2008 Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Predictions
June 8, 2008
The Dodgers shored up their two biggest needs in the offseason by adding starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and a big middle-of-the-order bat in Andruw Jones. They didn’t even have to give up any of their promising young players to get either of these studs. They also added a big-name manager in Joe Torre. Torre brings over his winning leadership after winning four World Series titles with the Yankees. The Dodgers still need an upgrade at third base, but this team is still primed to contend in what is probably baseball’s deepest division. Below Larry Cook gives you his 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers predictions as well as a season preview.
Starting Rotation:
The Dodgers most the deepest rotation in the NL West. This rotation is so stacked that even veteran Esteban Loaiza will probably be pushed to the bullpen. Brad Penny has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons. He will anchor down the staff along with Derek Lowe, Kuroda, Chad Billingsley and the hopefully healthy Jason Schmidt lined up behind him. Penny faded down the stretch when the games really mattered for a second year in a row once teams got the chance to see him numerous times. The Dodgers need him to remain consistent wire to wire this season if they are to go anywhere. Lowe pitched much better than his record indicates. The Dodgers scored just 30 combined runs in support of Lowe’s 14 losses. Kuroda throws as many as eight different pitches. Schmidt has to prove he is fully recovered from June shoulder surgery last season. Billingsley is one of the top young pitchers in the game.
Bullpen:
Takashi Saito returns for a third campaign as the Dodgers’ closer. Fireballing setup man Jonathan Broxton appears to be ready to step into the closer role if Saito falters. Joe Beimel is a situational lefty who also can go multiple innings when needed. Yhency Brazoban and Hong-Chih Kuo are coming off injuries, but are expected to be ready by spring training. The reliable Scott Proctor will be reunited with Torre, the manager who many felt overused him before the Yankees traded him to the Dodgers on July 31st last year.
Line-Up:
SS Rafael Furcal will leadoff and is expected to be healthy after battling a nagging ankle injury all season. LF Juan Pierre needs to make better use of his speed by walking and bunting for hits more often. If he doesn’t get on base more frequently this season, look for Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp to move into the lineup for good. CF Andruw Jones adds the power bat the Dodgers have been missing in recent years. Even ad down year for Jones in 2007 that resulted in 26 homers and 94 RBIs would have led all Dodgers’ hitters last season. 2B Jeff Kent is a defensive liability, but is still one of the league’s most dangerous hitters at age 49. RF Andre Ethier is expected to bat in the No. 5 spot. Ethier is a line-drive hitter and will battle Matt Kemp and Juan Pierre for a starting assignment. 1B James Loney enters his first full season in the majors after batting .331 as a rookie. C Russell Martin should have a big season considering a deeper lineup will take some pressure off him offensively while batting further down in the order this year. 3B Nomar Garciappara will bat in the No. 8 spot when healthy. GM Ned Colleti might look to upgrade at the hot corner by the All-Star break if this can’t happen. The Dodgers’ bench players consist of C Gary Bennett, IF Tony Abreu, OF Delwyn Young, RF Matt Kemp and 3B Andy LaRoche. Kemp could be an every day starter as the season progresses. LaRoche definitely strikes out way too much to keep a starting job.
Dodgers 2008 Predictions:
In most seasons, this club on paper would be the clear-cut favorite to win the NL West. But this division is deep with four of the five clubs capable of winning it this season. The additions of Torre, Jones and Kuroda appear to make the Dodgers solid contenders to play deep into October. In the end, Arizona has too much starting pitching while the Dodgers still have too many question marks in the rotation. The Dodgers will solidify one of the top 2 spots in this Division and perhaps a Wild Card. But I have the 2008 L.A. Dodgers finishing in 2nd place in the NL West Division.
Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.
2008 Los Angeles Dodgers Odds:
Odds to win NL West:
3/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant:
7/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series:
25/1