Los Angeles Dodgers
 The Los Angeles Dodgers will take the field this season for the first time in
twenty years without Tommy Lasorda at the helm. But, Lasorda left behind a team
full young talent that is not only expected win the National League West, but is
predicted by many to challenge for the World Series title.
The International House of Pitchers, including Ramon Martinez, Hideo Nomo, Ismael
Valdes, Pedro Astacio and Chan Ho Park produced a major league low 3.46 ERA last
season. The ace is Martinez, having gone 44-20 over the past three years, Nomo
is coming off a 16-11 season (including his first no-hitter), and Valdes is 31-19
in his short major league career. The others, including Tom Candiotti, who
hasn't had a winning season since 1990, will pitch better as a result of the
successes in front of them and round out the starting battery nicely. In the
bullpen, Todd Worrel is the No. 1 man, producing 76 saves over the past two
seasons. He is expected to be set up by a combination of Mark Guthrie, Darren
Dreifort, Scott Radinski and Antonio Osuna.
In the field, the Dodgers add some new veteran talent to a strong young lineup.
Third baseman Todd Zeile hit a career high in homeruns last season and is
expected to fit in nicely with powerful catcher Mike Piazza and first baseman
Eric Karros, who is coming off a record year with 34 homeruns. In the outfield,
Raul Mondesi will join Brett Butler, whose emotional battle with cancer has
inspired the entire Dodgers squad. And, rounding out the roster will be young
talents Chad Fonville, Juan Castro, Jeff Berlinger, and Wilton Guerrero, any of
which could become the next Dodger superstar.
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Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies lack the pitching talent needed to be contenders in the
National League West. Of course, this is often hard to blame on the pitchers
themselves due to the mile-high air of Coors Field. Still, 1995 Manager of the
Year Don Baylor will have to muster all of his considerable managerial talents if
he expects to turn this offensively weighted team in to a balanced threat in the
National League.
Over the past five years, no team has spent more draft picks on pitching than the
Rockies. But, young starters Mark Thompson, Jamey Wright, Bryan Rekar and John
Thompson are still a season or two from major league success. So, the Rockies
are forced to rely on Kevin Ritz, a mediocre talent by most standards, and Bill
Swift, who is in the final year of his contract, to lead the starting rotation.
Luckily, the Rockies have a solid bullpen, including Bruce Ruffin, Mike Munoz,
and Jerry DiPoto. Assuming the role of closer will be Curtis Leskanic, who is
coming off of elbow and shoulder surgery.
The powerful Rockies outfield, including Larry Walker, Ellis Burks, and Dante
Bichette are expected to hit on all cylinders and lead the lineup. But, the "big
three" have each struggled over the past two seasons and have been a
disappointment. First baseman Andres Galarrage and third baseman Vinny Castilla
are consistent hitters, but will do most of their damage at Coors Field. So, the
Rockies will look to Eric Young, the team's principal stolen-base threat and Walt
Weiss, the team's best clutch hitter, to bring consistency to the otherwise
erratic lineup.
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Mile High City
