2005 Angeles Dodgers Preview

Los Angeles Dodgers preview

ABOUT BASEBALL breaks down & previews the 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers.

2004 Record: 93-69, first place in NL West
'04 Playoffs: lost to St. Louis in NLDS
Home Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
Manager: Jim Tracy

2005 Prediction: 83-79, 2nd place NL West

ADDITIONS: C - Paul Bako, RP - Frank Brooks, OF - J.D. Drew, 2B - Jeff Kent, OF - Ricky Ledee, SP - Derek Lowe, 3B - Norihiro Nakamura, Jason Phillips (C), 3B - Jose Valentin

SUBTRACTIONS: 3B - Adrian Beltre, INF - Alex Cora, OF - Steve Finley, OF - Shawn Green, INF - Jose Hernandez, SP - Kazuhisa Ishii, SP - Jose Lima, SP - Hideo Nomo, RP - Paul Shuey.

LINEUP: Cesar Izturis (SS), Hee Seop Choi (1B), J.D. Drew (RF), Jeff Kent (2B), Milton Bradley (CF), Jayson Werth (LF), Jose Valentin (3B), Jason Phillips C

ROTATION: Derek Lowe (RHP), Jeff Weaver (RHP), Odalis Perez (LHP), Brad Penny (RHP), Scott Erickson (RHP)

CLOSER: Eric Gagne (RHP)

OUTLOOK: Losing bats like Beltre, Finley & Green hurts, but at least LA was able to get back some of that production by bringing in Kent & Drew.

The starting staff is OK, but has many question marks? Can Lowe carry over his magical '04 postseason into April playing in a new league? Will Weaver be consistent? Overall, the Dodgers look like a plus-.500 team, but not much more.