13. Los Angeles Dodgers

Big Leagues- The Los Angeles Dodgers have all the tools needed to be successful in the Major Leagues, but for one reason or another they can't seem to put it all together. Maybe it's the Hollywood distractions that Larry Bowa suggested were hindering Matt Kemp's abilities or maybe it's something else, but for some reason this team just can't live up to it's potential. Between Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, James Loney and Andre Ethier, the Dodgers should be a perennial threat to win a World Series. Joe Torre wasn't quite the answer and I'm still not convinced the team is heading down the right road. The Dodgers have top of the line management and their player development skills combined with their ability to bring in names like Rafael Furcal has opened the door for them to become a dynasty type team. They need to get it together as a club and start working towards a common goal and then they will find success. Kemp, Loney, Kershaw, and Ethier are all early round picks for fantasy leagues in 2011 and a resurgent Juan Uribe is a solid consideration for 2nd base. Jonathan Broxton is a former top of the line closer, but he had a bad year last year too and if he finds his way back to his old ways he will be a steal in the late rounds. 

Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Rod Barajas

1st Base- James Loney

2nd Base- Juan Uribe

Shortstop- Rafael Furcal

3rd Base- Casey Blake

Left Field- Jay Gibbons/ Tony Gwynn Jr. 

Center Field- Matt Kemp

Right Field- Andre Ethier

Pitching-  Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, John Garland

Relief- Hong-Chih Kuo, Matt Guerrier, Johnathan Broxton

Top Prospects

RHP Zach Lee-  Zach Lee was one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation last year, and had already committed to Les Miles and the LSU Tigers, but then the Dodgers came in and swept in with a $5.25 million dollar signing bonus and took the Tigers recruit.  He's a power arm and a competitive pitcher and we'll see  how he progresses the next few seasons.  

RHP Kenley Jansen- The huge 6'6 right hander mowed through Double A last year as a 22 year old.  He pitched in 33 games and had a 1.60 ERA in 45 innings.  He projects as nothing but a power arm in the bullpen for the Dodgers, but he will be more important to the actual team than a fantasy team.  He will either start next year in Triple A or the majors with a chance to contribute.

1B Jerry Sands- Sands came out of nowhere after being drafted in the 25th round of the 2008 draft.  Last year in 2 levels the first basemen hit .301 with 35 home runs and 85 rbis.  Not only that he had 18 stolen bases while only being caught twice.  He was a little old at 22, but those numbers are impressive.  The Dodgers should start him in Triple A and see if his numbers continue when the competition increases.

SS Dee Gordon-  The Dodgers took the speedster in the 4th round of the 2008 draft, and he hasn't stopped running since.  In the past two years Gordon has stolen 73 and 53 bases respectively.  He will never hit double digit home runs in a season, and he isn't the best defender but he isn't the worst option the Dodgers could have for a replacement for Rafael Furcal in the next couple years.

OF Trayvon Robinson-  The Dodgers took Robinson in the 10th round of the 2005 draft as a high schooler, and he hasn't left the minors since.  He lacks the youth to be considered a top prospect, but he has really come into his own the past year in the minors.  Last year in Double A he hit .300 with 17 home runs and 29 doubles in 136 games.  He may not project to a starting outfielder but should be a contributor in the big leagues someday.

Payroll and Direction- The Dodgers are definitely not heading n the direction that any team wants to go. Just a few years ago they were expected to be a top 5 team. They made the mistake of adding Manny Ramirez and their success has since plummeted. They pay out just over 102 million dollars with their highest salary going to Hiroki Kuroda. Kershaw is still young and in his pre- arbitration years and makes just 440,000 dollars a year. This team is full of youth and talent, but if the players are not willing to focus on baseball, they will continue to fail. Don Mattingly will continue to bring the old school work ethic that Joe Torre and Larry Bowa were trying to instill in the club and hopefully he will make a more successful impact on the players. If they are not will to change their ways they will soon fall from a potential top finish in a weak NL West to the very bottom of it.