[PilotMan]

1987 Opening Day Roster


Starting Rotation
Fernando Valenzuela (17-10, 3.00)
Rick Rhoden (23-6, 2.49)
Frank Tanana (14-7, 3.48)
Kelly Downs (9-7, 3.28)
John Denny (17-8, 3.03)


Same 5 guys for 1987, as we had for almost all of 1986. Every one of them had a good year last year, and it's setting up expectations for good years from all of them this year.


Bullpen
Ken Howell (4-5, 7S, 2.77)
Alejandro Pena (2-0, 1S, 3.06)
Brian Holton (4-3, 9S, 5.43 in AAA, Albuquerque)


Tom Niedenfuer (5-9, 4S, 2.45)
Don Robinson (6-8, 23S, 3.92 for Atlanta)


John Franco (5-7, 32S, 3.20)


The loss of Steve Howe to free agency caused a hole in the bullpen. Even though Howe was used sparingly last year, he was still very effective, and he was a lefty. The team has replaced him with Atlanta closer Don Robinson, who hasn't been nearly as effective over his career, and is a righty. Jim Beattie was lost for the season during spring training, and his roster spot was won by 27yr old rookie, Brian Holton. Holton has been bumping around the Dodgers system for 8 years. He started early on and then has moved to the pen. He was a Rule 5 pick by the Brewers once, but was returned to the team before the season started. Niedenfuer might have been promised a closer role to sign the extension he did, but he was promised that last year too. The team has 1 southpaw, Franco, that seems like a hole in the plan, at the moment.


Catcher
Mike Scioscia (.218/5/60)
BJ Surhoff (.246/0/7)


Scioscia still holds the position even though he had a bad year with the bat. He did win the Gold Glove, and his handling of the staff is great. Surhoff is still developing and will get some playing time, even though he wants his shot now. Scioscia still has 4 years left on his deal, so Surhoff will have to take it from him if he wants it.


First Base
Ray Knight (.281/5/25)
Larry Parrish (.257/3/13)


Sid Bream starts the year on the DL. He'll be out for a couple weeks longer, and in the meantime it'll be Knight that starts. Parrish is being handled so oddly. He's capable of so much more and yet he's relegated to this odd pinch hitter role. Why he signed a 2 year deal I'll never know.


Second Base
Steve Sax (.290/4/53)
Tom Brookens (.265/3/18)


Sax started a lot of games off right last year by getting on and using his speed to advance. His 43 steals lead the team, but he's not expected to lead this year. Defensively he could be better, but he's still average. Brookens will also back up at short and possibly third. He is very good defensively and a leader in the clubhouse. He won't win games with his bat, but he might with his glove.


Shortstop
Tony Phillips (.239/8/46)
Roy Smalley (.202/5/29)


Phillips won't hurt you in the field, but again, he's not an offensive weapon either. Clearly an area that the team could upgrade, but they are hindered by the awful contract that Roy Smalley has. He still has 2 years remaining on a 6 year deal where he is making as much as Fred Lynn. He's not anywhere near the production that he was back in the day and his contract has wasted a lot of money. At 34, he's not getting any younger either.


Left Field
Fred Lynn (.263/20/56)
Ron Kittle (.266/6/11)


Stubbs was traded and with the new face in center, Lynn slides to left to start now. He's 35, so this is a better move for him anyway. He was hurt too much last season and many of his HR's came with the bases empty. The team will be hoping he can bounce back to his '84-'85 form with the Royals. Kittle hangs on and remains a bench player. He's a big bat off the bench that can clear the bases with 1 swing, but he struggles with pitch recognition and strikes out a lot. He has 15 HR's in the last 3 years, when he had 14 with LA back in '83, the year he got here. Last year was the least playing time he's had. With the team only carrying 5 OF's right now, and Stubbs and Marshall gone, he should get more.


Center Field
Ricky Henderson (.299/15/62)
Dwayne Murphy (.243/6/23)


The former Oakland A's teammates are reunited in LA, but this time, not playing together. Henderson is fully locked into center. He might be the best leadoff hitter in baseball, and his speed and defense make him a challenger to the best player on the team. There is certainly a lot of excitement this year to see what he can do with this Dodger team that is packed with power, and who last season, really suffered from not having guys get on base enough. Henderson will do just that. Murphy is a capable backup for him, who will also back up right field too.


Right Field
Pete Incaviglia (.313/8/23)


Last years first round pick made his way to the majors and had a big impact on the club. So much so that they parted ways with 2 of the teams slugging outfielders. Inky moves to right, and while his range isn't great, his arm is outstanding. He's got big power and will be featured in the middle of the lineup. Only in his 2^nd season though, the questions will remain. If he gets hurt of fails to perform Murphy will take his place. It's a gamble for such a young player, but the team really liked what they saw.


The close but not quite brigade


RP Charlie Kerfeld (0-1, 2.84)


Called up last season he pitched sparingly. The team didn't feel confident enough with his stuff and signed Robinson. He was bypassed by Holton when Beattie went down. He starts the year in AAA and is probably the first call up for the pen if they need it.


OF Tom Beyers (.361/12/81 in AAA)
Beyers made the team for the first time last fall after a really good year in AAA. With Stubbs, Marshall and Brewer gone his prospects are good if something happens to anyone right now. He has to be the first choice guy to move up. He's nearly 29 though, and his might be the last chance he has to prove himself.


LHP Rich Rodas (1-2, 4.60 in AAA)
LHP Ricky Wright (0-3, 5.83 in AAA)
LHP Shayne Hammond (2-0, 2S, 2.61 in AAA)


These are the guys who might get called up if the team needs another lefty in the pen. None of them are high prospects. Hammond started last year in AA. Wright was last with the team in '84. Since then he hasn't been able to get it together enough to get called back. Things could get interesting if one of these guys needs to be depended on.


Down on the Farm


Overall, LA's farm system ranks 24^th out of 26 teams. That's awful. We have 1 prospect in the top 100. LA is the worst in the NL and only ahead of the Royals and Yankees. On the flip side the Braves have the #1, with 5 guys in the top 20. If you're curious those prospects are Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Allan Anderson, Tom Glavine and Ramon Martinez.


Here are the LA's top prospects.


#1 OF Paul Sorrento – Former first round pick in 1985 - Started last season in rookie ball and moved up to AA by the end of the season. Most of his time was in A ball where he batted .328/.440/.473 with 6 HR's and 28 RBI's. A bit of a free swinger, he has good power potential, but limited speed. Starts the year in AA.


#2 P Butch Henry – First round pick 1986 – Starts the year in rookie ball. Only 18, will take time to develop. High 80's fastball, with good movement. Throws 4 pitches, but the sinker is his best. Arm problems might be an issue.


#3 OF Doug Jennings – First round pick 1983 – Have gradually moved up from rookie ball to AAA. Spent last year in AA, where he had his best year so far. Was the All Star, Gold Glove (CF) and MVP of the Texas League. Batted .324/.423/.499 with 12 HR's and 78 RBI's. Also stole 24 bases. Free swinger, but also draws fair number of walks. Ok in the field and decent speed. Should develop more power.


#4 IF/OF Chuck Jackson – First round pick 1983 – Cracked the ML club late last year after playing AAA for the whole year. Batted .298/.390/.419 with 10 HR's and 63 RBI's. Also stole 38 bases. Was selected to the PCL All Star Game. A good fielder, can play multiple positions. Good eye, more gap power than fence power. Starts the year in AAA.


#5 P Scott Scudder - 2^nd round pick 1986 – 19 years old, starts the year in rookie ball. Low 90's fastball, coupled with a heavy sinker. Gets good movement on his pitches, but struggles with control. Big frame with good mechanics should be able to hold up to heavy use.


And with that we're done. Are you ready....for Dodgers baseball!?!?!