Dodgers are just as strong without Manny

As I have mentioned before, pitching will be the main key to success to the Dodgers this season, but losing Manny Ramirez for 50 games (and the amount of time it takes for him to get used to playing) changed the look of the team. Originally seen as a strong offensive team, taking Ramirez out of the middle of the lineup truly changes the look of the lineup. Juan Pierre, although not the same kind of player Ramirez is, has been more than anyone could have expected playing everyday in left field. Ronald Belisario and Jeff Weaver have picked up the slack by allowing fewer runs so far this year.

Juan Pierre has started 15 games since Ramirez was first suspended and is batting .397 and scored 14 runs. He does not have the power that Ramirez has and won't drive in the amount of runs Ramirez is capable considering Pierre is a leadoff hitter, but he has been creating runs. He almost has a ratio of 1 run scored for each game started, which means he's a part of every game the Dodgers play. As mentioned, he's not known for power but has hit 8 doubles and one triple already, so he is not batting a soft .397, he's hitting the ball hard. Playing the way he has, it will be hard to see the Dodgers losing as much as was expected with the loss of Ramirez.

Ronald Belisario does not have a glamorous position on the Dodgers roster. He is a middle reliever and has done a very good job. Without Manny Ramirez, all of the pitchers have more pressure on them. Belisario has not looked pretty, but he has been getting the job done with a 2.75 ERA so far into this season. As a rookie, he has pitched very well on a very good team.

Jeff Weaver has been tossed from team to team over the past few years. It seems he struggles the more he pitches. So far, the Dodgers have limited him to 6 appearances with 3 starts and he's been a solid pitcher for the Dodgers. He can fill the versatile role as a spot starter and throw an inning or two out of the bullpen. Like Chan Ho Park did last year, see Jeff Weaver excel in a similar role this year.

Projection: May 26, 2009

BOS	100	62	0.617		PHI	88	74	0.543
NYY	95	67	0.586		NYM	86	76	0.531
TBR	87	75	0.537		ATL	76	86	0.469
TOR	81	81	0.500		FLA	71	91	0.438
BAL	70	92	0.432		WAS	68	94	0.420
DET	93	69	0.574		MIL	91	71	0.562
MIN	88	74	0.543		STL	85	77	0.525
CHW	77	85	0.475		CIN	84	78	0.519
KC	76	86	0.469		PIT	82	80	0.506
CLE	74	88	0.457		CHC	80	82	0.494
					HOU	71	91	0.438
TEX	85	77	0.525		LAD	98	64	0.605
LAA	79	83	0.488		COL	82	80	0.506
OAK	78	84	0.481		SDP	75	87	0.463
SEA	68	94	0.420		SFG	74	88	0.457
					ARI	68	94	0.420

ALDS: Red Sox over Rangers, Yankees over Tigers
NLDS: Dodgers over Mets, Milwaukee over Phillies

ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees
NLCS: Dodgers over Milwaukee

World Series: Red Sox over Dodgers

Projection: May 18, 2009

BOS	96	66	0.593		PHI	88	74	0.543
TOR	90	72	0.556		NYM	85	77	0.525
NYY	89	73	0.549		ATL	78	84	0.481
TBR	85	77	0.525		WAS	70	92	0.432
BAL	71	91	0.438		FLA	70	92	0.432
DET	90	72	0.556		MIL	96	66	0.593
KC	82	80	0.506		CIN	85	77	0.525
MIN	80	82	0.494		CHC	84	78	0.519
CHW	78	84	0.481		STL	81	81	0.500
CLE	72	90	0.444		PIT	79	83	0.488
					HOU	74	88	0.457
TEX	87	75	0.537		LAD	96	66	0.593
LAA	82	80	0.506		COL	83	79	0.512
OAK	78	84	0.481		SFG	71	91	0.438
SEA	71	91	0.438		SDP	70	92	0.432
					ARI	69	93	0.426

Note: Mets over Cincinnati after play-in game. Dodgers win tie-break over Brewers.

ALDS: Red Sox over Rangers, Blue Jays over Tigers
NLDS: Dodgers over Mets, Brewers over Phillies

ALCS: Red Sox over Blue Jays
NLCS: Dodgers over Brewers

World Series: Red Sox over Dodgers

Projection: May 11, 2009

BOS	96	66	0.593		NYM	89	73	0.549
TOR	92	70	0.568		PHI	87	75	0.537
NYY	86	76	0.531		ATL	77	85	0.475
TBR	85	77	0.525		WAS	73	89	0.451
BAL	72	90	0.444		FLA	71	91	0.438
DET	92	70	0.568		STL	91	71	0.562
KC	85	77	0.525		MIL	86	76	0.531
CHW	82	80	0.506		CIN	85	77	0.525
MIN	75	87	0.463		CHC	82	80	0.506
CLE	68	94	0.420		PIT	75	87	0.463
					HOU	74	88	0.457
LAA	89	73	0.549		LAD	95	67	0.586
TEX	82	80	0.506		COL	85	77	0.525
OAK	78	84	0.481		SDP	71	91	0.438
SEA	69	93	0.426		SFG	70	92	0.432
					ARI	68	94	0.420

ALDS: Angels over Red Sox, Blue Jays over Tigers
NLDS: Dodgers over Phillies, Cardinals over Mets

ALCS: Blue Jays over Angels
NLCS: Dodgers over Cardinals

World Series: Blue Jays over Dodgers

Projection: May 4, 2009

BOS	97	65	0.599		PHI	85	77	0.525
TOR	91	71	0.562		NYM	84	78	0.519
TBR	86	76	0.531		ATL	77	85	0.475
NYY	86	76	0.531		FLA	74	88	0.457
BAL	69	93	0.426		WAS	71	91	0.438
DET	91	71	0.562		STL	95	67	0.586
KC	83	79	0.512		CHC	86	76	0.531
CHW	78	84	0.481		MIL	82	80	0.506
MIN	78	84	0.481		CIN	82	80	0.506
CLE	68	94	0.420		PIT	78	84	0.481
					HOU	74	88	0.457
LAA	84	78	0.519		LAD	94	68	0.580
SEA	81	81	0.500		COL	88	74	0.543
OAK	81	81	0.500		SDP	73	89	0.451
TEX	78	84	0.481		SFG	68	94	0.420
					ARI	68	94	0.420

ALDS: Angels over Red Sox, Blue Jays over Tigers
NLDS: Rockies over Cardinals, Dodgers over Phillies

ALCS: Angels over Blue Jays
NLCS: Dodgers over Rockies

World Series: Angels over Dodgers