[PilotMan]

1986 Opening Day Roster


Starting Rotation
L Fernando Valenzuela (18-6, 3.01)
R Rick Rhoden (19-13, 2.82)
R John Denny (13-15, 3.16)
L Frank Tanana (10-10, 4.32)
R Kelly Downs (0-0, 3.68)


The top 4 are exactly the same as last year and I think that it'll be good enough provided the offense can get going. Downs would be in the pen or the minors, if we hadn't lost Ripley. Blue might get the 5 spot when he comes back in a month. Have to say it's nice not seeing Jim Beattie in there.


Bullpen
R Jim Beattie (1-7, 5.38)
L Steve Howe (2-2, 1.78)
R Alejandro Pena (4-3, 1.45)


R Ken Howell (3-8, 4.14)
R Tom Niedenfeur (5-3, 2.28, 24S)


L John Franco (3-1, 1.89, 11S)


So the pen is pretty stacked right now. No new faces. John Franco gets the closer role, while there are other 4 guys, except Beattie, who can close too. The lack of another southpaw might cause an issue down the road.


Catcher
Mike Scioscia (.295/15/60)
BJ Surhoff (.339/2/32 in rookie, A and AA last year)

Scioscia is the no question starter and former first pick Surhoff makes the big jump up from AA, but actually he was in A ball most of last year. Scioscia is still a very good defensive asset, who is a decent contact hitter. Have to think that his power output was a bit of an anomaly last year, but his average was great. Surhoff has a great guy to learn behind.


First Base
Sid Bream (.259/16/63)
Ray Knight (.311/5/33)


Bream is just about as average a player as you'll ever find. He's solid, but unspectacular everywhere. So he isn't going to jack 30 homers, or 100 RBI's, but he steady defense and good all around skills are still an asset. Knight gives us a right handed option, that is solid on defense at first, and a below average hitter.


Second Base
Jim Morrison (.210/8/31)


Where the fuck is Sax? Oh yeah, the team optioned him back to Albuquerque to start the year. Seems like he must have pissed off someone to not get on the roster. Tony Phillips is hurt, and he can play 2^nd and pretty well too. How are we going to survive with Morrison as the mainstay at second? It's a poor option. Can't believe that Sax isn't here right now. This is a major downgrade from Randolph.


Third Base
Doug DeCinces (.251/21/68)
Graig Nettles (.229/10/26)
Larry Parrish (.240/24/67)


For some reason Parrish is stuck in the same place that Thornton was in. As in, he's got no place to play and he's treated like he's not even going to play. Larry Parrish, at 32, is the young guy. Seems like this isn't that big of an upgrade either. Parrish was traded for a couple of high draft picks and now he's on the outside looking in. It's not a good look.


Shortstop
Roy Smalley (.222/13/52)


Average defender, not getting any younger. Offense has dropped each of the last 2 years. Not sure if Phillips is going to displace him or Morrison when he comes back. The team is drastically overpaying for him and his contract is for another 2 years.


Left Field
Franklin Stubbs (.246/28/84)
Ron Kittle (.257/4/14)


Similar look to last year for left. Lots of power, but not much else in the way of regular hitting. Neither guy is very good in the field, but at least we can hide them in left. Kittle just isn't going to be the regular guy for us, so it's going to be up to Stubbs to stay hot.


Center Field
Fred Lynn (.314/26/80)
Dwayne Murphy (.260/6/20)


Lynn is a new face this year. He's over 34 now, but he can still hit. He's a bit of a weak spot defensively as he just can't cover the ground in center like he should. Murphy is a defensive wiz, but his swing doesn't look like it used to. He was limited to 49 games last year, and lost his job to Lynn in the offseason. He can't play any other positions.


Right Field
Mike Marshall (.240/27/104)


Marshall was the definition of our team last year. Good power, but really struggled to get on base regularly. His OBP was under .300, despite his power. He's a good defender with a strong arm and he's got a big bat. We'll need him hitting well in the cleanup spot this year if we're going to the playoffs.


That's our roster for the start of this year. Lots upon lots of questions. Good hitting, great bullpen, so-so rotation. The expectation of the playoffs. Let's see how it goes!


It's time for Dodgers baseball! 1986!