Divisional Series Playoff Roster

(Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images)

Like everybody else, I am extremely excited that the Dodgers are returning to the postseason. However, there are still decisions to be made between now and the first game, mainly setting the playoff roster. I obviously don't have any control over the matter, but what I can do is give my two cents on the topic.

Starting Lineup

C-Russell Martin
1B-James Loney
2B-Orlando Hudson
3B-Casey Blake
SS-Rafael Furcal
LF-Manny Ramirez
CF-Matt Kemp
RF-Andre Ethier

The eight players listed above are obvious inclusions on the Dodgers playoff roster, and all but one of them are an easy choice to be named starter as well. Of course, that one other case is the battle for second base between Hudson and Belliard.

I've compared the two players on this site before, and little has changed since then. That shouldn't be too surprising, since both Hudson and Belliard still have the same talent level they did two weeks ago.

I'm favoring Hudson simply because I think he's the player with the better skills. In general terms, he's a better hitter (.339/.331 wOBA), a better fielder (2.4/0.4 UZR/150), and a better baserunner (+18/-5 Net Gain) than Belliard is. However, if Joe Torre were to go with the hot hand in Belliard, I wouldn't mind so much in this case, because the difference in talent between the two individuals is not extreme.

My conclusion is basically to pick whoever you prefer, because in the end, the difference probably won't be much. That said, I would urge you to keep in mind what I wrote in that comparison post about hot streaks.

Everybody is reeling off these comparisons to Marlon Anderson in 2006, but while he may have had a 1.243 OPS for the Dodgers that year, his OPS in the postseason was .692. I don't blame him though, he was never as good as he showed during the regular season after that trade. And neither is Belliard.

Remember, hot and cold streaks start and end quite randomly. That's not a stat nerd thing either. Everybody who has played any sport knows that there's no switch you turn on and off. Sometimes you just feel like God and you're drilling everything. A week later, you go 1-4 in a game, then 0-4 the next day, and before you know it, you're 1 for your last 21, and everybody's asking you why you suck. Point being, if you want to chance it that Belliard's hot streak will continue, I don't have any real issue with it. Personally though? I'd rather not risk it.

To that point, even Belliard admits he doesn't know how he'll get back in the groove. His current health is a concern of mine as well.

By the way, and I find it sad that I even have to bring this up, but the Dodgers should not be starting Pierre over Manny. I know the temptation is there because Pierre is fun to watch and he always looks like he's doing more, but that's just not reality. For instance, all of us Dodgers fans agree that the problem in September was the offensive production, right? Well, as terrible as Manny seemed to have been down the stretch, his September OPS (.849) was still 56 points higher than Pierre's career high OPS (.793) in a single year. Think about it.

Bench

C-Brad Ausmus
IF-Ronnie Belliard
IF-Juan Castro
IF-Blake DeWitt
OF-Juan Pierre
PH-Jim Thome

Ausmus, Belliard, and Pierre are easy inclusions, and I doubt anybody would protest their spots on the roster.

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