Garciaparra is a six-time All-Star and LaRoche is a rookie, but coming off last season, it's hard to say either has an advantage. Garciaparra suffered a dramatic power outage last year, while LaRoche wasn't able to take his Triple-A production into the Major Leagues in two trials. Garciaparra is 34 and hasn't made it through an entire season without injury since 2003, while LaRoche is 10 years younger but also has a history of back and shoulder problems.

If you read between the lines of comments made by Garciaparra and manager Joe Torre, it's clear the subject of Garciaparra moving into a role as a super utility player at some point has been discussed. If the youth movement continues, LaRoche will win the job and Garciaparra will become an essential bench player with the ability to deliver a clutch hit late in the game. If not, Garciaparra is a nice fallback plan at third base, at least for the short term.

Why have I heard little in the last two months regarding the Dodgers' interest in Johan Santana?
-- David N., Encino, Calif.

It's not that they don't have interest in Santana. It's just that they don't have interest trading three prospects and handing a $150 million contract extension to one player who could blow out and be worthless -- especially after their recent experience with Jason Schmidt. The McCourts have talked about developing from within since buying the club. To my knowledge, they've never been in on Santana seriously because the cumulative cost is enormous and would undermine the youth movement.

Although I understand the purpose of the mini-camp at Dodger Stadium, what kind of message do you feel that sends to the hundreds of other players in the Minor League system? Couldn't they simply use a big league camp invite to truly get their point across?
-- Mason J., Los Angeles

The message it sends is one of reality -- the best players are the best players. I see your point and being so open about which players are considered prime-time prospects is unusual for the Dodgers. But, every Minor Leaguer knows the odds of reaching the Major Leagues are very long. The top prospects are always treated preferentially because of their talent. The mini-camp isn't meant to discourage players with lesser talent but to help maximize the chances of the most talented players to succeed.

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Why don't the Dodgers go hog wild with their payroll like the Yankees? I'm sure they have the broadcasting revenues to justify it.
-- Zev Y., St. Louis

Actually, they don't. The Yankees have their own broadcasting network. The Dodgers' broadcasting rights are owned for the next six years by News Corp., as part of the terms of the sale to the McCourts. The Dodgers were purchased four years ago for $430 million, the Yankees 35 years ago for $12 million. The Dodgers are leveraged, the Yankees are owned free and clear. The economic situations couldn't be more different.

For comparison sake, let's drop some zeros and say you bought your house 35 years ago for $120,000 and your next door neighbor bought the same model 31 years later for $4.3 million. Virtually the same houses, but completely different economic fundamentals. That said, the Dodgers are generating cash and doing well enough to undertake a much-needed refurbishing of their stadium while still ranking near the top of the league in player payroll.

Do the Dodgers have the bullpen to compete for a title?
-- Russ S., Long Beach, Calif.

They would seem to have the back end, with Takashi Saito closing and Jonathan Broxton setting up. Joe Beimel is one of the best situational left-handers in the National League because he's also effective against right-handers and he can pitch a second inning. Scott Proctor is the kind of workhorse a manager can abuse and he'll keep asking for more. In long relief, it's presumed the loser of the fifth starter spot (Jason Schmidt or Esteban Loaiza) can pitch through a batting order more than once. D.J. Houlton and Eric Stults have had success at the Major League level as swingmen. It's unknown whether recovering pitchers Yhency Brazoban or Hong-Chih Kuo will be healthy enough to make the club out of Spring Training. There are young pitchers like John Meloan, Greg Miller, James McDonald, Eric Hull and Justin Orenduff given outside chances of making the club. And nobody has ruled out the possibility of re-signing Rudy Seanez.