The path to contention for the Dodgers is very simple. All they need is for Andre Ethier, James Loney and Juan Uribe to produce as they have in the past.
By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in LA
If Angelinos are so excited about the Magic Johnson group purchasing the Dodgers from Frank McCourt, it certainly wasn't obvious from the tiny crowds viewing the club's homecoming this week.
In exhibition performances Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers unveiled their new club, which is the same as their old club, while the Angels unveiled their old club plus Albert Pujols. A total of 36,999 attended the two exhibition games. In fairness, the whole sporting public of Los Angeles spent the two days obsessing over the true city rivalry of the moment, the Lakers and the Clippers at Staples Center Wednesday night for first place in the NBA's Pacific Division.
No one is obsessing about the Dodgers being in a division title fight this year unless at least two changes take place on the field.
First, the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff has to snap out of this dream. Last year, three kids -- Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter -- came from just about nowhere and all threw strikes for the Diamondbacks. Arizona opponents scored only 662 runs in 2011, down from 836 in 2010. Thus, the Diamondbacks improved from 65 wins to 94 wins to take the National League West. Are these Arizona pitchers really that good?
Second, the Dodgers need for Andre Ethier, James Loney and Juan Uribe to be what the bubblegum card says they can be. If they can just hit to their career rates per 162 games, the Dodgers are dramatically improved.
For Ethier, that's 21 homers, 85 RBI, .291 average, .843 OPS. Last year, Ethier's numbers were 11-62-.291-.789.
For Loney, the 162-game average is 14-87-.288-.778. Last year, his numbers were 12-65-.288-.755.
For Uribe, the 162-game average is 19-76-.253-.721. Last year, Uribe went 4-28-.204-.557.
Are these Dodgers hitters really what 2011 says they are? The Dodgers paid that group a combined $18.7 million last year and, factoring in that Uribe missed a lot of time, the three produced at least 60 runs fewer than they should have. The Dodgers finished last season in the bottom half of the National League’s offenses, but they should have been a top-half offensive team. They need Ethier, Loney and Uribe to produce. They don’t need All-Star performances. Just average productivity. Their 2012 contracts will pay a combined $25.33 million.
That's your ball game. Loney is 28, Ethier is 30 and Uribe is 32. All are in their prime, or close. It's not like the Dodgers are asking codgers like Bobby Abreu (38), Torii Hunter (36) and Vernon Wells (33) to produce at their prime levels.
The Dodgers open their season Thursday night (4:05 p.m.) at San Diego. The incoming ownership group figures to add firepower in July, if the club is contending. So, the Dodgers won't merely go as far as their hitting takes them.
But they do need their hitting to get them to July, so the new ownership can make that difference.
By BILL PETERSON
Big Leagues in LA
If Angelinos are so excited about the Magic Johnson group purchasing the Dodgers from Frank McCourt, it certainly wasn't obvious from the tiny crowds viewing the club's homecoming this week.
In exhibition performances Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers unveiled their new club, which is the same as their old club, while the Angels unveiled their old club plus Albert Pujols. A total of 36,999 attended the two exhibition games. In fairness, the whole sporting public of Los Angeles spent the two days obsessing over the true city rivalry of the moment, the Lakers and the Clippers at Staples Center Wednesday night for first place in the NBA's Pacific Division.
No one is obsessing about the Dodgers being in a division title fight this year unless at least two changes take place on the field.
First, the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff has to snap out of this dream. Last year, three kids -- Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter -- came from just about nowhere and all threw strikes for the Diamondbacks. Arizona opponents scored only 662 runs in 2011, down from 836 in 2010. Thus, the Diamondbacks improved from 65 wins to 94 wins to take the National League West. Are these Arizona pitchers really that good?
Second, the Dodgers need for Andre Ethier, James Loney and Juan Uribe to be what the bubblegum card says they can be. If they can just hit to their career rates per 162 games, the Dodgers are dramatically improved.
For Ethier, that's 21 homers, 85 RBI, .291 average, .843 OPS. Last year, Ethier's numbers were 11-62-.291-.789.
For Loney, the 162-game average is 14-87-.288-.778. Last year, his numbers were 12-65-.288-.755.
For Uribe, the 162-game average is 19-76-.253-.721. Last year, Uribe went 4-28-.204-.557.
Are these Dodgers hitters really what 2011 says they are? The Dodgers paid that group a combined $18.7 million last year and, factoring in that Uribe missed a lot of time, the three produced at least 60 runs fewer than they should have. The Dodgers finished last season in the bottom half of the National League’s offenses, but they should have been a top-half offensive team. They need Ethier, Loney and Uribe to produce. They don’t need All-Star performances. Just average productivity. Their 2012 contracts will pay a combined $25.33 million.
That's your ball game. Loney is 28, Ethier is 30 and Uribe is 32. All are in their prime, or close. It's not like the Dodgers are asking codgers like Bobby Abreu (38), Torii Hunter (36) and Vernon Wells (33) to produce at their prime levels.
The Dodgers open their season Thursday night (4:05 p.m.) at San Diego. The incoming ownership group figures to add firepower in July, if the club is contending. So, the Dodgers won't merely go as far as their hitting takes them.
But they do need their hitting to get them to July, so the new ownership can make that difference.
