Los Angeles Dodgers
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PrintBaseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
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| TOP TEN PROSPECTS |
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| PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP |
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| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE |
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| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE |
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| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY |
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If the Rockies proved anything during the 2007 season, it was that timing is everything. On Sept. 18, the Dodgers were fresh off series wins against the Padres and Diamondbacks and sat just 2 1⁄2 games back in the National League wild card race. But when Todd Helton hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off Takashi Saito, Colorado had completed a doubleheader sweep of Los Angeles.
The wins were the second and third of 11 straight for the Rockies, who went on to win the NL pennant. They also marked the beginning of the end for the Dodgers, who lost eight of their next 11 games and finished fourth in the NL West.
As Colorado's blend of youth and experience peaked at the perfect time, Los Angeles' was spoiling like month-old milk. Jeff Kent was outspoken about a clubhouse rift between disgruntled veterans and hungry up-and-comers, such as Matt Kemp and Russell Martin.
Second-year general manager Ned Colletti chose in the 2006 offseason to re-sign Nomar Garciaparra and bring in free agents Luis Gonzalez, Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf at a total cost of $124.85 million. What resulted was a punchless lineup that finished 10th in the NL in runs and a patchwork pitching staff that wound up with David Wells and Esteban Loaiza taking the ball every fifth day in September.
Though he officially resigned, manager Grady Little was shown the door following the season and replaced by Joe Torre. A cohesive clubhouse was an underpinning of Torre's time with the Yankees, and creating the same serenity in Los Angeles is at the top of his to-do list.
During his introductory press conference, Torre waxed about the continuity of the great Dodgers teams he watched growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940s and '50s. Los Angeles could have a similar homegrown nucleus, as it's evident that the future of the franchise lies with its youth.
Martin won the first of what figure to be multiple Gold Gloves and made the NL all-star team. Kemp recovered from an early-season wrist injury to hit .342/.373/.521 while showing improvement almost daily. After James Loney was left off the Opening Day roster, he eventually pushed Garciaparra to third base and hit .331/.381/.538.
When Schmidt registered only one win before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery, Chad Billingsley entered the rotation and went 8-5, 3.38 in 20 starts.
The next batch of prospects is ready to contribute. Tony Abreu, Chin-Lung Hu and Andy LaRoche all have gotten a taste of the majors and could give the Dodgers a fully homegrown infield, though it may be 2009 before that transition is complete. Lefthander Clayton Kershaw, who ascended to Double-A in his first full pro season, could join the rotation late in 2008.
Stability was a reason the Dodgers were named Baseball America's Organization of the Year in 2006, but they have gone through massive changes since, naming a new manager, scouting director (Tim Hallgren succeeded Logan White, who was promoted to assistant GM) and farm director (DeJon Watson took over for Terry Collins, who left to manage in Japan).
The margin for error in the division has suddenly shrunk, but the Dodgers have the pieces in place to be a part of the party in the future.
| Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
(How to subscribe) |
| Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team |
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