Season Preview: Brooklyn Dodgers

 

Last Season: 94-60, 1st in NLManager: Leo Durocher (9th season in Brooklyn, 9th total)Offseason: Brooklyn was very active in the offseason with Pittsburgh, making several different deals. The one with the biggest impact for 1948 was a three-for-three deal. The Dodgers gave up right fielder Dixie Walker along with pitchers Hal Gregg and Vic Lombardi in exchange for third baseman Billy Cox, middle infielder Gene Mauch, and pitcher Preacher Roe. Cox and Roe should see plenty of playing time while Walker will need to be replaced in the outfield. Then, in March, they traded Eddie Stanky to the Braves to make room at second base. Along with cash, they received Bama Rowell, who they then sold to the Phillies later in the month. Not wanting to mess with success, Brooklyn did not make any major additions to the lineup that won them the pennant last year.Catcher: Bruce Edwards finished fourth in MVP voting last year, but his job is in jeopardy after injuries. He should still see plenty of playing time when healthy, but it is rookie Gil Hodges who will start at catcher on Opening Day. Hodges did appear in 28 games last year but with a crowded catcher's unit may see some playing time at first base during the year. It's crowded because another rookie, Roy Campanella, will also look to get plenty of playing time this season. Campanella played in the Negro National League for nine years and also spent all year in Montreal last season for Brooklyn's AAA team. Bobby Bragan, the starter for two seasons during the war, is also still around on the roster.Infield: Stanky was dealt so Jackie Robinson could move over to his natural position at second base and show off his glove. Brooklyn's big experiment to integrate the majors was a resounding success, as Robinson withstood the negativity directed at him and thrived, winning Rookie of the Year and finishing fifth in MVP voting. He played nearly every day and led the league in steals while hitting just shy of .300, the perfect number two hitter. With last year's leadoff man Stanky gone, Robinson will take his spot at the top of the batting order. Taking over Robinson's old position at first is 20-year-old rookie Preston Ward. If Ward is not up to the task, Hodges may move to first. Spider Jorgensen did pretty well for himself in his rookie year last year, but the Dodgers have made the move for Cox to start. Jorgensen should still see some playing time but the move has to come as a blow. Pee Wee Reese is the anchor of this infield and helped make Robinson feel welcomed to the club last year. Now, they will work together in the middle infield. Reese is an amazing fielder and excels at getting on base. The starting shortstop for the Dodgers for the whole decade minus his time in the Navy, he should remain so for the foreseeable future. Mauch and Eddie Miksis can both play any position and will be available off the bench.Outfield: Arky Vaughan returned from retirement last year and was rewarded with his first World Series appearance. He did not see much playing time but will be out in left field on Opening Day. Carl Furillo returns in center field for the third straight season. With Walker gone, the Dodgers turn to Dick Whitman in right field. Whitman had experience in the outfield for the team in 1946 but only appeared in four games last year. This outfield situation is fluid and the Dodgers have a deep bench to back them up. Pete Reiser was a batting champion and led the league in steals twice in his career, but the injuries have added up and he is not capable of being an everyday starter anymore. Gene Hermanski has seen plenty of playing time the last couple of years and started in left field in all seven World Series games last fall. Rookies Duke Snider, Don Lund, and Marv Rackley will also be in the mix.Rotation: He had just eight wins in his first three years with the Dodgers, starting 26 games in that time, so Ralph Branca's performance last season came as an unexpected but delightful surprise. Branca won 21 games, one for every year he had been alive, as one of the youngest players in the majors. For a franchise with some great pitchers in its history, Branca may very well be the next to join that list. Joe Hatten at age 31 actually has time in the majors than Branca but has won 31 games in the two years he's been with Brooklyn. They were the only two pitchers with more than 20 starts on this club last year. With exactly 20 were Lombardi and Harry Taylor. Taylor won twice as many games as lost last year in his rookie season. Rex Barney joins the rotation and will actually start on Opening Day. One year older than Branca, Barney has not had many chances to start but did so once in last year's World Series (losing game five) and appeared out of the bullpen two more times. The first time the Dodgers need a fifth starter, they will turn to rookie Jack Banta, but expect that to change over the course of the season unless he can stand out. Roe had plenty of experience starting in Pittsburgh, but his ERA has been above 5.00 in each of the last two years. He will start the year in the bullpen for this reason.Bullpen: In a close game, the Dodgers know they can turn to Hugh Casey. Casey has made 91 relief appearances, normally around two innings at a time, in the last two years and given up just 54 earned runs in that span. Clyde King also stood out last year with a lower ERA than anyone on the team other than Branca. Hank Behrman should also get plenty of work but was not quite as successful as his teammates out of the bullpen. The Dodgers continue their youth movement with a plethora of rookies to call upon, as well.Outlook: Even though they won the pennant, the Dodgers are calling upon many rookies to help turn their run into a dynasty. There are so many questions marks this year, though, that the Dodgers may not even be the favorites in the NL. Their success will depend on these young players to live up to their expectations. Leo Durocher returns after being suspended last year but is on a tight leash. His job depends on the team matching its run from last season since he was not around for it.