Matt Kemp, Courtesy of dizbuster319 via Flickr
By Matthew McConnell
So the 2009 Dodgers’ season did not have a happy ending. That means it’s back to the drawing board as the front office start starts laying the ground work for next season. However, the Dodgers are in a unique position because they have very few holes to fill. The Dodgers have a young nucleus of talented players in which GM Ned Colletti should build around by adding a couple of starting pitchers and a second baseman. These are the top five guys from 2009 who will play pivotal roles in the 2010 Dodgers’ quest for a World Series.
1. Andre Ethier
Before the season began, manager Joe Torre compared Ethier to his former All-Star Paul O’Neil. For my non-baseball savy readers, O’Neil was Torre’s right fielder during the Yankees’ Championships in ’96 and ‘98-2000. Like Ethier, he was left-handed, could hit, and was never afraid to show frustration (see record for most water coolers thrown onto field.) While Ethier has always carried himself like O’Neil, most Dodger fans figured we would have to wait a few years until he produced like him. However, in 2009 Ethier did his best O’Neil impression and led the Dodgers in homeruns (31) and runs batted in (106) while also serving up six electrifying walk-off hits. Ethier hasn’t even turned 28 yet and is entering the prime of what has the potential to be a stellar career. Just to compare, O’Neil never hit 30 homeruns in a season and didn’t drive in 100 or more runs until he was 34.
2. Clayton Kershaw
When most of us were 21, we were clowning around our college campus celebrating the fact we could finally drink legally. What was Clayton Kershaw doing when he was 21? Oh nothing special. I mean he only led ALL National League pitchers in opponents batting average against (.200), had the fifth lowest earned-run average (2.78), the fifth highest strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (9.74), and second lowest homeruns per 9 innings pitched (.37). Case in point, Kershaw went toe-to-toe with Cardinal’s ace Adam Wainright in game 2 of the NLCS and only allowed 1 run over his first 6 innings pitched. Days later in game 1 of the NLDCS, he held the Phillies to zero runs through the first 4 innings. Last year Kershaw was simply one of the best pitchers in the National League, despite the fact he was the third-youngest player in the league! Once Kershaw conquers his control problems (third in walks allowed and sixth in wild pitches) and pitches into the seventh inning of games, he will be a true “ace.”
3. Matt Kemp
Kemp’s nickname is appropriately “The Bison.” No, not because he went to SW, silly. It is because he is big, fast, and strong. In 2009, Kemp slugged 26 homeruns and drove in 101 runs while playing stellar defense in centerfield. Centerfielders are supposed to be scrawny guys who steal bases. While the Bison is not scrawny, he was third in the National League in stolen bases (34). Once Kemp develops better plate discipline, he will become one of the elite players in the game and form a dynamic duo with Ethier in the outfield. Also, Kemp is only 25 and still entering the prime of his career.
4. Jonathon Broxton
Big Jon (6-feet-4-inches and 290 pounds) is an intimidating closer. In 2009 he ranked sixth in the National League in saves and led all relief pitchers with 114 strikeouts. To cap off his remarkable season, he allowed less than 1 base runner per inning pitched. Because Broxton has blown two straight NLCS game 4s to the Phillies, some critics focus on Broxton’s failures as a closer. That isn’t fair, nor accurate, because more often than not Broxton is one of the premier closers in the game and strikes fear into the hearts of opposing hitters. If Broxton ever conquers his fear of Matt Stairs, or the Canadian slugger gets deported, Broxton has the potential to lead the Dodgers to the World Series. He is also only 25 and should only become more dominating.
5. Chad Billingsley
It was a tale of two seasons for Billingsley. At the All-Star break, he was the Dodgers’ “Ace” and arguably one of the top three pitchers in the National League (3.34 earned-run average and was selected to the All-Star team). However, Billingsley fell apart in the second-half of the season (5.20 earned run average) and wasn’t even given a chance to start in the postseason. Have no fear Dodger fans. In 2007, a left-handed pitcher on the Indians had a 5.38 earned-run average through his first 16 starts, was optioned down to the minor leagues, and eventually left off the Indians’ postseason roster. This lefty came back in 2008 and had an amazing season as he won the American League Cy-Young Award. That pitcher is the Phillies’ Cliff Lee, who pitched an absolute gem against the Dodgers in game 3 of the NLCS. Moral of the story is you do not give up on young talented pitchers too early. Billingsley is only 25, has a career earned-run average of 3.55 and throws hard with a good breaking ball.
