Center fielder Matt Kemp became the player Los Angeles Dodgers fans always dreamed he would become last season. In his sixth season in Dodger Blue, Kemp led the National League in both home runs and RBIs. The Baseball America Player of the Year is currently getting ready to ply his trade once again at Dodger Stadium in 2012. Dodgers tickets are already on sale for the team's home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 10th. Manager Don Mattingly will be hoping his club can mount a better challenge for the division title this year after finishing 11.5 games out of first. The Dodgers will need better all-around team batting to reach the playoffs next October. Kemp hit 61 more RBIs than any of his teammates one year ago. LA should have excellent pitching with 21-game winner Clayton Kershaw leading off the starting rotation. Dodger faithful will be looking for the front office to add a run producer or two to the roster this winter. It's safe to assume a number of free agents would love playing alongside a budding star like Matt Kemp. 

The Don Mattingly era will begin this spring with the former Yankee great taking over the Los Angeles Dodgers managerial position following Joe Torre’s retirement. Gone is the legendary moustache Mattingly sported during his playing days in New York, but Donnie Baseball still has the fire that propelled him to six All Star Games and nine Gold Glove Awards. Prior to taking the Dodgers job last fall, Mattingly served as hitting coach and bench coach under Torre in both the Bronx and LA. With 2011 Dodgers tickets on sale, Los Angeles sports fans are excited to see if their new manager can reawaken the Dodgers’ good form. Despite falling short of the playoffs last season, the Dodgers are not without talent. However to challenge for the NL West title, Los Angeles will need center fielder Matt Kemp and first basemen James Loney to bring their power to the ballpark on a regular basis. With plenty of questions needing answers heading into the regular season, Don Mattingly will have every opportunity to make his mark this season in Dodgertown.