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2005 season preview
NL West
By Times Staff
Published April 3, 2005
San Diego Padres
2004: 87-75, 3rd.
MANAGER: Bruce Bochy.
PAYROLL: $65-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Woody Williams, CF Dave Roberts, LHP Chris Hammond, OF-INF Eric Young, RHP Rudy Seanez, LHP Dennys Reyes, OF Mark Sweeney, RHP Steve Sparks, INF Geoff Blum, 2B-SS Damian Jackson, 2B-SS Jesse Garcia, LHP Darrell May.
KEY LOSSES: LHP David Wells, OF Jay Payton, OF Terrence Long, RHP Antonio Osuna, SS Rich Aurilia, RHP Jay Witasick, RHP Ricky Stone, OF Kerry Robinson.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Dave Roberts
2B Mark Loretta
RF Brian Giles
1B Phil Nevin
LF Ryan Klesko
SS Khalil Greene
C Ramon Hernandez
3B Sean Burroughs
ROTATION: RHP Woody Williams, RHP Adam Eaton, RHP Jake Peavy, RHP Brian Lawrence, LHP Darrell May.
CLOSER: RHP Trevor Hoffman.
BOTTOM LINE: Roberts will provide a needed spark on the basepaths, if he stays healthy. ... Klesko and Burroughs disappointed last season combining for 11 homers. ... Williams takes the workhorse role from David Wells. ... A solid rotation, good bullpen and some depth give the Padres the edge in a weak division.
Los Angeles Dodgers
2004: 93-69, 1st.
MANAGER: Jim Tracy.
PAYROLL: $94-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: OF J.D. Drew, 2B Jeff Kent, RHP Derek Lowe, 3B Jose Valentin, 3B Norihiro Nakamura, OF Ricky Ledee, C Paul Bako, RHP Scott Erickson, C Jason Phillips.
KEY LOSSES: 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B-RF Shawn Green, CF Steve Finley, RHP Jose Lima, 2B Alex Cora, INF Jose Hernandez, RHP Hideo Nomo, LHP Kazuhisa Ishii, 3B-1B Robin Ventura, C Brent Mayne.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
SS Cesar Izturis
LF Jayson Werth
RF J.D. Drew
2B Jeff Kent
CF Milton Bradley
3B Jose Valentin
1B Hee-Seop Choi
C Jason Phillips
ROTATION: RHP Derek Lowe, RHP Brad Penny, LHP Odalis Perez, RHP Jeff Weaver, LHP Wilson Alvarez.
CLOSER: RHP Eric Gagne.
BOTTOM LINE: The rotation has health concerns, the offense has production concerns (especially after cutting loose Adrian Beltre, Shawn Green and Steve Finley), Gagne has a bum knee and Bradley may come unhinged. ... Too many variables make for a disappointing season.
San Francisco Giants
2004: 91-71, 2nd.
MANAGER: Felipe Alou.
PAYROLL: $81-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RF Moises Alou, RHP Armando Benitez, SS Omar Vizquel, C Mike Matheny, LHP Jeff Fassero.
KEY LOSSES: C A.J. Pierzynski, OF Dustan Mohr, RHP Dustin Hermanson, INF Cody Ransom.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Ray Durham
SS Omar Vizquel
1B J.T. Snow
LF Pedro Feliz
RF Moises Alou
3B Edgardo Alfonzo
CF Marquis Grissom
C Mike Matheny
ROTATION: RHP Jason Schmidt, LHP Kirk Rueter, RHP Brett Tomko, LHP Noah Lowry, RHP Jerome Williams.
CLOSER: RHP Armando Benitez.
BOTTOM LINE: Whether Barry Bonds is done for half a season or for good, we finally get to see what the Giants are really made of. ... The inconsistent Benitez could be the most crucial piece, as not having a legitimate closer last season (28 blown saves) cost them the division. ... Will baseball's oldest team wilt down the stretch? Yes. ... If Bonds is out all season, this ranking is even worse.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2004: 51-111, 5th.
MANAGER: Bob Melvin.
PAYROLL: $70-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RF Shawn Green, 3B Troy Glaus, RHP Russ Ortiz, RHP Javier Vazquez, LHP Shawn Estes, 2B Craig Counsell, OF Jose Cruz Jr., SS Royce Clayton, 1B Tony Clark, LHP Brad Halsey.
KEY LOSSES: LHP Randy Johnson, 1B Richie Sexson, 1B-3B Shea Hillenbrand, RHP Matt Mantei, RHP Steve Sparks, OF Danny Bautista, LHP Casey Fossum, LHP Stephen Randolph, INF Carlos Baerga.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Craig Counsell
SS Royce Clayton
LF Luis Gonzalez
3B Troy Glaus
RF Shawn Green
CF Jose Cruz
1B Chad Tracy
C Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder
ROTATION: RHP Javier Vazquez, RHP Russ Ortiz, RHP Brandon Webb, LHP Shawn Estes, LHP Brad Halsey or LHP Mike Gosling.
CLOSER: RHP Greg Aquino.
BOTTOM LINE: A pretty impressive heart of the order with Gonzalez, Glaus and Green expected to provide big power numbers. ... But hold on: Gonzalez is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery and Glaus off shoulder surgery. ... Ortiz instead of Randy Johnson. ... A revamp that was needed after one of the worst seasons in major-league history may push this team to .500.
Colorado Rockies
2004: 68-94, 4th.
MANAGER: Clint Hurdle.
PAYROLL: $65-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: OF Dustan Mohr, INF Desi Relaford, INF-OF Greg Norton, INF Alfredo Amezaga, RHP Tim Drew, RHP Aaron Taylor.
KEY LOSSES: 3B Vinny Castilla, OF Jeromy Burnitz, SS Royce Clayton, LHP Shawn Estes, RHP Steve Reed, RHP Tim Harikkala, OF Mark Sweeney.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Aaron Miles
SS Clint Barmes
1B Todd Helton
CF Preston Wilson
LF Matt Holliday
RF Brad Hawpe
3B Garrett Atkins
C J.D. Closser
ROTATION: LHP Joe Kennedy, RHP Jason Jennings, RHP Shawn Chacon, RHP Jamey Wright, LHP Jeff Francis.
CLOSER: RHP Brian Fuentes.
BOTTOM LINE: After Helton, there is little reason to follow this team. ... Wilson has power but is oft-injured. ... The team is rebuilding, again, with youth. ... Baseball's most inconsequential team bottoms out.#
[Last modified March 31, 2005, 01:36:06]
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