Manager Joe Torre joins the Los Angeles Dodgers after turning down an offer to return to the Yankees. Rumors persisted throughout all of last season that the Dodger clubhouse was divided between the veterans and the younger players, and GM Ned Coletti decided that Torre was the perfect man to make all the players work together as a cohesive unit. With the additions of Torre, center fielder Andruw Jones, and Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, Dodger fans feel the team has a chance to compete for a World Series title. Brad Penny returns for the Dodgers hoping to repeat his success from last year, when he was a Cy Young candidate and finished with sixteen wins and just four losses. Right hander Derek Lowe joins him in the rotation, hoping to improve on his 12-14 record. Right-handers Chad Billingsley and Esteban Loazia (along with Kuroda) round out the rotation, however Jason Schmidt hopes to push his way into the rotation and move Loazia to the bullpen. Young Jonathan Broxton leads a Dodger bullpen that was a major strength for the team last season. At just 23 years old Broxton has shown the potential to be a great closer. However, thirty eight year old Takashi Saito returns as the closer, after converting 39 saves last year. Other primary set up men after Broxton include Torre favorite Scott Procter, and left hander Joe Beimel. The infield for the Dodgers will remain the same as it was last year. At just 23 years old, first baseman James Loney performed extremely well in his first year in the big leagues last season, both with the bat and the glove. Jeff Kent returns for his seventeenth season, and still is a potent bat in the lineup. Shortstop and leadoff man Rafael Furcal provides speed on the base paths that will always disrupt the opposing pitcher, and third baseman Nomar Garciaparra hopes to stay healthy. “Ramon in reverse” can be a good glove and a clutch hitter for Los Angeles if he can stay on the field. Blake DeWitt will get the opening day start now that Garciaparra has learned he will start the season on the disabled list. Handling duties behind the plate will be one of the best catchers in all of baseball, gold glover Russel Martin. The Dodgers took a chance in free agency signing Jones to be their center fielder. Jones was a major disappointment for the Braves last season, hitting just .222 with 26 homers. Because of the down year at the plate, as well as his range not being as good as it once was in the field, the Dodgers only gave him a two year deal. Jones will be flanked in the outfield by youngsters Matt Kemp in right and Andre Either in left. Either edged out veteran Juan Pierre, who is known to be a terror on the base paths, but did not perform up to expectations in the spring after being moved out of center by the newcomer Jones. The Dodgers have a quality team again this season, and a lot of pressure is on new manager Joe Torre to make the clubhouse a better place to help get this team over the hump.
