By Mark Soltau
SportsLine Senior Writer

If the Los Angeles Dodgers don't win the National League West, there will be hell to pay. No, not just pitcher Kevin Brown's seven-year, $105 million salary, the richest in baseball history. New owner Rupert Murdoch has invested a lot of cash in this Hollywood makeover, and won't be content with a wild card berth.

Not to worry. Even with a new general manager, a new manager and five changes in the every-day starting lineup , the Dodgers are the team to beat ... if their infield holds up. As most baseball followers know, the latter is no guarantee. A year ago, shortstop Mark Grudzielanek committed 33 errors.

Not only did Murdoch lure Brown to Tinsel Town, he also acquired switch-hitting catcher Todd Hundley from the Mets, center fielder Devon White from Arizona and relief pitcher Alan Mills from Baltimore. But his best move was hiring manager Davey Johnson.

Johnson has a way of making players feel uncomfortable, not to mention getting the most out of them. Few would argue that the Dodgers have been among the league's most prominent underachievers. Despite a plethora of talent, the team hasn't won a post-season game since 1988.

Look for Johnson to change that. Once again, Los Angeles is loaded, though that doesn't always assure victories. The difference is that Johnson knows how to push the right buttons and is also a good motivator (read: fear factor).

Brown joins a solid staff that includes Chan Ho Park, Carlos Perez, Ismael Valdes and Darren Dreifort. Long reliever Dave Mlicki would be a coveted starter with most other teams. Right-hander Jeff Shaw, who posted 48 saves last season, is the new closer.

Look for the Dodgers to score more runs this season, a problem last year when they ranked 24th in the majors. The heart of the order includes Gary Sheffield, Hundley, Raul Mondesi and Eric Karros , which should give opponents problems provided Hundley's right elbow holds up. He still isn't 100 percent after undergoing reconstructive surgery in 1997 and might give way to promising rookie Paul LoDuca.

During the off-season, Sheffield consented to play left field so Mondesi could play right, but has since complained about the switch. He has also griped about the team's appearance code that prohibits earrings and facial hair, and hinted at retirement. Stay tuned.

There are no such worries about the 34-year-old Brown, who posted an 18-7 record and 2.38 ERA last year with San Diego. Plus, he has the early-season schedule on his side: Atlanta, Arizona, Colorado, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and St. Louis. Last season, he was a combined 9-0 with a 1.38 ERA against those teams.

Of course, the Dodgers have a way of making things interesting, the infield in particular. If nothing else, they should get plenty of television exposure.

Best of the rest

It has become old hat, but no manager gets more out of his players than Dusty Baker. Throw out Barry Bonds, and what do the San Francisco Giants really have? Smoke and mirrors.

Actually, there's more to the Fabulous Baker Boys than meets the eye. Clean-up hitter Jeff Kent had another big season last year, overcoming a knee injury to slug 31 homers and drive in a team-leading 128 RBI. Bonds blasted 37 home runs and added 122 RBI, and hit 100 points higher with Kent behind him in the batting order.

New right fielder Ellis Burks signed a two-year, $15 million contract after a late-season trade from Colorado, but had off-season surgery on both knees. The outfield can be an adventure at 3Com Park, which will become a lonely place next year when the Giants move into to their new downtown digs.

Starting pitching remains the biggest question mark. Opening Day starter Mark Gardner had a rocky spring and promising young left-hander Shawn Estes must rebound from a rough 7-12 season. The center field job is still up for grabs, with leadoff hitter Marvin Bernard the leading candidate.

Jim Leyland will try to mold Colorado into a contender, signing a three-year, $6 million contract last October. Leyland managed that feat with the Florida Marlins and has already made a good impression on his new players.

Failing to land Brown, the Rockies stood pat, which isn't a bad thing, especially on offense. They did re-sign cleanup hitter Larry Walker to a six-year, $75 million extension, and have returning sluggers Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla and Todd Helton, the latter accounting for 93 HR's and 363 RBI last season.

The Dodgers have a lot riding on the right arm of Kevin Brown.(Allsport)

Leyland's biggest challenge will be helping his pitchers keep the ball inside Coors Field, and finding a way to jump-start the offense on the road. Last year, Colorado hit .325 at Coors Field and .257 elsewhere.

So much for patience. After a quiet first season that saw expansion Arizona win only 65 games, owner Jerry Colangelo got serious. His biggest move was dropping $118.9 million on pitcher Randy Johnson and six other free agents including pitcher Todd Stottlemyre and center fielder Steve Finley.

First baseman Travis Lee and third baseman Matt Williams are the only Opening Day starters from last season returning at the same positions.

Look for the Diamondbacks to be far more competitive, especially with the Big Unit on the hill. The 35-year-old Johnson was 9-10 with a 4.33 ERA with Seattle last year before a midseason trade to Houston. The change of scenery was good for his mind and statistics, Johnson going 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA with the Astros.

Arizona might stumble initially because of injuries to speedy leadoff hitter Tony Womack, Finley and Williams, while Jay Bell is making a transition from shortstop to second base. But make no mistake, the second-year Diamondbacks will have more bite.

The defending National League champion San Diego Padres slipped so fast, they invited country western singer Garth Brooks in for a spring training tryout. Brooks wasn't much of a left fielder, but his signing livened up the bus trips.

About the only constant with San Diego is right fielder Tony Gwynn, who begins his 18th season with the Padres. Once management locked up a new stadium, promising voters to keep the team competitive, it copied the Florida Marlins, trimming the fat with trades and chose not to re-sign key contributors.

Not only did they lose Kevin Brown, left fielder Greg Vaughn and utilityman Mark Sweeney were dealt to Cincinnati; pitcher Joey Hamilton was traded to Toronto ; Finley signed with Arizona; and third baseman Ken Caminiti signed with Houston . Ouch.

At least San Diego retained closer Trevor Hoffman, who landed a four-year, $32 million contract last month that made him the richest reliever in league history.

"This year may be tough on everyone," Gwynn said.