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March
30th
2002
Out of the Frying Pan
Rotohelp
NL West

by Jessica Polko

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National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Tony Womack, SS
2. Danny Bautista, RF
3. Luis Gonzalez, LF
4. Mark Grace, 1B
5. Steve Finley, CF
6. Junior Spivey, 2B
7. Craig Counsell, 3B
8. Damian Miller, C

Bench
Rod Barajas, C, 1B
Chad Moeller, C
Danny Klassen, IF
Chris Donnels, IF, LF
David Dellucci, OF
Jose Guillen, OF
Quinton McCracken, OF

Rotation
1. Randy Johnson
2. Curt Schilling
3. Rick Helling
4. Brian Anderson
5. Todd Stottlemyre*

Bullpen
Closer: Byung-Hyun Kim
Setup: Bret Prinz
Middle Relief: Mike Morgan
Lefty: Mike Myers
Middle Relief: Eddie Oropesa
Swingman: Miguel Batista

Injury Notes

Jay Bell will start the season on the DL because of a slight tear in his right calf muscle. He had problems with it earlier in the spring and recently re-aggravated the injury. The length of his stay on the disabled list has yet to be announced.

Greg Colbrunn will start the season on the DL following surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He should be able to rejoin the team mid-April. If McCracken is still on the team at that point, he will likely be demoted. If they are still carrying three catchers, then he will likely replace Moeller or Barajas.

Erubiel Durazo will start the season on the DL following surgery to remove the broken hamate bone in his right wrist. If everything goes well, he should be able to return to the team mid-May. At that time, depending on the health and production of the rest of the roster, either Spivey or Klassen will likely be demoted.

Matt Williams will be on the DL for most of the season. After fracturing his fibula in four places about 6 inches above the ankle and sustaining damage to his deltoid ligament, he had an eight-hole plate inserted to secure the bone as well as a screw to hold the ligament connecting the fibula to the tibia. While the plate should be removed in mid-May, he will have to undergo extensive rehab. Optimistic projections say he may return in early August, but early September is more realistic, and there is a very good possibility that he may not return this season. If Arizona makes a trade to replace his lost production or somehow falls out of the playoff race, the likelihood he will be out for the year increases.

Matt Mantei, who had Tommy John surgery last June, will start the season on the DL. His recovery is progressing well so he should be able to return as the Diamondbacks' closer in June.

Armando Reynoso missed most of last season due to shoulder problems and then had off-season surgery to repair a herniated disc. He's begun throwing off a mound and is targeting a mid-May return.

Greg Swindell, who has been bothered by shoulder tendinitis this spring, will likely start the season on the DL. He appears to be recovering, but there isn't enough time before the season starts for him to complete his rehab. He should be able to return in mid-April, though that timetable could be delayed if he suffers setbacks. When he returns, Oropesa will likely be demoted.

Stottlemyre has had a very good spring as he returns from his recent injuries. However, although he's pitching well now, his arm has been so badly injured in the past, it is doubtful whether he will be able to hold up for long. Most recently, he has been waiting for the thoracic nerve in his shoulder to regenerate. He's expected to be able to make his first start on April 9th, but the Diamondbacks will likely start him on the DL for the added roster flexibility since they won't need a fifth starter until then.

Offense Notes: *While Stottlemyre is on the DL, Arizona is expected to carry 15 offensive players. Once he returns they will have to make some decisions. While Barajas, who can play 1B, seems to have the edge on the back-up catcher's slot, Moeller is out of options. However, they could choose to carry both for a few weeks longer until Colbrunn returns, in which case McCracken would likely be cut. Of course if someone else is injured or unproductive when Stottlemyre and/or Colbrunn return, then things could change. Donnels is also a prime candidate to be demoted as players return from the DL, though he will likely stick around until Bell is healthy.

Miller will probably move up to the fourth spot in the line-up against lefties. Due to the holes opened by injuries and the tendencies of manager Bob Brenly, this lineup will likely change frequently from day to day.

Pitching Notes: Arizona has a strong staff with a lot of health risks. Batista will likely be called upon to make several starts this year while other pitchers are injured.


Colorado Rockies
1. Juan Pierre, CF
2. Juan Uribe, SS
3. Larry Walker, RF
4. Todd Helton, 1B
5. Todd Zeile, 3B
6. Todd Hollandsworth, LF
7. Jose Ortiz, 2B
8. Gary Bennett, C

Bench
Ben Petrick, C
Greg Norton, IF, LF
Terry Shumpert, UT
Benny Agbayani, OF
Mark Little, OF

Rotation
1. Mike Hampton
2. Denny Neagle
3. Shawn Chacon
4. John Thomson
5. Jason Jennings

Bullpen
Closer: Jose Jimenez
Setup: Todd Jones
Middle Relief: Rick White
Lefty: Dennys Reyes
Middle Relief: Kent Mercker
Middle Relief: Justin Speier
Middle Relief: Mike James

Injury Notes

Lefty Josh Kalinowski will likely require season-ending shoulder surgery to correct an impingement in his rotator cuff.

Pete Harnisch, who had surgery last August to repair a slight tear in a ligament in his elbow and remove a bone chip, will start the season on the DL. He has already begun pitching to batters and was scheduled to begin throwing in game situations, but the Rockies are bringing him back slowly. Provided he suffers no setbacks, Colorado seems to be targeting a May 1st return.

Scott Elarton will miss the season following surgery to repair a detached labrum and tighten his shoulder capsule. Catching prospect Garett Gentry re-tore his right labrum; he was acquired with Elarton from the Astros for Pedro Astacio, and now both Rockies are out for the season while Astacio tries to pitch with a rehabbed labrum tear of his own.

Offense Notes: Bennett will receive the majority of the playing time behind the plate. Petrick will only serve as a back-up, though if he shows off his stuff in limited playing time he may be able to reclaim a few at-bats.

Zeile will serve as the Rockies' emergency catcher. He's regained some of his range at 3B this spring but is still somewhat rusty. His position in the lineup is more important than his position on the diamond, and hopefully an observant Bell will notice that Zeile should really be dropped a slot or two.

Agbayani will probably platoon with Hollandsworth in left.

Pitching Notes: Unless one of the starters is injured between now and the time Harnisch is healthy again, he will likely have difficulty breaking into the rotation.


Los Angeles Dodgers
1. Dave Roberts, CF
2. Cesar Izturis, SS
3. Paul Lo Duca, C
4. Shawn Green, RF
5. Brian Jordan, LF
6. Adrian Beltre, 3B
7. Eric Karros, 1B
8. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B

Bench
Chad Kreuter, C
Dave Hansen, CR
Alex Cora, MI
Jeff Reboulet, UT
Hiram Bocachica, UT
Marquis Grissom, OF

Rotation
1. Kevin Brown
2. Hideo Nomo
3. Odalis Perez
4. Andy Ashby
5. Kazuhisa Ishii

Bullpen
Closer: Eric Gagne
Short Relief: Paul Quantrill
Setup: Giovanni Carrara
Middle Relief: Mike Trombley
Lefty: Terry Mulholland
Swingman: Omar Daal

Injury Notes

Darren Dreifort, who had his second Tommy John surgery last July, plans to return to the Dodgers after the All-Star break. He will not join the rotation but instead go to the bullpen, where he will likely eventually assume the closer's role.

Offense Notes: McKay Christensen, Mike Kinkade, and Tom Goodwin are all still in contention for a bench spot.

Pitching Notes: Jesse Orosco might still be able to make the bullpen, but probably only if they take 12 pitchers and they're already having trouble cutting bench players.

Brown, who had surgery to repair a torn flexor muscle in his elbow last September, has had some stamina problems this spring, but otherwise appears ready for the season. Ashby had the same surgery in June. The Dodgers are being cautious with both and plan not to use the two pitchers on back-to-back days.


San Diego Padres
1. D'Angelo Jimenez, 2B
2. Mark Kotsay, CF
3. Ryan Klesko, RF
4. Phil Nevin, 1B
5. Ray Lankford, LF
6. Sean Burroughs, 3B
7. Wiki Gonzalez, C
8. Ramon Vazquez, SS

Bench
Tom Lampkin, C
Deivi Cruz, IF
Mark Sweeney, 1B, OF
Ron Gant, LF
Bubba Trammell, LF/RF
Trenidad Hubbard, OF

Rotation
1. Kevin Jarvis
2. Bobby J. Jones
3. Brian Tollberg
4. Brian Lawrence
5. Bret Tomko

Bullpen
Closer: Trevor Hoffman
Setup: Jeremy Fikac
Middle Relief: Steve Reed
L1: Alan Embree
Middle Relief: Jason Boyd
Middle Relief: David Lundquist

Injury Notes

Jose Nunez will start the season on the DL due to a sore shoulder. There is not yet a set schedule for his return.

Tom Davey, who had surgery to shrink his rotator cuff surgery last September, will start the season on the DL. His return has not progressed smoothly, so he probably won't be able to rejoin the team until May, likely displacing Lundquist or Boyd, depending upon whether Nunez has returned.

Adam Eaton will miss the season following Tommy John surgery last August.

Robert Ramsay will probably miss the season following January surgery to remove a brain tumor. He will attempt to resume pitching in April or May, three or four weeks after he finishes chemotherapy.

Kevin Walker had Tommy John surgery last August. He's progressing quickly and may be able to rejoin the pen in July.

Offense Notes: Klesko will sit out the first four games because of his suspension from the brawls with Anaheim.

Pitching Notes: Jones will sit out the first 5 games because of his suspension from the brawls with Anaheim.


San Francisco Giants
1. Tsuyoshi Shinjo, CF
2. Rich Aurilia, SS
3. Barry Bonds, LF
4. Jeff Kent, 2B
5. J.T. Snow, 1B
6. Reggie Sanders, RF
7. Benito Santiago, C
8. David Bell, 3B

Bench
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Pedro Feliz, 3B
Damon Minor, CR
Ramon E. Martinez, IF
Marvin Benard, OF
Shawon Dunston, UT

Rotation
1. Livan Hernandez
2. Russ Ortiz
3. Ryan Jensen
4. Kirk Rueter
5. Kurt Ainsworth

Bullpen
Closer: Robb Nen
Setup: Felix Rodriguez
L1: Jason Christiansen
Middle Relief: Jay Witasick
L2: Aaron Fultz
Middle Relief: Tim Worrell

Injury Notes

Jeff Kent may or may not start the season on the DL. His recovery from his broken wrist has progress quickly. If he can't play, then Bell will play 2B, Felix will play 3B, and they may carry Calvin Murray.

Jason Schmidt has been troubled by a strained groin all spring and will start the season on the DL. While the groin appears to have healed, he needs the extra time in extended Spring Training to prepare for the regular season, since the groin kept him out of most camp activities. When he returns, he will likely push Jensen out of the rotation.

Offense Notes: Edwards Guzman has had a strong spring can could win the back-up catcher's job, but Torrealba is out of options and is also a solid prospect.

Pitching Notes: Ainsworth has been bothered by a strained groin for the last week, which has made the Giants cautious. He is scheduled to start April 6th, but a setback could change that.

Division Ranking:
Arizona
San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego
Colorado

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