Are the Los Angeles Dodgers suddenly worried about ticket sales?
Yes, it’s hard to argue about Joe Torre’s record with the New York Yankees. He did a great job there for 12 seasons and deserved a much better sendoff than he got from Hank Steinbrenner. But was the 67-year-old Torre really the right choice to rescue the dysfunctional Dodgers?
This much is sure: He looked great on the podium in the Dodger Stadium infield when he was announced at a news conference that seemed heavier on style than substance. But wouldn’t general manager Ned Colletti have been better off addressing the Dodgers’ lack of power hitters?
It says here both Torre and the Dodgers are making a mistake in this marriage. Torre figures to miss Derek Jeter horribly on a team without veteran leaders. The Dodgers will wonder why they didn’t stick with the patient Grady Little or bring in a manager who could inspire young players.
In the end, team owner Frank McCourt will realize that there is no quick fix for reversing the dynamics of a marketplace that has seen the Los Angeles Angels seize control with a run of winning seasons. Here’s an early look at how the five off-season managerial hires will stack up after the season’s end.
DUSTY BAKER
Reds
No manager in today’s game can do a quicker fix than Baker. He doesn’t have as much to work with in Cincinnati as he did when he came to the Cubs in 2003, but the cupboard is hardly bare, especially, not with owner Bob Castellini opening up his wallet. The hiring of Baker and the signing of free-agent closer Francisco Cordero were impossible to forecast a year ago. Expect Baker to get the Reds above .500 in 2008 and possibly even into contention in the NL Central.
TREY HILLMAN
Royals
Up is the only way for this franchise to go, and Hillman was a great pick to lead it out of the cellar. He brings unconventional thinking to a difficult situation after leading the Chunichi Dragons to a championship in Japan. He and the young corps of players figure to start a good thing together that will pay dividends in 2010 and ’11.
JOHN RUSSELL
Pirates
Russell is an ultra-solid baseball man who paid his dues in the minor leagues. He won’t accept losing easily but could need a season to sort out a difficult situation with Jason Bay and other disillusioned veterans.
JOE GIRARDI
Yankees
Nothing short of a World Series parade will be considered a success for Torre’s replacement. It’s not out of the question that the Pinstripes could miss the playoffs altogether given the strength of Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, the Angels and Seattle.
TORRE
Dodgers
See above.
Chicago story
KEVIN CAMERON
Padres
You couldn’t blame the 1998 Joliet Catholic grad if he was a little wide-eyed last season. After being buried in the Minnesota Twins’ deep farm system, San Diego picked him in the Rule 5 draft and he found himself following Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux into games. Cameron rarely blinked, compiling a 2.79 ERA in 48 relief appearances in 2007. He returns in the same role this season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
DIAMONDBACKS
Last year: 90-72, 1st; beat Cubs in the first round, lost to Colorado in the NLCS.
Manager: Bob Melvin.
Payroll: $63 million.
Headliners: Brandon Webb, Eric Byrnes, Stephen Drew, Chris Young.
Additions: Dan Haren, Chad Qualls, Chris Burke.
Losses: Jose Valverde, Livan Hernandez, Tony Clark, Bob Wickman, Jeff Cirillo.
Health watch: Randy Johnson heads to spring training with his back in reasonable shape. Orlando Hudson is back after surgery for a torn ligament in his thumb.
X-factor: Micah Owings is more than just the No. 5 starter behind Webb, Haren, Johnson and Doug Davis. He hit .333 with a .683 slugging percentage last year and could be used as a backup first baseman and pinch hitter.
Tipping point: Valverde led the majors with 47 saves but was traded to Houston because of the presence of fellow right-handers Brandon Lyon, Tony Pena and Juan Cruz. Lyon gets first crack as the closer, but many believe Pena can close.
ROCKIES
Last year: 90-73, 2nd, wild card; beat Philadelphia in the first round, beat Arizona in the NLCS, lost to Boston in the World Series.
Manager: Clint Hurdle.
Payroll: $72 million.
Headliners: Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins, Todd Helton.
Additions: Luis Vizcaino, Kip Wells, Marcus Giles.
Losses: Josh Fogg, LaTroy Hawkins, Jeremy Affeldt, Kaz Matsui, Jamey Carroll.
Health watch: Jason Hirsh returns to the mound after his 2007 season was ended by a broken bone in his leg.
X-factor: Giles is first in line to replace Matsui, with Jayson Nix and Clint Barmes also in the picture.
Tipping point: The continued development of young pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Manny Corpas will determine if Colorado can continue to win with pitching. Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook look like solid anchors for the staff.
PADRES
Last year: 89-74, 3rd; lost wild-card playoff to Colorado.
Manager: Bud Black.
Payroll: $70 million.
Headliners: Jake Peavy, Trevor Hoffman, Khalil Greene, Adrian Gonzalez, Greg Maddux.
Additions: Jim Edmonds, Tadahito Iguchi, Randy Wolf, Mark Prior, Glendon Rusch, Shawn Estes, Jeff DaVanon.
Losses: Mike Cameron, Milton Bradley, Marcus Giles, Rob Mackowiak, Geoff Blum, Morgan Ensberg, Doug Brocail, Brett Tomko.
Health watch: Ex-Cub Prior hopes to be back by June and needs a strong finish to re-establish himself as an impact arm. Wolf hasn’t made more than 23 starts in a season since 2004 and is coming off minor shoulder surgery.
X-factor: Weak-hitting San Diego looks for a lift from Edmonds and rookie left fielder Chase Headley, a converted third baseman. Brian Giles and Kevin Kouzmanoff need to step it up.
Tipping point: When the Padres win, they do it because of pitching. Peavy and Chris Young are a potent 1-2 punch.
DODGERS
Last year: 82-80, 4th.
Manager: Joe Torre.
Payroll: $115 million.
Headliners: Russell Martin, Derek Lowe, Rafael Furcal, Jeff Kent, James Loney.
Additions: Andruw Jones, Hiroki Kuroda, Gary Bennett.
Losses: Luis Gonzalez, Randy Wolf, Mike Lieberthal, David Wells, Mark Sweeney.
Health watch: Jason Schmidt, the Dodgers’ big 2007 investment, is to return from surgery on his shoulder and his biceps tendon. It’s up in the air whether he will be on the Opening Day roster.
X-factor: Jones had to settle for a two-year deal because teams were scared away by his increased weight and diminished batting average (.222). He needs to be a reliable run-producer.
Tipping point: A disappointing finish in 2007 cost Grady Little his job. Torre wants to prove the Yankees were premature to put him out to pasture. His diplomatic skills could help fix a clubhouse fissure between veterans and kids.
GIANTS
Last year: 71-91, 5th.
Manager: Bruce Bochy.
Payroll: $90 million.
Headliners: Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum, Aaron Rowand.
Additions: Rowand.
Losses: Barry Bonds, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Klesko, Mike Matheny, Russ Ortiz.
Health watch: No major concerns.
X-factor: Can Zito bounce back from a disappointing 2007? It was alarming that the man with the huge contract wasn’t as good as teammate Noah Lowry in his first season in the NL.
Tipping point: With Bonds no longer making this a one-player franchise, how much of an impact can Bochy have? He won with marginal rosters in San Diego and has the starting pitching to build around, but this is an old, weak roster.
