Domenic

Over the past several years the Dodgers have been plagued by an unwillingness to make a concerted effort to integrate youth into the line-up. Hopefully this will be the year.

What follows is what I hope to be the Opening Day line-up for the Dodgers:

1. Furcal, SS
2. Martin, C
3. Loney, 1B
4. Jones, CF
5. Kent, 2B
6. Kemp, RF
7. Ethier, LF
8. LaRoche, 3B
9. Penny, P

Will this happen? Probably not - odds are Garciaparra and Pierre will open the season as starters, barring a miraculous realization or trade. Pierre and Garciaparra just make too much money and the Dodgers are far too reliant on their veterans - and I doubt Torre, who is usually slow to acknowledge younger talent, will change the current norm.

__________________
Stats 101

JollyDodger

I would like to see the influx of youth as well, but Pierre is definitely starting. I think LaRoche is actually getting a fair shot this Spring, though.

Ethier has become some kind of expendable piece, despite producing when he's played. We'll see.

__________________
Let's play two!!!

Domenic

Pierre will probably start - you're 100% right. However, I really hope he doesn't - he just doesn't offer much of anything. I'd much rather have his line of .284/.350/.452 then Pierre's line of .293/.331/.353... his speed is almost a non-factor as he has such a hard time getting on base (that, and the fact that he seems to have lost his base-stealing instincts).

__________________
Stats 101