can keep throwing well. Jim Beattie holds down the 5 spot, but Frank Tanana is a week from heading back to the team where he should lock down one of those spots.


Bullpen


Joe Price (0-2, 5.14 with the Twins)
John Denny (5-3, 3S, 3.64)
Brian Holton (2-0, 7.71)


Frank DiPino (3-4, 2.56)
Lee Smith (6-7, 33S, 4.50 with the Red Sox)


John Franco (3-5, 32S, 2.06)


One of the more balanced bullpens in recent years. We boast 3 lefties, a long guy in Denny, who can also spot start. A lefty and righty set up guy, and a guy in Smith, who can lock games down, just like Franco. Will the new manager be able to utilize these guys the right way? I think that's a big question. Brian Holton, after a long time in the minors gets the call up. I really hope he's better than he's been.


Catcher
Mike Scioscia (.280/1/16)
BJ Surhoff (.240/0/10)


Injuries to both of these guys cost them last season. It would have been Surhoff's chance to start, but he's lost the regular job to Scioscia again. He does expect to get a couple starts in a week though, in a rotation to keep the frequently injured Scioscia on the field more.


First Base
Pedro Guerrero (.298/7/46 with the Phillies)
Pete O'Brien (.262/16/85)


Guerrero has had some severe injury problems the last few years, but when he's healthy he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Coming up on 33, he isn't getting any younger, and he's a liability in field, but the team really needs his bat. O'Brien was ok, but less output than the team should expect for a first basemen. He's not happy about losing his starting role.


Second Base
Marty Barrett (.320/1/82 with the Red Sox)
Chuck Jackson (.224/0/5)


Barrett takes over for Caminiti at second base. He's pretty average in the field, but he is a career .300 hitter in 6 years starting for the Red Sox. He hasn't made an All Star game but he's bonafide. Jackson is the only backup. Jackson plays every base except first and catcher. Look for him to get plenty of playing time all over.


Third Base
Ken Caminiti (.294/8/50)
Mike Schmidt (.235/18/62)


The future Hall of Famer still feels like he can start, and even though he'd like to move to first, there isn't a home for him right now. Caminiti was a surprise last year and his fielding in a new position was solid. He could still move to 2^nd if he needed. Schmidt and his 512 career homers will have to be patient if he wants to play.


Shortstop
Dick Schofield (.268/9/63 with the Angels)
Jackson


Schofield is no defensive wizard like Ozzie, but he does have a gold glove, he's a lot younger, he hits better and he is just as fast. Jackson will back him up here. The team doesn't really have any options after that. Roy Smalley is gone, so someone from the outside or minors would have to come up.


Left Field
Rickey Henderson (.250/10/59)


One of the most electric and polarizing players in baseball. He shocked us when he exercised his option to stay for 3 more years. Half the clubhouse hates him. His numbers were good until he suffered a couple injuries. He needs to be the man in the outfield and the spark of this offense.


Center Field
Juan Samuel (.271/12/60 with the Phillies)
Doug Jennings (.263/0/6)


Von Hayes got hurt in spring training and is expected to miss up to the first 2 months of the season. As a result the team went out and added the Phillies speedy CF/2B. Samuel hasn't been as good as Hayes, but he's been a steady 3.8 WAR over the last 5 years. Jennings makes the team for the first time ever. He showed some progress in his development in the spring with a great eye, and good gap power. He backs up all the OF positions and can play at first.


Right Field
Pete Incaviglia (.253/11/49)
Dwayne Murphy (.167/1/5)


Inky gets his old job back with Winfied moving on. He had a pretty bad year last year, compared to his rookie campaign, so the hope is that he finds his old groove again. We need that power stroke in the lineup. There are not enough big bats in this lineup without him. Dwayne Murphy should have been cut. I think the only reason he is here, is because we have to pay him. He can still get the ball over the fence. He can also play all 3 outfield spots.


Injured Band Brigade


Von Hayes (.274/24/70)


Last years team MVP. Hayes went 20/20, and is always a hard out. Sadly, he's not the kind of player that can carry the team, but he is a good fielder. Look for him to get back close to the end of May.


Frank Tanana (9-6, 2.73)


It was a shock to lose him last year, and the staff really suffered. He had been the ace of the staff prior to tearing his UCL in his elbow. He is 13 wins away from his 200^th career win. He should kick Beattie out of the rotation when he comes back. Let's hope he can be effective again. He is due back within 10 days.


Armando Moreno (.132/1/9 with the Cardinals)


The Dodgers Rule 5 pick this year. Moreno is a utility player, who would need to stay on the roster all year or go back to the Cards. He broke his hand last year and needed surgery. He was once included in a trade that sent Nolan Ryan to the Expos. He'll be competing with Chuck Jackson for that roster spot.


Down on the Farm


OF Lee Stevens (#1, #34 MLB, 1^st Round, 17^th overall, '85)
The Dodgers top prospect came over last year in the Reds trade. Last year, he was voted the MVP for the AA league playing with San Antonio. He hit .340 with 20 HR's and 65 RBI's in 97 games. Stevens got his first ML experience last year, batting .355 with 3 HR's in 18 games for the Dodgers. He's very close to making the big league club.


OF Bill Masse (#2, #66 MLB, 1^st Round Supp, 38^th overall, '88)
LA's first round pick this year starts the year in Albuquerque playing LF for the Dukes. He's an average fielder with good range. He's fast on the bases. He has a good batting eye, but isn't known for his power or contact ability. Could be a good gap hitter, with occasional power and good average.


OF Michael House (#3, #153 MLB, 3^rd Round, 101^st overall, '88)
House starts the year off in AA San Antonio. His best position is first, but he's playing center for the Missions. He's got some pop, zero speed, and swings at everything. Doesn't really grade out to be much of anything, but he could add some power.


IF Dave Rohde (#4, #189 MLB, 4^th Round, 112^th overall, '85)
Rohde was signed by the club in the offseason. He was originally drafted by the Twins, but has subsequently played for 6 different clubs now. He has played sparingly over the years, with 23 game played between A and rookie ball. He's approaching his 25^th birthday, with not much to show. He'll start the year in AAA Albuquerque playing short. He has a good decent eye, is fast on the bases, but is a below average fielder and hitter.


Not Quite Ready for Prime Time


Stevens, Of Course


1B Darcy Walker
A 14^th round pick in '82, Walker has lived his whole career in the LA farm system. His last 2 have been in AAA, and last year was his best yet. He batted .316 with 11 HR and 83 RBI for the Dukes. LA is pretty fat at first so his chances are not looking good. He's 27 and his window of opportunity is fading.


OF Greg Clark
Clark should have changed his name to Walker, because he gets on base at mythical levels. His OBP in AAA, is over .400 and he has averaged over 125 walks per year in about 135 games. Below average in the field and swinging the bat, if he gets on he's a threat to steal, averaging about 38 for the last 3 years. He is nearly 30 though, has never broken into the majors and never been anywhere else but the Dodgers farm system.


P Bob Patterson
A lefty with good control. He could make the jump to fill in if one of the current lefties goes south. A former Padre, Patterson spent all of last year in AAA where he had a 2.95 ERA in 58 innings of work.


Preseason Outlook


The rags have us picked to finish 2^nd in the NL West, a distant 20 games behind the Astros. That doesn't bode well for post season hopes. The defending champs are loaded and should be looking to repeat. Their pitching is top shelf and their hitting isn't bad either. In the AL look for both the Mariners and Angels again to be grinding away at the top. The AL West is much stronger, with the Yankees looking like the top team over in the East. The Mets are the best in the NL East this preseason, however they may have dropped some as injuries have really taken their toll on that team.


IT'S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!