Spring Training

Sadly, we're looking at a situation where the Dodgers' manager has no clue what to think of his team. He wants to see them first. No opinions of anyone yet.

Jon Weisman has a Spring Training preview. Here's my quick and dirty version:

Starting Pitchers
1) Brad Penny
2) Derek Lowe
3) Chad Billingsley
4) Hiroki Kuroda
5) Jason Schmidt - health pending
6) Hong-Chih Kuo - health pending
7) Esteban Loaiza - above two health and quality pending
8) Eric Stults - desperation pending

Relief Pitchers
1) Takashi Saito
2) Jon Broxton
3) Scott Proctor
4) Joe Beimel
5) Rudy Seanez - almost a sure thing
6) Yhency Brazoban - health pending
7) Esteban Loaiza - quality pending
8) Mike Myers - health/desparation pending

Catcher
Russell Martin
Joe Benchwarmer

First Base
James Loney
Nomar Garciaparra

Second Base
Jeff Kent
Tony Abreu
Chin-Lung Hu

Shortstop
Rafael Furcal
Tony Abreu
Chin-Lung Hu

Third Base
Andy LaRoche
Nomar Garciaparra
Tony Abreu

Outfield
Andruw Jones
Matt Kemp
Andre Ethier/Juan Pierre
Andre Ethier/Juan Pierre
Delwyn Young
Jason Repko
John-Ford Griffin


Nothing new here. Bench Nomar, bench Pierre, and much will be good. For a real good time, have LaRoche bat leadoff. A more realistic lineup:

Furcal
Martin
Loney
Jones
Kent
Kemp
Ethier
LaRoche

by July, I'd like,

Furcal
Loney
LaRoche
Kemp
Jones
Kent
Ethier
Martin

Marting batting 8th to preserve him. Or something. Batting 2nd is a bitch for a catcher.