Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 5/Home Game 3

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Some congratulations for Mike Baxter, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

SUNDAY FUNDAY: The Dodgers host the Padres today for the first of two meetings in Cactus League play, with the other coming in a split-squad game at Camelback Ranch on March 15. The Dodgers open up their “North American” regular season slate against the Padres in San Diego on March 30. In case you’re counting down the days, the Dodgers are just 20 days away from Opening Day in Sydney, Australia vs. the Diamondbacks!

• The Dodgers rally fell just short yesterday and the club lost, 6-5, against the Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park. After hitting a home run against the White Sox on Friday, non-roster invitee Clint Robinson had another big game yesterday, going 3-for-3 with a run scored after replacing Scott Van Slyke in the sixth inning.
• First-year Dodger and Southern California native Dan Haren allowed three hits and one earned run in two innings of work in his first Cactus League start of spring. Non-roster invitee LHP Chris Reed allowed four earned runs in 2.0 innings of work.

(Dan Haren, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

HILLTOPPERS: Right-hander Josh Beckett will make his Dodgers debut this afternoon after going 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts last season before undergoing season-ending surgery to relieve pressure on his nerves caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Also appearing in the game today:

• LHP Paul Maholm will make his Dodger debut after posting a 10-11 record with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts with the Braves last season.
• RHP Stephen Fife will make his Cactus League debut after appearing in 12 games (10 starts) in three stints with the team last year.
• Non- roster invitees RHP Sam Demel and LHP Daniel Moskos will be making their second appearances of the spring. Demel and Moskos both tossed a scoreless innings of relief on Thursday in the Dodgers spring home opener against the Diamondbacks. Demel saw action in parts of three seasons with the Diamondbacks from 2010-2012 and Moskos appeared in 31 games with the Pirates in 2011.
• San Diego will counter with LHP Robbie Erlin, RHP Jesse Hahn, RHP Kevin Quackenbush, RHP Leonel Campos, RHP Blaine Boyer and LHP Patrick Schuster.

(Foul ball, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

NOTHING MINOR ABOUT IT: The Dodgers will have seven minor leaguers joining the club vs. the Padres today, with pitchers LHP Fu-Ti Ni (#84),  RHP Justin Souza (#88) and RHP Steve Smith (#91), infielders Darnell Sweeney (#87) and Aaron Bates (#97) and outfielder Jon Garcia (#90) all making the trek across the Camelback grounds.

PLAYING IT SAFE: According to Manager Don Mattingly, Dodger right-hander Zack Greinke will have another light day and hold off on throwing his next bullpen session.  In addition, right-hander Ross Stripling is meeting with doctors this afternoon to go over the results of his MRI. Stripling experienced elbow pain last week that worsened with his outing on Wednesday.

PLEASE SIGN HERE: Today the Dodgers agreed to terms with the following players for the 2014 season: Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Jose Dominguez, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Javy Guerra,  Matt Magill, Jarrett Martin, Paco Rodriguez, Seth Rosin, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Skyke and Chris Withrow. 

ROSTER MOVE: This morning the Dodgers dealt infielder Justin Sellers to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. Sellers was designated for assignment on Feb. 22 to make room on the roster for Cuban infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena.

(The Diamond at Sydney Cricket Ground, pic via @JPMLBPR on twitter)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE:  We are just two weeks away from making an early exit from Arizona as the Dodgers will depart the Valley of the Sun on March 16 for Sydney, Australia. Once Down Under, Los Angeles will battle the D-backs on March 22-23 in Major League Baseball’s Opening Series, which will mark MLB’s first regular-season games ever to be staged in Australia. The Dodgers will return stateside and play three exhibitions against the Angels in the Freeway Series before opening the “North American” portion of their schedule March 30 at San Diego on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 17 / Road Game 1

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (0-0)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 – 1:10 p.m. | Talking Stick
LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy
Spring Game 17/Road Game 1

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(pic via MLB Fan Cave on twitter)

PLAY BALL!: The Dodgers will play their Cactus League opener today against the D-backs at Talking Stick. Today’s game will be the Dodgers’ first of 21 games in Arizona, with the club playing 25 total exhibitions this spring, including a game against Team Australia (March 20 in Sydney) and the Freeway Series (March 27-29 in Southern California).

(Clayton Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

HILLTOPPERS: Clayton Kershaw will take the mound today after winning his second-career Cy Young Award in 2013, becoming just the second Dodger (Sandy Koufax – 1963, 1965, 1966) and 17th all-time pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards. Since the start of the live ball era in 1920, the left-hander has the lowest all-time career ERA (2.60) among pitchers with more than 1,000.0 innings pitched and 100 games started. The Dallas, TX, native led the Majors in ERA in each of the last three seasons, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Greg Maddux (1993-95) and the first-ever Dodger to accomplish the feat. Also appearing in the game today:

• Seth Rosin (RHP) enters his first season in the Dodger organization after he was acquired through the Rule 5 draft and a trade with New York-NL in December 2013. In 108 professional games (42 GS), Rosin has gone 14-12 with a 4.00 ERA in the Philadelphia and San Francisco organizations.
• Right-hander Javy Guerra, who spent the majority of 2013 with Triple-A Albuquerque, allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 10.2 innings over nine appearances in his only stint with the Dodgers last season.
• 23-year-old Jose Dominguez made his Major League debut last season and posted a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP) in nine appearances with Los Angeles. The hard-throwing right-hander was eventually transferred to the 60-day disabled list after being placed on the 15-day DL on July 23 with a left quad strain.
• Non-roster invitee Ross Stripling is in his first big league camp after posting an 8-4 record with one save and a 2.82 ERA in 27 games (22 GS) between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga in 2013. The right-hander enters 2014 rated by Baseball America as the Dodgers’ No. 10 prospect.
• Right-handed non-roster invitee Sam Demel has appeared in 72 games at the Major League level with the D-backs (2010-12), posting a 4-4 record with a 4.95 ERA.
• 27-year-old non-roster invitee Daniel Moskos (LHP) has gone 26-28 with a 4.43 ERA in 207 games (45 GS) in seven minor league seasons with the Pirates (2007-12) and White Sox (2012-13).

(Adrian Gonzalez, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

GET YOUR BIG LEAGUE ON: The Dodgers will have four minor leaguers joining the club vs. the D-backs today, with infielders Darnell Sweeney (#83) and Jamie Romak (#94), outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (#83) and right-handed pitcher Stephen Smith (#95) all making the trip.

A WARM WELCOME: Dodger great Shawn Green arrived in camp today and will be in uniform as a guest instructor, joining Sandy Koufax, Tommy Davis and Eric Karros as those who’ve appeared at Camelback Ranch – Glendale this year.

• Green is a two-time All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, who set the franchise record for the most homers in a single season with 49 in 2001. The following year, Green hit four homers in a single game against the Milwaukee Brewers, joining Gil Hodges as the only Dodgers two hit four homers in a game. Green surpassed 40 home runs, 100 RBI and 100 runs three times in his 15-year Major League career.

OPEN TRYOUT: The Dodgers’ annual open tryout will be held tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. MT (8:00 a.m. registration) on the minor league side of Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Those wishing to participate must not be enrolled in high school, on a collegiate roster or be under contract with any Major League club. Additional information is available on the Dodgers Scouting Hotline at 323-224-1512.

GIVING BACK: Following Friday’s game between the Dodgers and White Sox, Camelback Ranch-Glendale and the two clubs will host a clinic for youngsters from the Glendale Youth Project and Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix. 2014 marks the second year that the clubs have hosted a youth clinic during Spring Training and is just one of the many Camelback Ranch community initiatives, which include food drives, Home Runs for Life (honoring patients at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and Phoenix Children’s Hospital) and a Read Across America Day event at Glendale’s Main Public Library. Dodger prospects Joc Pederson, Zach Lee and Jarret Martin will represent the club at Friday’s event.

AND THEY’RE OFF: The new 24-hour-a-day network of the Dodgers, SportsNet LA, premiered last night with original programming, including the live studio show “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” the inaugural episode of “Backstage: Dodgers,” back-to-back “Connected With…” interview shows featuring Clayton Kershaw and Don Mattingly and a one-hour retrospective special about last year’s season.

• SNLA will televise all of this year’s Dodger Cactus League games, with the exception of two split-squad games, giving fans more Spring Training coverage than ever before. Vin Scully will call four Cactus League contests, including games today and Thursday.

(SportsNet LA on-air talent, Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #6

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Adrian coaching his daughter, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

ARE WE THERE YET?: Just a week away from their Cactus League opener against the D-backs at Salt River Fields - Talking Stick, the Dodgers took to the fields at Camelback Ranch – Glendale for the sixth full-squad workout of 2014.

• Another round of hitters faced live pitching today, as three groups of hitters encountered Dan Haren, Kenley Jansen, Chris Perez, Josh Beckett, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Stephen Fife and non-roster invitee Chris Reed.
• Newcomer Dan Haren, who is a three-time All-Star, is 129-111 with a 3.74 ERA in 327 career games (316 starts) and has posted double-digit win totals in his last nine seasons, ranking among the Major League leaders in quality starts (194, 1st), innings (1927.2, 2nd), wins (123, 4th) and strikeouts (1661, 4th) since 2005. The right-hander is among the game’s best when it comes to limiting walks, ranking first among active pitchers with 1.87 walks-per-nine innings and his 4.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks third all-time in the live-ball era (min. 1500 IP).
• Also a new face to the Dodgers is right-handed reliever Chris Perez, a 28-year-old who has notched 132 saves and posted a 3.41 ERA in six seasons with St. Louis (2008-09) and Cleveland (2009-13). The two-time American League All-Star has fared well against NL opponents, posting a 3.35 ERA (29 ER/78.0 IP) in 84 career appearances.

GETTING THEIR REPS IN: The Dodgers will play in two inter-squad games on Sunday, Feb. 23 and Monday, Feb. 24 on the backfields of Camelback Ranch - Glendale. Pitchers schedule to throw on Sunday include Matt Magill, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chris Perez, Brian Wilson, Kenley Jansen and J.P. Howell. On Monday, Stephen Fife, Dan Haren, Chris Reed, Paco Rodriguez and Jamey Wright each will pitch.

"Hey @kenleyjansen74, your ball cuts a little bit." -@AJEllis17: https://t.co/ouAqy9PaoX
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 19, 2014

A WARM WELCOME: There has been a steady stream of familiar faces to arrive at Camelback Ranch – Glendale in the last few days, including Sandy Koufax, Orel Hershiser, Tommy Davis and Eric Karros. Today, yet another person to arrive for the first time to 2014 camp was Dodger Owner Todd Boehly, who spent the morning visiting with players, coaches and Dodger alumni.

PING-PONG RALLY’S ON: The Dodgers’ second annual double-elimination doubles ping-pong tournament continues in the Dodger clubhouse. In a shocking revelation today, the dynamic duo of non-roster invitee Daniel Moskos and right-handed pitcher Chris Withrow defeated last year’s inaugural champion, Clayton Kershaw and his partner Chad Billingsley, to advance to the quarterfinal round. All hope is not lost for Team Kershaw to defend the title, as the once undisputed ping-pong champion of the Dodgers must win four games in a row to reclaim the title.

(Ryu tries his hand at ping pong, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #3

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Maury Wills and Manny Mota, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

KEEP ROLLING: Today was the third day of workouts for pitchers and catchers at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Thursday, position players report with the first full-squad workout of 2014 scheduled for Friday.

• A few more position players reported to camp early for voluntary workouts in advance of Thursday’s report date, including infielders Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas and Brendan Harris.

• Harris owns a .256 career batting average with 33 homers and 167 RBI in 529 games. If the middle infielder were to make the club, the Dodgers would become his seventh team, joining the Cubs (2004), Expos/Nationals (2004-06), Reds (2006), Rays (2007), Twins (2008-10) and Angels (2013). The New York native attended William and Mary and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by the Cubs.

• Gordon played in 38 games last season and still managed to swipe 10 bases in 12 attempts (83.3%). In his career, the speedy infielder has stolen 66 bags and been caught just 19 times. (77.6%). Gordon’s stolen base percentage ranks sixth in Dodger history among players with at least 80 attempts, trailing Davey Lopes (503 attempts, 83.1 %), Dave Roberts (143, 82.5), Mariano Duncan (125, 80.0), Delino DeShields (146, 78.1) and Shawn Green (81, 77.8).

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

EASY AS 1-2-3: Today marked the second bullpen sessions for hurlers Clayton Kershaw, Dan Haren, Chris Perez, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Javy Guerra, Seth Rosin, Jose Dominguez, Matt Magill, Ross Stripling, Chris Reed, Daniel Moskos and Sam Demel.

• Rosin was selected by the Mets from the Phillies in the 2013 Rule 5 draft and then traded to the Dodgers. Rosin, 25, went 9-6 with a 4.33 ERA in 23 starts and three relief appearances last year for Philadelphia's Double-A Reading affiliate. A fourth-round draft pick of the Giants in 2010, Rosin struck out 96 batters and walked 35 in 126.2 innings. As a Rule 5 player, Rosin must make the Dodgers' 25-man roster all season or be offered back to his original club, the Phillies, for $25,000.

• Moskos, a non-roster invitee, had a cup of coffee with Pittsburgh in 2011, going 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 31 games. He owns a career minor league record of 26-28 with a 4.43 ERA, 321 strikeouts in 207 games with the Pirates (2007-12) and White Sox (2012-13) organizations.

PACE YOURSELVES: This Saturday, every pitcher in camp will have a scheduled day off, designated by Dodger Manager Don Mattingly. This plan was conceived in the offseason due to the fact that the club does not have a normally scheduled off day this spring due to the March 16 trip to Sydney, Australia.

NETWORK: MLB Network made its first appearance at Camelback Ranch-Glendale this morning as Sam Ryan was on hand to conduct interviews with Dodger players. MLB Net will be back in full force on March 4, when the crew is in town for their annual “30 Clubs in 30 Days” feature in which they air their daily show from the Camelback Ranch complex.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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