Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Injuries made the challenge even greater for the rebuilding Indians in 2010. If they can stay healthy, they may be able to take a step forward in 2011.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 MLB Record: 80-82
Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 MLB Home Record: 45-36
Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 MLB Away Record: 35-46

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Betting

Los Angeles Dodgers Odds to Win the National League: +1500
Los Angeles Dodgers Odds to Win the World Series: +3000

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Preview & Prediction

They say it is the children who suffer most from divorce. In the ‘War of the Roses’ battle between Frank and Jamie McCourt, it is the Dodgers who are caught in the middle. GM Ned Colletti’s hands have clearly been tied by the financial constraints resulting from the on going high-stakes ownership tussle. Colletti has done his best under those circumstances. This offseason, he spent over $90 million to sign or re-sign 10 free agents – mid-range (or lower) expenditures the Dodgers hope will fill holes and help the team rebound from last year’s fourth place finish in the NL West. None of the moves strikes fear in the hearts of the defending champion Giants (even the loss of Juan Uribe to their rivals), and the Dodgers might be left hoping the fresh energy of first-year manager Don Mattingly provides the biggest spark.

Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Don Mattingly – First year Record: 0-0

Mattingly learned the craft from mentor Joe Torre but don’t expect a carbon copy. Donnie Baseball will be more hands-on, both in the clubhouse and in the dugout.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Projected Batting Order: SS Rafael Furcal (S), 2B Juan Uribe (R), RF Andre Ethier (L), CF Matt Kemp (R), 1B James Loney (L), 3B Casey Blake (R), C Rod Barajas (R), LF Xavier Paul (L).

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Projected Rotation: LH Clarlon Kershaw, RH Chad Billingsley, LH Ted Lilly, RH Hiroki Kuroda, RH Jon Garland.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Projected Closer: RH Jonathan Broxton

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Offense:

SS Rafael Furcal has lost chunks of two of the past three seasons to back problems. As he moves through his 30′s his durability probably won’t improve. OF Matt Kemp ran into some bad luck last year. He’s a candidate for a big bounce back season. OF Andre Ethier still can’t hit lefties and is just about reaching his ceiling. He may never be an MVP candidate, but he’s at least asolid bat for the middle of the lineup. 1B James Loney’s power may never come, but he has always elevated his game with runners on base, making him avaluable run producer. Juan Uribe will have the everyday second base job and could certainly provide good power for a middle infielder. 3B Casey Blake is fading. He’s on the verge of becoming an offensive liability. C Rod Barajas provided solid offense after arriving in L.A. He still has an above-average bat for a catcher. In the third outfield spot, the Dodgers could go with defense and play Tony Gwynn, or go with offense with Jay Gibbons.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Rotation:

Clayton Kershaw took another step in his progression last year, and he’s poised to be a Cy Young candidate this year. He works deep enough into games to get wins and continues to overpower hitters. Getting out of Wrigley Field and into spacious Dodger Stadium should be great for Ted Lilly, an extreme flyball pitcher. He could be in for one of the best seasons of his career. Hiroki Kuroda has quietly emerged as one of the better pitchers in the National League. He throws strikes, misses a decent amount of bats and induces alot of groundballs. He’ll be very valuable if he can stay healthy. Just when many were starting to sour on Chad Billingsley, he started to deliver again. He could very well be a 15-win, 200-strikeout guy again this year. Jon Garland gives them a solid veteran innings eater at the back of the rotation.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen:

The closer’s role is a huge question mark for L.A., but Jonathan Broxton will likely get a chance to reclaim his job during spring training. A lot of his problems last season could be traced back to a midseason toe injury. When healthy, he’s still absolutely dominant. If Broxton falters, Hong-Chih Kuo will replace him. Kuo has been absolutely lights out as a set-up man and would likely be equally unhittable as a fulltime closer. He’ll have some fantasy value even if he is still setting up this year. 23-year-old converted catcher Kenley Jansen has posted ridiculous strikeout-per-inning rates at every level and may be groomed as L.A’s closer of the future. Keeper-leaguers, take note.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Middle Infield:

The Dodgers could count heavily on middle infielders Rafael Furcal and Uribe to carry a large share of their offense in 2011. There is no question the Dodgers are a better team when Furcal is at the top of their lineup, serving as a catalyst for the team’s attack. But keeping Furcal on the field has been a major issue. He has played fewer than 100 games in two of the past three seasons (a lot fewer in 2008) due to an assortment of back and hamstring injuries. When healthy, though, Furcal is an All-Star-level leadoff hitter. Since Furcal joined the team in 2006, the Dodgers have won at a .542 clip (304–257) when he is in the starting lineup but are barely a .500 team (125–124) when he doesn’t start. Uribe is just as much of a gamble for different reasons. The Dodgers stole Uribe away from the Giants for three years and $21 million based on his career-high 24 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2010 (plus two homers and nine RBIs during the Giants’ postseason run). But that breakout came after a three-year slide in production (and conditioning) with the White Sox (’07-08) and Giants (’09). Uribe does provide insurance at shortstop if Furcal gets injured (again) or third base, where Casey Blake’s status as a stopgap measure now enters its third full season.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Corners:

The Dodgers had hoped first baseman James Loney would have developed into a Mark Grace clone by now, providing doubles power with a high average and run production. Outstanding with the glove, Loney has seen his offensive production stall. There were still positive signs, though, in his doubles (a career-high 41) and RBI totals (88, second on the team) last season. Across the diamond, Blake (who will turn 38 in August) has begun to show signs of his age. Blake has provided a veteran bat in the Dodgers’ lineup, driving in 143 runs over the past two seasons, and invaluable stability in the clubhouse. But he hit just .248 (his lowest average since 2005) with 17 home runs (his lowest total since also hitting 17 in 2003) and developed some disturbing splits (a .222 average against righties; .314 against lefties) last season. He could lose playing time at third base to Uribe as the season plays out and the Dodgers search for more pop from their corner infielders.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Outfield:

Not many teams will say the player who led them in home runs, RBIs, runs and extra-base hits had a down year. For Matt Kemp, though, last year’s 28 home runs and 89 RBIs seem disappointing when coupled with a .249 average, club-record 170 strikeouts, an assortment of baserunning lapses and declining defensive performance. Andre Ethier, meanwhile, seemed to be making that leap forward at the start of the 2010 season. Through his first 33 games, he was hitting .392 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs, including a number of game-winners. A broken finger set him back, though, and Ethier’s overall numbers were all down. On an offensively challenged team, he and Kemp needed to be a dynamic duo in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup. Far less is expected from left field, where Colletti’s spare-parts building approach is most evident. Jay Gibbons, Tony Gwynn Jr., Marcus Thames and Xavier Paul will all compete for playing time there.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Catching:

Russell Martin was a two-time All-Star by age 25, but his production declined precipitously in the two seasons since. By the time the Dodgers decided to make him a non-tendered free agent this winter, the team had already moved on by signing Rod Barajas. Dioner Navarro was re-acquired as well, and those two — with some help possibly from A.J. Ellis — will handle the catching duties in 2011.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Bench:

Thanks to injuries and inconsistent performances throughout the infield, Jamey Carroll was a very busy utilityman in 2010. The diminutive Carroll hit .291 while starting 64 games at shortstop, 19 at second base, eight at third and even five in left field. He could find plenty of playing time in 2011 as well if Mattingly finds himself shuffling Uribe between second and third (or shortstop). Beyond Carroll, the Dodgers will piece together an uninspiring group of role players, including catchers Navarro (whose offense declined precipitously the last two years in Tampa) and Ellis and the losers in the left field auditions.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2011 Season Predictions

The Dodgers played in back-to-back National League Championship Series in 2008-09, and most of the players from those teams are still around.. But something was missing from last year’s club, and it may still be missing this year. This is a franchise swirling in negative vibes, mostly because of the ownership situation. Don Mattingly has his work cut out for him; the first-year manager mayfind out it takes more than talent to win. – We predict that the Los Angeles Dodgers will finish 78-84 & 4th in the NL West Division.

Los Angeles Dodgers 5-Year Win Trend

2006: T-1st NL West 88
2007: 4th NL West 82
2008: 1st NL West 84
2009: 1st NL West 95
2010: 4th NL West 80

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