DODGERS' HOPE MAY HAVE LEFT TOWN TEAM TO HAVE DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT LOOK.Byline: Tony Jackson
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer On the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russian) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of their first spring training in nine years as defending National League West champions, the Dodgers bear little resemblance to the club that popped the champagne on that glorious Saturday last fall. Steve Finley Steven Allen Finley (born March 12 1965, in Union City, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who bats and throws left-handed. He currently is a free agent, and has been working out on a regular basis since his release, hopeful a call will come from a team looking , the one who set off that celebration with a walk-off grand slam grand slam n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. , left on Interstate 5 heading south. Adrian Beltre, the man arguably more responsible than any other for last season's magical run, left on I-5 heading north. Shawn Green Shawn David Green (born November 10, 1972, in Des Plaines, Illinois) is a 6' 4" left-handed Major League Baseball player. Green is the starting right fielder for the New York Mets.[1] Green was a 1st round draft pick, and has been a two-time major league All-Star. , the player who so triumphantly came marching home five years ago, wandered off into the desert. What is left is a mishmash mish·mash n. A collection or mixture of unrelated things; a hodgepodge. [Middle English misse-masche, probably reduplication of mash, soft mixture; see mash. of free-agent signings, trade acquisitions and a handful of holdovers (some would say not nearly enough). It is the product of a complete offseason overhaul that might or might not achieve Paul DePodesta's goal of repeating as division champs, probably is better equipped to achieve DePodesta's goal of contending for years to come and absolutely, positively achieves DePodesta's goal of placing his stamp on the franchise as he begins his second season as general manager. How it all comes together will be determined in the next six weeks. How it all pans out won't be known for months. For now, the 25-man roster with which the Dodgers will open the season April 5 at San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden appears largely set. Try deciphering who might fit into the two or three open spots, though, and you might find yourself reaching for an aspirin. This spring's open casting calls will be for the fifth spot in the starting rotation (probably a hybrid starter/reliever job), the final spot in the bullpen (which might be eliminated if club officials decide to go with an 11-man pitching staff) and a utility infield job. Competing for the last starting spot will be Kazuhisa Ishii Kazuhisa Ishii (石井一久 Ishii Kazuhisa; born September 9, 1973 in Wakaba-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese Major League Baseball pitcher. , Wilson Alvarez ``I'm not ruling out the possibility of him starting by any stretch,'' DePodesta said. ``We want to be open to whatever. But he's probably not a starter.'' Also competing will be Buddy Carlyle, Aquilino Lopez, Ryan Rupe, Mike Venafro and Kelly Wunsch. Dennis Houlton, a Rule 5 pick from Houston, is a long shot, but he's also the only candidate presently on the 40-man roster. Also, there is a real possibility the club could wind up with only one left-hander, probably Alvarez, in the bullpen. ``I'm not very concerned about that,'' DePodesta said. ``It's all about getting outs. That, to me, is the most important thing. But we may end up going with a 12-man staff, too, which would give us a little more flexibility.'' The picture for position players, who report next Wednesday, is equally muddled. David Ross and Paul Bako, neither of whom provides much in the way of offense, will share the catching duties until newly acquired prospect Dioner Navarro is ready to take over. Navarro will be in Las Vegas until that day, and that day might not come in 2005. On the other hand, it might come very soon. ``We'll get Navarro in our camp and see what we think of him up next to those other two guys and see what happens,'' DePodesta said. ``We're certainly not counting on Navarro by any stretch, but if and when he proves to us he's ready, he'll be here.'' Three of the four infield spots are set for now, with Gold Glove winner Cesar Izturis at shortstop, newcomer Jeff Kent at second and Hee-Seop Choi at first, although Choi will have to produce in order to stay there. Third base probably belongs to Jose Valentin, but utilityman Antonio Perez will try to get comfortable at the position in spring training. If he does, he'll get some starts at third. ``I certainly expect Valentin to get 400-plus plate appearances,'' DePodesta said. ``But he does have the added ability of being able to play all over the place. We would like to see if Antonio can play third, just to give us more flexibility.'' The division is markedly better, especially in San Francisco, and the Dodgers' path to the playoffs is more hazardous. But for better or worse, this is DePodesta's club now. And the results, whether good or bad, will have his fingerprints all over them. Tony Jackson, (818) 713-3675 tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: SPRING TRAINING ROSTER |
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