Who’s new: Manager Davey Johnson, right-handed pitchers...
Who’s new: Manager Davey Johnson, right-handed pitchers Kevin Brown, Alan Mills and Mel Rojas, left-handed pitchers Pedro Borbon and Greg Cadaret, catcher Todd Hundley, outfielder Devon White, third baseman Dave Hansen.
* Who’s gone: Left-handed pitchers Scott Radinsky, Brian Bohanon and Mark Guthrie, right-handed pitchers Ramon Martinez and Darren Hall, third baseman Bobby Bonilla, outfielders Roger Cedeno, Matt Luke and Jim Eisenreich, catchers Charles Johnson and Tom Prince.
* Biggest question of the spring: Has Hundley fully recovered from reconstructive surgery on his right elbow? The new Dodger catcher played in only 53 games for the New York Mets last season after undergoing surgery in September 1997. Hundley, a switch-hitter, set a major league record for home runs by a catcher in 1996 with 41, driving in 112 runs. He also hit 30 homers in ’97. Few players have returned to form after suffering similar injuries, and although Hundley says his elbow feels fine, the jury is out.
* Job seekers: Cadaret and Borbon. The club lost left-handers Radinsky and Guthrie in free agency, and Cadaret and Borbon are the top contenders for the left-handed situational role. This is potentially the Dodgers’ weakest link beginning the spring, and they need someone to emerge.
* Keep your eye on: Adrian Beltre. The physically gifted young third baseman was overwhelmed after he was rushed from double-A San Antonio last season. Dodger officials expect his work ethic to improve this season.
* Reasons to be excited: The starting rotation, featuring new ace Brown, should be among the game’s best. The Dodgers believe No. 2 starter Chan Ho Park is on the verge of greatness, and No. 5 starter Darren Dreifort showed promise last season. Closer Jeff Shaw knows how to protect leads.
* Reasons to be worried: In addition to the questions about Hundley, right fielder Raul Mondesi has disappointed management by failing to become the dominant player--and team leader--they once envisioned. Gary Sheffield acknowledges he’s not pleased about being moved from right to left field.
* Projected lineup: 1. Eric Young, 2b, 2. White, cf; 3. Sheffield, lf; 4. Hundley, c; 5. Mondesi, rf; 6. Eric Karros, 1b; 7. Mark Grudzielanek, ss; 8. Beltre, 3b.
* Projected rotation: Brown, Park, Carlos Perez, Ismael Valdes, Dreifort.
* Projected bullpen: Mills, Rojas, Cadaret, Borbon, Antonio Osuna.
* Projected closer: Shaw.