Only a year ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers' season imploded in turmoil that led to the departure of manager Grady Little after only two seasons; the expensive signings of Andruw Jones to boost the offense and Hiroki Kuroda to bolster the pitching staff; and the vocal mandate from chairman Frank McCourt to "win now."
With the heat on, the Dodgers played a first half that looked a lot like 2007. Jones had a poor season. Injuries again shredded the roster, with key players like Rafael Furcal, Brad Penny, Nomar Garciaparra, Jones, Jeff Kent and Takashi Saito missing major portions of the season.
But general manager Ned Colletti, with all indications that his job was on the line, first closed the black hole at third base by acquiring Casey Blake, then trumped every trade the Dodgers have ever made by landing future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez and his dreadlocks.
Instantly, a stumbling offense became a consistent run machine and a dour clubhouse was transformed into Manny's Disco, with Ramirez and his meringue music bouncing off the walls and energizing even those teammates who hated the genre.
An eight-game losing streak would have buried the club if it hadn't been immediately followed by an eight-game winning streak that turned into a title run. Even if his swing can't be copied, the Manny swagger and confidence rubbed off onto the rest of a team that went from hoping it could win to believing it would.
While Ramirez was the final piece -- as well as the biggest -- of the puzzle, the Dodgers wouldn't have won if not for a pitching staff deep enough to survive the losses of its Opening Day starter (Penny) and closer (Saito). First Chad Billingsley came of age, then Derek Lowe reclaimed ace status with a remarkable run down the stretch. Kuroda performed pretty much as expected for a No. 3 starter, while 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw stepped into the rotation to provide quite a contrast with 42-year-old Greg Maddux, acquired when Penny couldn't return from shoulder problems.
Saito's injury triggered a domino effect of promotions in the bullpen, with Jonathan Broxton becoming closer, Hong-Chih Kuo setting up, Chan Ho Park in a remarkable comeback season and rookie Corey Wade, who opened the year in Double-A, the unsung workhorse.
Offensively, outfielder Andre Ethier's all-around tools sent Juan Pierre to the bench, and Matt Kemp took over center for Jones, occasionally rising to his immense potential, occasionally not. Catcher Russell Martin's numbers were down a bit from his Gold Glove/Silver Slugger 2007 season, but he still was the club's only All-Star. James Loney led the club in RBIs.
Blake DeWitt came out of nowhere to open the season starting at third base and closed the season starting at second base. Nobody could have predicted either. Angel Berroa was taken off the scrap heap at midseason and revived his career as the new shortstop.
2008 recap
Record: 84-78, first place in NL West.
Defining moment: On July 31, the Dodgers acquired Ramirez in a three-team trade, dealing Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris. It was the most spectacular deadline trade in the history of the organization and had the greatest impact of any trade in club history.
What went right: Ramirez transformed the lineup and the clubhouse. Blake stabilized the infield. Billingsley stepped into the breach created by Penny's absence and won 16 games. Lowe turned it on during the second-half surge. Kuroda ate innings and stepped up in the playoffs. Hong-Chih Kuo's elbow didn't explode. Wade came out of nowhere to be an unsung workhorse. Blake DeWitt had two important starting stretches, opening the season at third base and closing it at second base. Berroa was a steady hand at shortstop during the late comeback. Ethier, Kemp and Loney continued to improve. Martin didn't match his previous two seasons, but he was an All-Star. Kershaw arrived.
What went wrong: Injuries plagued the club throughout the season, beginning with Jason Schmidt and Tony Abreu, leftovers from the previous year who missed the entire 2008 season. Furcal missed almost five months with back surgery. Saito missed two months with a torn elbow ligament. The Jones signing was a bust. Penny had a lingering shoulder injury that limited him to one win after May 2. Nomar Garciaparra was reduced to a bench role because his body couldn't endure. Pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney struggled all season. Esteban Loaiza was released. Scott Proctor needed elbow surgery.
Biggest surprise: In a different season, it could have been Park, who went from one game in 2007 to 54 this year, or DeWitt, who wasn't invited to Spring Training but started the season at third base and finished it at second base. Most impressive, however, was Wade, called up from Double-A in April. He quietly just threw strikes and got hitters out and finished the playoffs as the eighth-inning setup man for Broxton, an absolutely key contribution when Saito's injury jumbled all of the bullpen roles.
Forecast for 2009
Lineup: Let's start with what we know: Martin is the catcher, Loney is at first base, Ethier in right field and Kemp in center. Retirement is on the table for Kent, as well as oft-injured Garciaparra.
Rotation: Billingsley is a starter to build around, the NLCS notwithstanding. Kuroda could be even better, if he pitched during the regular season with the intensity he showed in the postseason. Kershaw, treated with kid gloves at age 20, is expected to be a mainstay at age 21. James McDonald was an eye-opener in his brief September, earning postseason opportunities in which he looked even better. Nobody will believe it until they see it, but Schmidt was sounding after his second shoulder surgery like his next comeback might actually work.
Bullpen: Broxton will be the closer sooner or later, and with Saito turning 39 after tearing an elbow ligament, it's more likely to be sooner than later. Broxton has shown glimpses of greatness, but so far he lacks the offspeed pitch and the consistency needed for a closer. With a 100-mph fastball, it's pretty much up to him and his slider. Wade is a durable strike-thrower well suited for the eighth inning. Hong-Chih Kuo's elbow held up better than the club expected, and when he's healthy, he has closer stuff and mentality. Ramon Troncoso was serviceable as a rookie. Proctor is coming off arm surgery.
Biggest need: They have 12 free agents and will need to re-sign or replace them. Ramirez is the focal point of fans, but that mating dance could take months. Resolving whether Furcal returns should happen faster and be just as important to management because that position is so hard to fill. The club will need significant bats if Ramirez is not back and an innings-eater to replace Lowe if he leaves, as expected. If Dewitt moves back to third base, second base is another position where the club might turn to an established player via trade or free agency.
Prospect to watch: It doesn't always work out when expectations are so high, but more is suddenly hoped for from McDonald coming off a September callup than any young Dodger since Edwin Jackson coming off three starts in 2003. Like Jackson, McDonald could have a starting job to lose, depending on offseason acquisitions.
