2006 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
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2006 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Overview of 2005:
In 2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers, led by newly signed second baseman Jeff Kent (.289, 29 HR, 105 RBI), finished with a disappointing 71-91 record. Key contributors included first basemen Olmedo Saenz (.263, 15 HR, 63 RBI) and Hee-Seop Choi (.253, 15 HR, 42 RBI), along with outfielder Milton Bradley (.290, 13 HR, 38 RBI) and late-season addition Jose Cruz (.301, 6 HR, 22 RBI). Catcher Jason Phillips (.238, 19 HR, 55 RBI) and outfielder J.D. Drew (.286, 15 HR, 36 RBI) also added to the lineup, but the Dodgers ended the season 11 games behind division champions, the San Diego Padres.
The pitching staff was led by Jeff Weaver (14-11, 4.22 ERA), Derek Lowe (12-15, 3.61 ERA), and Brad Penny (7-9, 3.90 ERA), who provided quality starts. Reliever Yhency Brazoban (4-10, 5.33 ERA, 21 saves) anchored the bullpen.
Offseason Moves:
To strengthen the team, the Dodgers made several key signings. Nomar Garciaparra (.283, 9 HR, 30 RBI) joined to play first base, Bill Mueller (.295, 10 HR, 62 RBI) at third, Rafael Furcal (.284, 12 HR, 58 RBI) at shortstop, and Kenny Lofton (.335, 2 HR, 36 RBI) in centerfield. The team traded Milton Bradley to the A's and added Jae Seo (8-2, 2.59 ERA) from the NY Mets and Brett Tomko (8-15, 4.48 ERA) from the Giants to the rotation.
For the bullpen, the Dodgers acquired closer Danys Baez (5-4, 2.86 ERA) and reliever Lance Carter (1-2, 4.89 ERA) from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
2006 Season Outlook:
Mueller, Garciaparra, and Furcal are expected to alleviate the pressure on Kent in 2006. The focus is on Garciaparra's ability to stay healthy and prove skeptics wrong. Furcal is anticipated to be a solid anchor in the infield with his powerful arm, aiming to elevate his performance after leaving the Braves.
Jae Seo, having an impressive second half last season, is looked upon to deliver quality innings, despite the Mets' doubts about his consistency. While expectations for Tomko are tempered, there’s hope for improvement over his 8-15 record. The offseason additions of Baez and Carter are set to bolster the bullpen, with Baez being a particularly sought-after asset.
If the offensive pieces click, the Dodgers could surprise in the NL West. However, most experts still view the starting pitching as a concern, hindering serious contention in 2006.
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