Category: MLB

The Padres’ back-to-back NL West titles in 2005-06 are distant memories. One franchise cornerstone is gone — ace Jake Peavy was dealt to the White Sox just prior to the nonwaiver trading deadline in 2009 — and another soon could follow. All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has been the subject of plenty of trade speculation; every run he produces increases his value and decreases the franchise’s chances of being able to afford to keep him.

Will Adrian Gonzalez end 2010 in a Padres uniform?

Three questions

1. Will Gonzalez finish the season with the Padres?
The two-time defending Gold Glove winner is under contract through 2011 at a very affordable price ($4.75 million this season, $5.5 million next season). In fact, Gonzalez isn’t even the highest-paid Padres player. However, he is in line for a monstrous deal (translation: nine figures) that San Diego most likely can’t offer. Members of the Padres’ front office even have hinted as much recently.

In the past three seasons, Gonzalez ranks seventh in the majors in homers (106) and 11th in RBIs (318) despite playing in cavernous Petco Park and without an All-Star supporting cast. In a more hitter-friendly park with better lineup support, Gonzalez, who will turn 28 in May, would be even more dangerous. Thus, he has intrigued big-market teams — Boston has been especially interested — that could spare a hundred million (or more) bucks. Chances are good that Gonzalez will be playing elsewhere in August, bringing San Diego a haul in young talent.

2. How’s the rotation sans Peavy?
For the first time since the 2001 season, Peavy won’t make a start for the Padres. That doesn’t bode well. Last season, San Diego’s rotation finished 24th in the majors with a 4.78 ERA — and that was with 13 starts from Peavy, who posted a 3.97 ERA. The oft-injured Chris Young will assume ace duties, and newcomer Jon Garland will provide a veteran innings-eater. "(Garland is) a guy who’s going to go out there and he’s going to give you innings and he’s gonna pitch and give you a chance to win some ballgames," Padres closer Heath Bell said. "If we put some runs up, we’re going to get him some W’s. And he’s another guy who’s got a lot of information for our young starters."

Kevin Correia, who led the team with 12 wins last season, is back, and youngsters Clayton Richard (acquired in the Peavy deal) and Mat Latos should round out the starting five.

3. Is there enough offense, even with Gonzalez?
San Diego scored 638 runs last season — just two more than the 30th-ranked Pirates. The Padres’ homer total was 26th, with Gonzalez’s 40 homers accounting for 28 percent of their 141 long balls. During the offseason, they cornered the market on Hairstons (trading for Scott and signing Jerry), but neither is expected to start. If the team’s developing young hitters don’t progress, San Diego very well could finish as the majors’ worst offensive team.

Projected lineup
1. SS Everth Cabrera: Team-best 25 SBs last season.
2. 2B David Eckstein: Career-worst .323 OBP in ’09.
3. 1B Adrian Gonzalez: At home in ’09: .244 AVG, 12 HRs, 36 RBIs; road: .306, 28 HRs, 63 RBIs.
4. 3B Chase Headley: .208 AVG, .300 OBP at home last season; .305, .377 on road.
5. LF Kyle Blanks: 10 HRs in only 148 at-bats in ’09.
6. RF Will Venable: 6 of 12 HRs, 17 of 38 RBIs came in August.
7. C Nick Hundley: .159 AVG vs. lefthanders last season.
8. CF Tony Gwynn Jr.: Leadoff option after career-best .350 OBP.

Projected rotation
1. RHP Chris Young: 11 wins, 31 starts in ’06; 11 wins, 32 starts from 2008-09.
2. RHP Kevin Correia: Career highs in ’09: 198 IP, 142 K’s.
3. RHP Jon Garland: At least 32 starts each of past 8 seasons.
4. LHP Clayton Richard: 5-2, 4.08 ERA in 12 starts with Padres in ’09.
5. RHP Mat Latos: Averaged 4.1 BB/9 as rookie last season.

Projected closer
RHP Heath Bell: 10.2 K/9 rate, NL-best 42 saves last season.

Grades

Offense: D. Not many major league teams feature a cleanup hitter who had 12 homers last season. That’s the case with Chase Headley, who will move to his natural third base to replace Kevin Kouzmanoff. It would help if he also can replace Kouzmanoff’s offense (18 homers, 88 RBIs). More will be expected of Kyle Blanks and Will Venable, too.

Pitching: C. Garland will provide the durability the rotation needs; only Correia made at least 20 starts for San Diego last season. It is imperative that Young stays healthy and resembles the All-Star who posted a 3.12 ERA in 2007. The bullpen is anchored by one of the game’s most underrated stoppers in Bell, though he also could be dealt.

Bench: C. Jerry Hairston can play outfield but will serve as the primary infield reserve; brother Scott should stay plenty busy in the outfield (he can serve as a righthanded platoon mate for Tony Gwynn and Venable). San Diego signed veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who had a career-best .291 batting average last season.

Manager: B. A former pitcher, Black has done a good job with this staff, especially the bullpen. The team improved by 12 wins (75 total) in 2009 and went 39-35 after the All-Star break. He gets the most out of the talent available, but this team still is rebuilding.

Sporting News prediction: The rebuilding Padres didn’t do enough this offseason to catch the division’s big three — or to hold off the improved Diamondbacks for fourth place.

Coming Friday: Diamondbacks preview.

Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.

Signed as a free agent this offseason, new Giants left fielder Mark DeRosa recently spoke with Sporting News’ Stan McNeal about his new team:

‘What I really like is our pitching,’ new Giant Mark DeRosa says.

I’ve always liked the vibe of the ballpark and the city and felt it would be a cool place to play and an interesting place to bring my family.

What I really like is our pitching. We have the kind of staff that if we get into the playoffs, we will be tough to beat. You’ve got the two-headed monster with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and a guy in Brian Wilson to come in and throw 100 mph in the ninth.

I read all the stuff on the Internet about how we need more offense. I like what we’ve done this offseason. Aubrey Huff, who signed in January, has been a good hitter for most of his career. I feel like I’m capable of doing some things offensively.

Sometimes it’s not about changes but about getting production from the guys you already have. Aaron Rowand, Edgar Renteria and Freddy Sanchez all are capable of having big years. I don’t know if they’d tell you, but they all played injured last season. With the Panda, Pablo Sandoval, we’ve got a big bat in the lineup, too.

Bruce Bochy told me he wanted to see how team chemistry developed before he decided where to play me. I assume I’m going to be in left field. I’ll play anywhere. My goal is help this team get to October.

This story first appeared in Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

If the Giants ever reach the playoffs, they will be difficult to beat because of their standout pitching. Last season, ace Tim Lincecum won his second consecutive NL Cy Young award, Matt Cain finished 10th in the majors with a 2.89 ERA and Jonathan Sanchez tossed a no-hitter. Closer Brian Wilson had 38 saves. But before they worry about October, the Giants need someone to step up and help Pablo Sandoval pump up the offense.

The Giants know Pablo Sandoval can hit, but where will the rest of the offense come from?

Three questions

1. Do they have enough offense?
The Giants have one of the NL’s best hitters in the "Kung Fu Panda," 23-year-old switch hitter Pablo Sandoval. In 2009, Sandoval hit 13 homers at AT&T Park, the most by a Giant since Barry Bonds hit 16 in 2007. Instead of pursuing Jason Bay or Matt Holliday in free agency, however, the Giants brought in veterans Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff.

In addition to new hitting coach Hensley Meulens, will the newcomers be enough to turn around an offense that took fewer pitches and reached base less than any in the majors last season? "Lack of consistency was what got us in trouble," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That’s why this winter, (GM) Brian Sabean and the organization got some guys who could not just get on base, but be a little more selective at the plate and also drive in runs."

2. Where else are they lacking?
Another reason San Francisco had such a low on-base percentage was because it had no one with the speed to leg out infield hits. And still doesn’t. This could be the majors’ slowest team; not a single regular has plus speed. The Giants’ center fielder is Aaron Rowand, who is known more for his fearlessness than his wheels. Shortstop Edgar Renteria never was a blazer and is going on 35. Catcher Bengie Molina is one of the slowest runners in the game.

The lack of team speed won’t hurt only offensively. The Giants will be hard-pressed to cover their roomy outfield, and except for Freddy Sanchez at second, none of the infielders can be expected to cover a much ground.

3. What about that pitching?
Forget Lincecum’s struggles this spring. It took him awhile to get rolling last year and when he did, he was the best in the NL. Lefthander Barry Zito never will live up to his $126 million contract, but he proved huge in the second half when he put up better numbers than Cain. If Zito can begin 2010 like he finished 2009, the Giants will have the best 1-2-3 starters in the division — and perhaps in the NL. The fourth and fifth starters are less stable, with Sanchez still seeking consistency and Todd Wellemeyer coming off a subpar season. Madison Bumgarner, 20, would give the rotation a third lefty if eventually promoted.

The bullpen, led by Wilson, should continue to be a strength even though it could feature only one lefthander — reliable Jeremy Affeldt.

Projected lineup
1. CF Aaron Rowand: .341 OBP when leading off in ’09; .319 overall.
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez: Will start season on D.L. (shoulder surgery).
3. 3B Pablo Sandoval: .387 OBP, .330 AVG, .943 OPS last season.
4. 1B Aubrey Huff: Career lows in ’09: .241 AVG, .310 OBP.
5. LF Mark DeRosa: 23 HRs despite second-half wrist injury.
6. C Bengie Molina: More HRs (20) than BBs (13) last season.
7. SS Edgar Renteria: Career lows in ’09: .250 AVG, .307 OBP, .328 SLG.
8. RF Nate Schierholtz: 6 HRs in 472 career at-bats.

PROJECTED ROTATION
1. RHP Tim Lincecum: Past two seasons: 452 1/3 IP, 2.55 ERA.
2. RHP Matt Cain: Tied Lincecum for NL lead with 4 CGs in ’09.
3. LHP Barry Zito: 2.83 ERA in 15 second-half starts; 5.01 in 18 first-half starts.
4. LHP Jonathan Sanchez: 3.83 ERA in 15 second-half starts; 4.69 before break. 5. RHP Todd Wellemeyer: 3.71 ERA for Cardinals in ’08; 5.89 in ’09

Projected lineup
RHP Brian Wilson: Converted 79 of 92 save chances the past 2 seasons.

Grades

Offense: C. The Giants had the fewest walks in the majors last season, so it should be no surprise they also had the lowest on-base percentage (.309). They didn’t have much power, either, as their 122 homers surpassed only the Mets’ 95. DeRosa and Huff should provide Sandoval more support than he had last season.

Pitching: A. It doesn’t get much better than Lincecum and Cain at the front end of the rotation and Wilson coming in for the ninth. There are plenty of quality arms in between, as well, including Zito, Affeldt and righthanded reliever Brandon Medders.

Bench: B. First baseman Travis Ishikawa, outfielder Eugenio Velez and infielder Juan Uribe all return after playing regularly for much of last season. Velez is the rare Giant with speed. Ishikawa will, at the least, be used often as a late-inning defensive replacement at first. It remains to be seen whether the Giants will carry top prospect Buster Posey as a backup catcher/infielder.

Manager: B. Last year’s 16-game improvement gave Bochy his first winning season in San Francisco and helped him secure a two-year extension. In 12 seasons with San Diego before being hired by the Giants, Bochy took the Padres to the playoffs four times.

Sporting News prediction: Even if the offense is improved, the Giants lack the firepower to hang in there with the Rockies and Dodgers over a 162-game season.

Coming Thursday: Padres preview

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

The Rockies are making a habit of dramatic playoff pushes in odd-numbered years — they won 14 of their final 15 games to reach the 2007 postseason, and they won 72 of their final 110 games last season en route to the wild card. They return largely the same roster — with a full season of manager Jim Tracy — as they attempt to make the playoffs in an even-numbered year for the first time in franchise history.

The Rockies aren’t sure what to expect from Jeff Francis.

Three questions

1. What can the Rockies expect from Jeff Francis?
Colorado will be patient. The lefthander’s fastball this spring is in the 89-mph range, which is about right considering he never was a flamethrower. This season, the Rockies don’t need Francis, who missed the entire 2009 season after shoulder surgery, to be the staff ace. Ubaldo Jimenez has assumed that role and has developed into one of the National League’s best starters.

Francis fits into the rotation behind Aaron Cook and Jorge De La Rosa — and maybe even Jason Hammel. Francis has been hit hard (6.92 ERA) in four spring training starts, but the most important thing is that he has been able to make those four starts.

2. What type of carryover can Colorado expect from 2009?
The Rockies blitzed their way into the playoffs last year; their record after June 3 was nine games better than any other team in the NL But what does that mean for 2010?

"Creating the mindset with what took place in 2009 was huge, and now carrying that over to the fact where this is what we have identified ourselves as. Now let’s get busy and have people be aware of the fact that this is what we expect to be from Day 1 of the season and not wait until the middle of June or whatever it was," Tracy said. "We ourselves want to be that way. We want to become a much more consistent baseball team, day in and day out from Day 1 and see where that takes us."

In the back of the minds of most Rockies’ fans, though, rests the memory of a 2008 season that was a huge disappointment after a trip to the 2007 World Series. A quick start to 2010 would go a long way to alleviating fears of an ’08 repeat.

3. How good can the Carlos Gonzalez-Dexter Fowler combination become?
Scary good. Both were highly regarded prospects, and both were catalysts to the Rockies’ stretch run in 2009. Both are 24, and both showed good patience at the plate last season; Gonzalez had a .353 on-base percentage and Fowler was at .363. Both, however, are susceptible to slumps; Gonzalez hit .210 in June and Fowler hit just .243 between May 1 and August 1. More importantly, though, both showed the ability to snap out of those slumps.

Projected lineup
1. LF Carlos Gonzalez: 13 HRs, 16 SBs in just 89 games.
2. CF Dexter Fowler: Speedy switch hitter had 27 SBs.
3. 1B Todd Helton: .325 AVG was his best since 2004.
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki: 101 runs, 32 HRs, 92 RBIs, .930 OPS in ’09.
5. RF Brad Hawpe: First-time All-Star had .240 AVG, 9 HRs after break.
6. C Chris Iannetta: .264 AVG in ’08; .228 AVG in ’09.
7. 3B Ian Stewart: Long-time top prospect hit 25 HRs last season.
8. 2B Clint Barmes: More than doubled career high with 23 HRs in ’09.

PROJECTED ROTATION
1. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez: Improved ERA, K’s, WHIP, BBs last season.
2. RHP Aaron Cook: Past two seasons: 3.75 ERA before break; 4.65 after.
3. LHP Jorge De La Rosa: 16-3, 3.94 ERA after June 1, 2009.
4. LHP Jeff Francis: Former ace hasn’t pitched in majors since Sept. 12, 2008.
5. RHP Jason Hammel: 30 starts in first season with team in ’09.

Projected closer
RHP Huston Street: 35 saves in ’09; will start season on D.L.

Grades

Offense: A. The Rockies have speed at the top of the order and power throughout — Nos. 7 and 8 hitters Ian Stewart and Clint Barmes combined for 48 homers. If Chris Iannetta and Stewart can raise their averages a bit and Brad Hawpe can shake off his second-half slump, this offense will be among the league’s elite.

Pitching: B. Jimenez took a giant step forward in 2009, solidifying his status as the team’s stopper. Francis is a question mark, but Cook and Hammel are consistent and De La Rosa showed flashes of brilliance. Huston Street’s sore shoulder is troubling, especially if Manny Corpas doesn’t improve.

Bench: A. Outfielders Ryan Spilborghs and Seth Smith provide defensive versatility and offensive reliability. Melvin Mora and Jason Giambi are experienced sources of offense, and backup catcher Miguel Olivo hit 23 homers for the Royals last season. Eric Young brings speed off the bench; he can play second or center field.

Manager: B. Tracy gets an A-plus for turning around the team after its horrible start in 2009. But this is his third managerial stop, and the first two weren’t exactly rousing successes. These Rockies fully bought into his philosophies last season; a repeat performance wouldn’t be surprising.

Sporting News prediction: Colorado has productive bats throughout the lineup and has a true ace in Jimenez anchoring a solid rotation. First place is the expectation.

Coming Wednesday: Giants preview

Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.

Rough springs don’t always turn into tough seasons. Alex Rodriguez’s steroids admission and hip injury dampened the Yankees’ camp last year and they won the World Series. On the flip side, check the Mets: Their injuries started early with Johan Santana’s elbow stiffness and never let up. They still haven’t, in fact.

Any manager will tell you getting out of spring training with a healthy roster is more important than winning, putting up numbers or even figuring out that No. 5 starter.

"You want to be healthy so good players can be productive, that’s the idea," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Monday.

His Red Sox have dealt with their share of nagging issues and a bug that spread through the clubhouse but they seem to be gaining full health just at the right time — in the stretch drive of spring training.

Spring has not been quite so kind to four other contenders.

Rangers

Things seemed to be flowing their way after the ownership change ended with Nolan Ryan where he should be, in charge of the baseball side. But then spring training began. Besides injuries, the Rangers also have had to deal with the biggest drug story of the spring: Manager Ron Washington’s positive test for cocaine last season.

The Rangers have had to deal with revelations of Ron Washington’s 2009 positive drug test.

Give the club credit for giving him a second chance. Give Washington his due for being as up front as one can be about his transgression (well, after he changed his story a bit and admitted he had used other drugs before). He offered to resign and said, "I am not here to make excuses. There are none. I am not here to ask for sympathy. That would be asking too much."

Washington certainly faces more pressure to win if he wants to manage past this season and adding to that challenge is a spate of injuries. Slugger Josh Hamilton, who missed half of last season, banged a shoulder early in camp and was sidelined for more than week. Then he had to deal with an infected tooth. He’s been in the lineup lately, though, and is hitting well. Second baseman Ian Kinsler can’t say the same. He suffered a high ankle sprain early in March, hasn’t returned and might not be ready by opening day. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was scratched from a game Sunday because of an upper back issue. He already has trying to come back from a shoulder injury that ended his 2009 in August. The Rangers must be concerned because they traded for another catcher, Matt Treanor, on Monday.

Two of the club’s promising starters, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland, have been slowed or sidelined. Hunter was penciled into the rotation until he came down with an ab injury. Considering he has, shall we say, a lot of core to support, the injury could linger. Holland’s chance to make the rotation went awry when he sprained a knee early in camp and fell behind. Another lefty, C.J. Wilson, however, has made the most of his opportunity to make the rotation and emerged as the favorite for one of two available spots.

Twins

No club has dealt with such a high and a low this spring, and in the same day no less. A day that started with All-Star closer Joe Nathan saying he would have season-ending Tommy John surgery ended with the club announcing MVP Joe Mauer had agreed to an eight-year, $184 million extension that should keep him in Minnesota through 2018.

As great as Mauer staying is for the future of the club — and the game, really — Nathan’s absence could derail the present. The Twins will say little about his replacement, though 6-11 Jon Rauch figures to be the most likely in-house choice.

But don’t be surprised if Francisco Liriano emerges before opening day. Liriano is the club’s former uber-lefty who has not quite been the same since he underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2006 season. Manager Ron Gardenhire, however, was talking up Liriano on Sunday, saying Liriano’s slider is back to 2006 form when he was blowign away the AL after being called up as a 22-year-old. "Those sliders he threw the other day are unhittable," Gardenhire said. "Guys were swinging and missing by a foot. That slider is really snapping. It is a hard slider."

It should be noted that a year ago, Gardenhire was saying much the same. What has changed, however, is improved fastball location and the return of Liriano’s confidence. But Gardenhire is coy when asked if Liriano, no shoo-in for the rotation, could end up working the ninth inning.

"There’s one guy who we all know who can be a closer," Gardenhire said, and he was referring to Liriano. "He’s got all the closing stuff: punch-out pitches, the whole package. Whether it’s the right thing or whether he wants to do it or not, we’ll have to wait and see."

What if Liriano comes to you and volunteer to closes? "We would talk about him, for sure, if he wants to close. Definitely." Gardenhire said.

Cliff Lee has had to deal with an injury and a suspension this spring.

Mariners

Two of their key newcomers have struggled. Lefty Cliff Lee had a foot procedure before spring training that slowed him early and the dreaded abdominal strain — or something akin — struck last week. He will not throw again til the end of the week, likely delaying at least his first start. If injury didn’t threaten his Seattle debut, suspension did. Lee got five games after the commissioner’s office ruled he was throwing at Ariona’s Chris Synder, though he was expected to appeal.

Milton Bradley has avoided suspension but already has been ejected twice for arguing balls and strikes. The Mariners, taking the spring-training view, say they are not concerned. Manager Don Wakamatsu, in fact, called out umpires for a "witch hunt" on his often-troubled player.

"Milton’s here, I’ve been very pleased," Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said last week. "He’s swung the bat very well lately. In the clubhouse, he’s been very engaging. The players like him. Milton likes it here. I don’t care what’s happened in the past. All I care about is what Milton doing right now and I’m very pleased with it."

Rockies

Even true optimist Jim Tracy has to be worried about the end of his bullpen. Its two most important members, Rafael Betancourt and closer Huston Street, are not likely to be 100 percent soon. Street, in fact, might not pitch before May.

The news could have been worse, though. An MRI showed no structural damage on Street’s throwing shoulder so he should pitch sometime sooner than later. How effective he is remains to be determined.

Much like we’ll have to wait and see how bad springs carry over into the regular season.

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

Despite a late-season slide that nearly cost them the division — Los Angeles lost seven of its final 11 regular season games — the Dodgers finished with the National League’s best record (95-67) in 2009. However, they once again fell flat against the Phillies in the NLCS. Perhaps a result of their owners’ pending divorce, the Dodgers lost more talent than they acquired this offseason, costing them their designation of NL West favorites.

Manny Ramirez struggled at the plate after returning from his 50-game suspension.

Three questions

1. Which Manny Ramirez will show up?
Ramirez was rolling (.348 average, six homers, 20 RBIs in 27 games) before his shocking 50-game suspension in early May. After returning, he hit .269-13-43 in 77 games. He lost bat speed and confidence, and approaching age 38, there are doubts about whether he can recapture the form that made him an instant sensation/hero upon his arrival in Los Angeles in 2008.

Among the Dodgers’ starting outfielders, Ramirez already was the weakest defensively. Now he enters the season as arguably the third most productive offensively. Andre Ethier (31 homers, 106 RBIs) and Matt Kemp (26 homers, 101 RBIs) both are coming off career years and have yet to peak. "Manny is no different than any other player in that he’s going to have his ups and downs, but I’m not going to change a thing with Manny," hitting coach Don Mattingly said. "Manny is the last player that I’m worried about heading into (this) season."

2. Is the rotation strong enough?
The Dodgers opted not to offer Randy Wolf arbitration and declined their 2010 option on Jon Garland, losing both starters in free agency while getting nothing in return. Wolf led the staff with 34 starts and 214 1/2 innings pitched, while winning 11 games and posting a 3.23 ERA last season. After being acquired from Arizona in late August, Garland went 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six starts.

Because they failed to sign/trade for a No. 1 in the offseason, the responsibility will fall on the 22-year-old left shoulder of Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw’s 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts led the rotation in 2009, but it would be advantageous to ease him into the No. 1 role. The ideal No. 1 is Chad Billingsley, who faded badly (5.20 ERA) in the second half last season and has yet to solve his consistency issues. Behind them are the oft-injured Hiroki Kuroda, the temperamental Vicente Padilla and a huge void that could be filled by either Ramon or Russ Ortiz.

3. Should Russell Martin lose 25 pounds?
Frustrated by his declining production, Martin packed on 25 pounds this offseason. Early in camp, he suffered a strained groin muscle, which will sideline for the first couple weeks of the regular season. Martin recently told the Los Angeles Times that his extra bulk in no way contributed to his injury, but he has averaged 150 games played the past three season. While you could question his fading offensive output — from 19 homers and 87 RBIs in 2007 to seven homers and 53 RBIs in 2009 — Martin’s durability never was in doubt. Until now.

Projected lineup
1. SS Rafael Furcal: 12 SBs in ’09 were career-low for full season.
2. CF Matt Kemp: 30-30 season is close (26 HRs, 34 SBs) in ’09.
3. RF Andre Ethier: Fourth in MLB with 19 game-winning RBIs.
4. LF Manny Ramirez: .624 career SLG vs. lefties; slugged .514 vs. lefties in ’09.
5. 1B James Loney: 13 HRs, 90 RBIs in ’08 and ’09.
6. 3B Casey Blake: 9 HRs through May; 9 more rest of ’09.
7. C Russell Martin: SLG (.329) lower than his OBP (.352).
8. 2B Blake DeWitt: .276 career AVG at home; .239 on road.

Projected rotation
1. LHP Clayton Kershaw: Allowed no ERs in 9 of his 30 starts.
2. RHP Chad Billingsley: NL-worst 14 wild pitches last season.
3. RHP Hiroki Kuroda: Injuries limited him to 21 games (3.76 ERA).
4. RHP Vicente Padilla: 4-0, 3.20 ERA in eight games with L.A. in ’09.
5. RHP Ramon Ortiz: Last pitched in MLB in ’07 (5.45 ERA).

PROJECTED CLOSER
RHP Jonathan Broxton: Led MLB relievers with 114 K’s in ’09.

Grades

Offense: B. Despite Ramirez’s woes, the Dodgers finished first in the National League in on-base percentage, in a virtual tie for first in batting average and fourth in runs scored. However, they were 23rd in the majors in homers. A return to form by Ramirez and a little more pop from James Loney would be welcome.

Pitching: B. The Dodgers led the majors with a 3.41 staff ERA, and their rotation ERA (3.12) was nearly a half-run better than the next-best team’s (Oakland at 3.46). Their 3.58 rotation ERA ranked behind only the Braves’ 3.52. Anchored by dominant closer Jonathan Broxton the bullpen will be strong again. However, the rotation is weaker.

Bench: A. Newcomer Jamey Carroll can play all over the diamond. Ronnie Belliard (.351-5-17 after joining the Dodgers last August) moves to a reserve infielder role, and Reed Johnson is the fourth outfielder. It remains to be seen whether the bench will be big enough for Garret Anderson and Doug Mientkiewicz.

Manager: A. Torre has reached the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons but extending that streak to 15 will be challenging. Entering what could be his final season as a manager — there are discussions about a one-year extension that would keep him at the helm through the 2011 season — Torre must be near-flawless in his handling of the pitching staff.

Sporting News prediction: The Dodgers will hang tough in the NL West and NL wild-card races but will fall just short of a third consecutive division title and playoff berth.

Coming Tuesday: Rockies preview.

Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.

Chris Perez, RP, Indians

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune confirmed the Twins have scouted Padres closer Heath Bell as a possible replacement for Joe Nathan, who could be facing season-ending Tommy John surgery.

The newspaper noted the team likely has compiled a list of possible trade targets to fill its closer void, but it first will focus on in-house candidates. Those include Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier and Jose Mijares.

Nathan was expected to test his elbow with a throwing session this weekend.

The Chicago Tribune speculated the Cubs’ window of opportunity could be closing, meaning the team could have a different look in 2011.

Manager Lou Piniella is in the final year of his contract, as are first baseman Derrek Lee and left-hander Ted Lilly. In addition, key core player such as left fielder Alfonso Soriano, third baseman  Aramis Ramirez and right-hander Ryan Dempster are in their 30s and coming off injuries in 2009.

"I don’t think you ever think about anything like that," Lee told the newspaper. "You only worry about winning games. All the other stuff takes care of itself."

Nationals rookie righthander Stephen Strasburg will begin the season at Class AA Harrisburg, according to team’s website. He was optioned there this morning.

General manager Mike Rizzo told the website that he doesn’t like to rush pitching prospects. In addition, the Nationals want Strasburg to work on holding runners on, fielding bunts and pitch selection.

"I try to get as much information from the coaches and players that I can. It will make me a better ballplayer and help this team win some ballgames," Strasburg told the website Friday. "I’ve been able to make some adjustments working with (pitching coach) Steve McCatty in the bullpen.

"I try to throw as many pitches as I can — starting in the strike zone to force contact and not nibble. I just have been really trying to work hard and I’ve been able to have a little bit of success here so far."

In his final Grapefruit League start Friday, Strasburg allowed two solo homers in the first inning but struck out eight Cardinals over four innings. In three starts this spring, Strasburg posted a 2.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts in nine innings.

Rookie reliever Drew Storen, selected No. 10 overall in the 2009 draft, also was optioned to Class AA by Washington on Saturday.