TEAM EVALUATIONS: LAKERS

Team: Lakers

Conference: Liberty

Division: Northeast

2009 Record: 70-92, 4th Place (as Bobcats)

Typical Lineup:

1B Paul Konerko

2B Orlando Hudson

SS Miguel Tejeda

3B Adrian Beltre

LF Garrett Jones/Nolan Reimold

CF Nolan Reimold/Ryan Raburn

RF Jayson Werth

DH Vladimir Guerrero/Nick Johnson

C A.J. Pierzynski/Josh Bard

Only Werth (and Garrett Jones in a more limited role) had a truly outstanding season among this group.  Even so, it adds up to a workable lineup.  There are a couple of 1's in the infield with Hudson and Beltre, but the rest of the defense is lacking, and there is no true centerfielder.  This was a great team about three years ago, but a lot of these guys are long in the tooth and on the decline.

Starting Rotation:

Chad Billingsley

John Garland

Randy Wells

Ross Ohlendorf

Derek Lowe

The rotation was boosted with 2010 draft picks Wells and Ohlendorf, but only to closer to average rather than good.  Derek Lowe is a dead weight at the back end.

Bullpen:

Matt Guerrier

Trevor Hoffman

Octavio Dotel

James MacDonald

Trever Miller

George Sherrill

A big strength for the team, especially Hoffman, Guerrier and Sherrill.  Miller makes a terrific LOOGY.

Closer:

Joe Nathan

One of the game's best, Nathan should protect most of the Lakers leads.  It was unfortunate that he had to get Tommy John surgery this spring, but the team has some other options with Hoffman and Sherrill.

Minors:

Michael Burgess

Jose Iglesias

Shelby Miller

Jared Mitchell

Wilson Ramos

Ben Revere

Carlos Santana

Jordan Walden

Drew Storen

Plenty of blue-chip talent here.  Santana should solve the catching problems, and Jose Iglesias may be ready at SS very soon after the Red Sox threw $6 million at him.  The rest are top prospects with good potential that should help the aging lineup get younger very soon.

The Lakers great bullpen will probably not be enough to completely counteract the middling offense and starting pitching, at least not for a playoff spot, but I think they will improve over 2009.  They have the 10th best WHIP and 10th best OPS in the league, which points to an average season.  I'm thinking the relievers will account for a few extra wins, though, to get them into the positive category.

Predicted Record: 83-79