Rafael Furcal
Photo: Icon SMI
The series on team offense continues with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I plug the probable lineup from CBSSportsLine into the Lineup Analysis Tool, and fill in the numbers with Marcel the Monkey projections. For pitchers, I used the Dodgers numbers from 2008. The results:
- Best lineup: 5.17 runs per game
- Probable lineup: 4.91 runs per game
- Worst lineup: 4.59 runs per game
- Regressed lineup: 4.60 runs per game
The Dodgers scored 4.32 runs per game in 2008.
No matter what lineup Joe Torre puts on the field, the Dodgers are likely to score at a higher rate than in 2008. The probable lineup for the Dodgers is close to the ideal, if your shifted everyone up one spot in the order (and switched Hudson and Martin). All eight position players are projected to post OBA’s above the 2008 NL average of .331. That gives them plenty of depth in case of injuries.
That’s good, with the big question with this offense being the health of the middle infielders. Hudson missed 78 games over the last two years, and Furcal managed to play just 36 games in 2008. Both players are good offensively, so they are tough to replace.
However, since this offense is deep, and since the NL West won’t be known for it’s hitting, the bigger boppers in the lineup should still be able to post a fine number of runs. I get the feeling that Marcel underestimated Manny’s slugging percentage a bit. Yes, he’s getting old, but once again he’s playing for a new contract.
Given the question marks in the Dodgers starting rotation, they’ll need as many runs as they can generate.
Other teams in this series:
- Texas Rangers (see this entry for a full explanation of this system).
- Chicago Cubs
- Boston Red Sox
- Minnesota Twins
- Detroit Tigers
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Indians
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- New York Yankees
- Baltimore Orioles
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Florida Marlins
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Atlanta Braves
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Colorado Rockies
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Houston Astros
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Cincinnati Reds
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