Okay, I'm going to actually look at the team and put aside the painful obsession with Frank McCourt.

I can't believe that the Dodgers won't make some additional move to boost their offense, but I not going to assume that they will either. So let's see what we've got:

Dodger Depth Chart

First, let's look at some potential Dodger lineups against right-handed pitching, which the team will face most of the time.

Lineup 1
Roberts, CF
Lo Duca, C
Green, RF
Beltre, 3B
Ventura, 1B
Encarnacion, LF
Cora, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: The Dodgers simply do not have a cleanup hitter against right-handed pitching. You might as well say to Beltre, "You're the man," because as of now, there is no obviously better option. Ventura is the next-best alternative, but then you have a left-handed hitter batting behind Green, making it easy for opponents to bring in left-handed relievers.

Lineup 2
Roberts, CF
Ventura, 1B
Lo Duca, C
Green, RF
Encarnacion, LF
Beltre, 3B
Cora, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: If Beltre isn't the man, you could try betting on Lo Duca as a No. 3 hitter, drop Green from his best spot to cleanup, move Ventura's walks up to the No. 2 slot, and protect Green with Encarnacion. I thought about Encarnacion in the third slot, but don't think he will walk enough to man it.

Lineup 3
Lo Duca, C
Ventura, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Green, RF
Encarnacion, CF
Trammell, LF
Cabrera, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: If Roberts can't get on base enough to use his speed, you could throw the track shoes out the door and put the plate-discipline guys 1-2 at the top. Green bats fourth, and you can take your lousy pick from Beltre, Encarnacion, Trammell and (in this case) Cabrera at No. 3.

Lineup 4
Roberts, CF
Lo Duca, C
Green, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, RF
Trammell, LF
Cora, 2B
Izturis, SS

Lineup 5
Roberts, CF
Lo Duca, C
Green, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, RF
Trammell, LF
Cabrera, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: If Green ends up at first, you essentially lose a left-handed bat, as all of the Dodger outfield reserves behind Roberts and Encarnacion are right-handed.

Lineup 6
Roberts, CF
Lo Duca, 1B
Green, RF
Ross, C
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, LF
Cabrera, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: Dave Ross hit seven home runs in 93 at-bats against righties last year. He deserves a chance to build on that - whether he could do it at No. 4 remains to be seen.

One area where Jim Tracy erred last year was his platooning of Cabrera and Cora. Cora hits better against lefties, yet often sat out against them so the right-handed Cabrera could play. Cabrera, while also better against lefties, is also better against righties than Cora is. Yet Cabrera would often find the pine against righties while Cora played.

The Dodgers actually had a semi-productive lineup facing left-handed pitching last year if they wanted. Let's see what they might look like in 2004 with a southpaw on the mound against them.

Lineup 1
Cabrera, CF
Lo Duca, C
Green, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, RF
Trammell, LF
Cora, 2B
Izturis, SS

Comment: You might as well give Roberts some rest against lefties.

Lineup 2
Cora, 2B
Cabrera, CF
Lo Duca, C
Green, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, RF
Trammell, LF
Izturis, SS

Comment: I'll take a chance leading off Cora against lefties. You won't see me put Izturis up there, though.
Lineup 3
Cora, 2B
Lo Duca, 1B
Green, RF
Trammell, LF
Beltre, 3B
Encarnacion, RF
Ross, C
Izturis, SS
Comment: And so on ...

I think Tracy is destined to do a lot of experimenting in March, if not in April and May.

A guy with power and on-base capability against right-handed pitching would make all the difference in the world.