What the Los Angeles Dodgers lack in money, they more than make up for in talent.

With last year’s NL MVP runner-up in Matt Kemp growing into the franchise player, and the reigning Cy Young winner in the NL starting on opening day, Don Mattingly can’t be complaining. Even though the team lost former closer Jonathan Broxton and innings eater Huroki Kuroda, the Dodgers still believe the 82-79 record from last year can be repeated, at worst, and a crack at the division title is attainable at best. Kershaw and Kemp are still relatively young and their new prized possession in Dee Gordon is even younger. Gordon is the son of pitching star Tom “Flash” Gordon, who once starred as the Boston Red Sox closer in the late 90s. Dee is not like his father in the sense that he is much smaller and is a shortstop but he runs about as quick as his dad’s fastball was. As he toured throughout the minor leagues, he tore up the bases stealing base after base creating so much buzz that some predict him to steal 100 bases in a season. Still, no base stealer can be a threat without help behind him. Andre Ethier is approaching his 30’s and still has yet to show that he can be the hitter that drives in 100 runs a year. James Loney and Juan Rivera can add some help, but aren’t nearly as threatening as Kemp. The pitching isn’t spectacular, but the bullpen should be pretty solid and Kershaw will be shutting teams down every 5 days. Continue reading →