ESPN baseball guru Tim Kirkjian was a Friday Steve Mason Show guest, in advance of his Sunday conversation with new Dodger manager Joe Torre on Sportscenter. Tim calls new Dodger signee Hiroki Kuroda a #4 starter, and he believes that even players in the clubhouse are awestruck by the presence of future Hall of Fame manager. Torre has the gravitas to immediately dissolve the old guy vs. young guy dynamic that sent LA reeling in the closing weeks of the 2007 season.
Ned Colletii told me a few weeks back that Kuroda would serve as the #3 starter, but Kirkjian projects Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley in the 1-2-3 rotation spots. Kuroda pitched in a tiny home ballpark last year (280 down the lines and 380 to dead center), and his out pitch is a forkball that will result in lots of strikeouts and ground balls.
Here's some video of Kuroda that I sound on YouTube.
Kuroda has been named the #1 new name to know by USA Today Sports Weekly, and he's not the only Dodger.
32. Andy LaRoche, 3B, Dodgers LaRoche, 24, a right-handed batter, is projected to have enough power and RBI potential to bat in the middle of the order. The Dodgers want him to work on contact and not be concerned with power. He's a good defensive player, and several teams have tried to acquire him in a trade. He'll compete with Nomar Garciaparra for the job this spring.
55. Jonathan Meloan, RHP, Dodgers Meloan, 23, is coming off his first full season as a reliever, and it was a productive one. He struck out 98 batters in 74 innings between Class AA, AAA and a seven-inning big-league stint. The Dodgers could toy with him as a starter, but his power arm projects well to the back end of the bullpen, and he could earn a prominent role there soon.
59. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers Kershaw was drafted out of high school by the Dodgers in 2006 with the seventh overall pick and has moved through the system fast. And he doesn't turn 20 until March 19. Kershaw, who throws in the mid-90s, will likely open 2008 at Class AA and may push the Dodgers for a rotation spot at some point this season.
90. Tony Abreu, 2B, Dodgers Abreu can play second base, third base and shortstop, which bodes well for his playing time because the Dodgers have 40-year-old Jeff Kent at second and injury-prone Nomar Garciaparra and inexperienced Andy LaRoche at third. Abreu also has a career minor league average of .308 for five seasons, making him a fine fit for a utility spot. Remember how much manager Joe Torre used to like to play utility guys such as Luis Sojo and Miguel Cairo while with the Yankees?
Hiring Torre was a masterstroke for the McCourts, and the Dodgers have a very strong nucleus of young players. They should win the NL West. Here's a sample of what Dodger fans can expect from Kuroda this season.
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