So much for my logic. Derek Lowe will start Opening Day in San Francisco, with Jeff Weaver running third in the rotation and starting the home opener, according to this report by The Associated Press.

The article suggests that lefthander Odalis Perez will slot in the No. 2 spot to break up righties Lowe and Weaver. This news is ironic, considering today's revelation that this is a game Barry Bonds might plan on sitting out.

This scenario is still muddled, though. In order for Weaver to start the home opener in Los Angeles on April 12, Perez's spot in the rotation would have to be skipped, because there is an off day on the schedule April 11.

So perhaps the mystery lefty starting Game No. 2 will be ... Wilson Alvarez, who appears healthier than Perez, who doesn't have much of a platoon advantage facing lefthanders, and who could easily slip back into the bullpen for any length of time with that scheduled off day - or for good, once Brad Penny returns. It would also give Perez an extra two days to get himself ready for the regular season.

So perhaps it's going to be Perez fourth and Scott Erickson fifth?

If Erickson is simply adequate in 2005, what a boost that will be for the depth of the Dodger starting rotation. With Lowe, Perez, Weaver, Alvarez, Erickson and Penny, that would be six solid starting pitchers before you even consider people like prospect Edwin Jackson (who may work the kinks out yet) or inconsistent Kazuhisa Ishii.