That’s a popular question throughout the major leagues after the 32-year-old Paul DePodesta revamped the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers last July. They were cruising along at 60-42 when DePodesta traded popular catcher Paul LoDuca and valued setup man Guillermo Mota to Florida.
By the time the July 31 trading deadline had passed, DePodesta had dealt 20 percent of his first-place team in moves that failed to bring Randy Johnson to Los Angeles, as he had hoped. While the Dodgers held on to win the National League West, it’s hard to argue they benefited from the fine-tuning as St. Louis swept them in the first round of the playoffs.
DePodesta, who studied under Billy Beane for five seasons in Oakland before taking over for Dan Evans, has remained aggressive in the off-season. Even though he had failed to re-sign third baseman Adrian Beltre, he sent Shawn Green to Arizona in a trade built around 21-year-old catcher Dioner Navarro.
While Dodgers owner Frank McCourt admires DePodesta’s calculating nature, he won’t be too happy if his team fails to sustain its success. DePodesta is counting on guys like Brad Penny, Hee Seop Choi and Jose Valentin to deliver for him.
DODGERS
2004: 93-69
(1st; lost to St. Louis in first round.)
MGR: Jim Tracy
ADDITIONS: RHP Derek Lowe, RF J.D. Drew, 2B Jeff Kent, C Dioner Navarro, 3B Jose Valentin, 3B Norihiro Nakamura, C Paul Bako, OF Ricky Ledee, LHP Frank Brooks
LOSSES: 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B-RF Shawn Green, CF Steve Finley, 2B Alex Cora, RHP Jose Lima, RHP Hideo Nomo, 1B-3B Robin Ventura, C Brent Mayne, C Todd Hundley, SS Jose Hernandez
FOR STARTERS: Counting guys traded away at the deadline last July, five primary starters are gone from the 2004 playoff team, including Beltre, Finley and Green, who filled the middle of the order against St. Louis. Tracy must reconstruct.
FRESH FACES: Navarro, known as “Pudgito” because of his strong arm, fronted the Green trade with Arizona and could win a job as catcher even through he’s only 20 and hasn’t played above Double A. Nakamura is expected to platoon with Valentin.
OUTLOOK
General manager Paul DePodesta forced his stamp on a solid roster and could find himself patching holes at catcher, first base (where Hee Seop Choi is the regular) and third during the season. He has sinkerball pitchers working with a suspect infield.
GIANTS
2004: 91-71
(2nd)
MGR: Felipe Alou
ADDITIONS: LF Moises Alou, RHP Armando Benitez, SS Omar Vizquel, C Mike Matheny
LOSSES: C A.J. Pierzynski, RHP Dustin Hermanson, OF Dustan Mohr, RHP Dave Burba, SS Cody Ransom
FOR STARTERS: Ace Jason Schmidt has made it through only one of the last three springs injury-free. His performance in Scottsdale will set the tone, good or bad.
FRESH FACES: The outfield is crowded with productive veterans, but Jason Ellison could earn playing time, at least in the late innings, because of his fielding and speed.
OUTLOOK
GM Brian Sabean imported proven talent in an attempt to win a World Series before Barry Bonds goes into serious decline. Alou should allow Bonds to avoid another 120-intentional-walk year.
PADRES
2004: 87-75
(3rd)
MGR: Bruce Bochy
ADDITIONS: RHP Woody Williams, CF Dave Roberts, LHP Darrell May, LHP Chris Hammond, RHP Steve Sparks, 2B-OF Eric Young, 3B-OF Geoff Blum, OF Mark Sweeney
LOSSES: LHP David Wells, CF Jay Payton, SS Ramon Vazquez, SS Rich Aurilia, SS Alex Gonzalez, RHP Antonio Osuna, 1B Robert Fick, 3B Dave Hansen, LHP Mike Bynum
FOR STARTERS: Getting Ryan Klesko back on track is huge for a team that had only two guys (Phil Nevin and Brian Giles) drive in 80 runs last season. He and Roberts are under the gun to help a lineup that was eighth in runs last season.
FRESH FACE: The organization’s best prospect is second baseman Josh Barfield, whom Mark Loretta is blocking.
OUTLOOK
A loaded bullpen keyed the Padres’ improvement last season, but nothing in the game is more inconsistent than the performance of relievers.
ROCKIES
2004: 68-94
(4th)
MGR: Clint Hurdle
ADDITIONS: OF Dustan Mohr, INF Desi Relaford, SS Alfredo Amezaga, RHP Marcos Carvajal, LHP Matt Merricks, RHP Aaron Taylor, LHP Darren Oliver, RHP Eddie Gaillard, INF Greg Norton
LOSSES: 3B Vinny Castilla, RF Jeromy Burnitz, SS Royce Clayton, LHP Shawn Estes, RHP Steve Reed, OF Mark Sweeney
FOR STARTERS: With Shawn Chacon moving back into the starting rotation, Hurdle must settle on a closer. The leading candidates are Chin-Hui Tsao and Brian Fuentes.
FRESH FACE: Left-hander Jeff Francis was 16-3 with a 2.21 ERA in the minors a year ago, striking out 196 in 154 2/3 innings. He moves into the rotation and is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
OUTLOOK
No team in the majors will be less experienced than the Rockies, who could trade veterans Preston Wilson and Charles Johnson during spring training. They have kids playing just about everywhere, with Todd Helton, Wilson and Johnson the exceptions.
D’BACKS
2004: 51-111
(5th)
MGR: Bob Melvin
ADDITIONS: RHP Javier Vazquez, 3B Troy Glaus, RF Shawn Green, RHP Russ Ortiz, SS Royce Clayton, CF Jose Cruz Jr., INF Craig Counsell, LHP Shawn Estes, C Kelly Stinnett
LOSSES: LHP Randy Johnson, 1B Richie Sexson,1B-3B Shea Hillenbrand, OF Danny Bautista, 1B-3B Craig Colbrunn, LHP Stephen Randolph, LHP Casey Fossum, LHP Shane Nance, RHP Matt Mantei
FOR STARTERS: With Cruz providing insurance behind Luis Terrero in center field, closer (Greg Aquino or Jose Valverde) is the primary question mark for Melvin, who was hired after the Diamondbacks took a mulligan on Wally Backman.
FRESH FACE: Lefty Michael Gosling, a first-round pick in the 2002 draft from Stanford, is the favorite to win the one opening in the rotation.
OUTLOOK
This is a much more solid team than it was a year ago and won’t miss Johnson too badly if Vazquez rebounds from his poor 2004 season in New York. Ownership talks about competing for a playoff spot, but the goal should be .500.
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TUESDAY: NL CENTRAL
