Blog Kiosk: 8/8/2017 - Dodgers Links - Yu's New Glove, Rear-Ending Seager and Cody's Bobble

The Dodgers recently announced than an 11th bobblehead would be given out to fans this season, and it will feature rookie phenom Cody Bellinger. Yesterday a preview pic was release, and it gloriously shows-off Bellinger's sweet swing. The bobble will be given out to the first 40,000 fans in attendance on Friday, September 8th against the Rockies.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1903 Dodger pitcher Henry Schmidt is thrown out of the game when he angrily threw the Baseball out of the park. He did this because a run scored while his infielders were arguing a close call. In 1954 Gil Hodges came up to bat in the eight inning three times. He started the inning by tripling, then hit a double his second time up, and finally flied out to center for the last out of the inning. Amazingly, 12 of the 13 runs scored that inning happened with two outs. In 1963 Frank Howard and Bill "Moose" Skowron of the Dodgers become only the second duo in baseball history to hit back-to-back pinch-hit home runs. In 2000 Dodger Stadium got a dose of homophobia. After being seen kissing during a kiss-cam, a female couple is removed from the stadium and told to never come back due to "lewd behavior". The Dodgers quickly realized what century they were in and profusely apologized -- contributing tickets to various LGBT groups and providing sensitivity training to its employees.
• Happy Birthday, Alanna Rizzo, Clise Dudley, Tot Pressnell & Frank Howard!

Blog Kiosk: 9/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Buehler, Jansen and Rich Hill

Things got a little overheated at yesterdays Dodger game. 

Ageless wonder Rich Hill, who had pitched 19 scoreless inning since becoming a Dodger, had finally given up a couple of runs to the lowly Diamondbacks, and apparently he didn't like that one bit.  He was in full-on game mode and made sure everyone in the stadium knew he wouldn't take an inside pitch, which he claims nicked his index finger, lightly.  He chirped and they chirped, the benches cleared, and then things went back to normal.  Per Jake Rill at MLB.com:

"It was just being competitive, just wanted him to get the ball over the plate and really that was the end of it," Hill said. "There was no ill will or anything like that. Just got excited. I saw the pitch, it was supposed to be inside and he just missed. I guess being a pitcher, I just got excited."

Opposing pitcher Archie Bradley said this, per Kevin Zimmerman at Arizona Sports.com:

“It’s just two guys playing the game hard, nothing more than that,” Bradley told the media after the game. “I was going in before he squared to bunt. Maybe the pitch was more in than it should have been.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on the emotion of the evening and lost the first game of the series, 7-3.  

Pic above via ESPN LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1957 the Los Angeles City Council approved the sale of Chavez Ravine to the Dodgers.  In 1988 Reds pitcher Tom Browning throws a Perfect Game, 1-0, against the Dodgers in Cincinnati.  Browning is the second pitcher to throw a perfect game against the Dodgers - Don Larson threw his perfecto during the 1956 World Series.
• Happy Birthday, Orel Hershiser!

Blog Kiosk: 6/5/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Jansen and Julio Urias

The toast of the town, Joc Pederson, is captured in the photo above signing autographs for adoring fans prior to the start of yesterdays game.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos taken by Jon from Thursday's game.

Below are some more links to check out:

• My fantasy team could really use a healthy Puig right now.  Via George Alfano at MLB.com, "Puig gets two hits, hopes to return this weekend."

"I thought he looked great, and the hamstring looks good," Rancho Cucamonga manager Bill Haselman said. "He ran great. With a pulled muscle, the body eventually heals itself."

"I'm not 100 percent now, but it felt comfortable," said Puig, who is in his third season with the Dodgers and has a career batting average of .304. "I did my job, did my rehab in Arizona and I'll come back here [to Lancaster] tomorrow night."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Grant Holmes, J.D. Underwood, Michael Ahmed named Midwest League All-Stars."
• Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, "David Aardsma Opts Out Of Dodgers Contract."  This is too bad, he could've been a nice piece out of the pen.

The 33-year-old Aardsma has pitched quite well for L.A.’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, working to an excellent 2.41 ERA with 11.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and 15 saves in 18 2/3 innings. Aardsma recently explained to The Oklahoman’s Jacob Unruh that his offseason work in a strengthening program called Top Velocity helped him add a couple of ticks back to his fastball, which is now regularly sitting in the 91-93 mph range.

• Here's great news.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Kenley Jansen cleared to pitch tonight (Thursday)." Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Altitude triggers high blood pressure in Jansen."
• Here's some not so great news, via Eric Stephen on twitter:

Zach Lee is in Los Angeles getting examined. Experiencing tingling in fingers of throwing hand

— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 4, 2015

• Now... Back to some awesome news!  Top prospect Julio Urias appears to be recovering well from his recent surgery to his eye, per a tweet by him from yesterday.  He tells us that he'll be back on the field in one weeks time:

1 semana mas y estamos de regreso⚾️.. #Thanksgod! pic.twitter.com/oYUhhGx286

— Julio Urias (@theteenager7) June 4, 2015

• I would like to extend a hearty congratulations to LA Kings broadcaster Nick Nickson for being selected as the Hockey Hall of Fame 2015 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner.  This award celebrates "members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting."  This is the highest honor a hockey broadcaster can receive - like winning the Ford Frick Award for Baseball broadcasters.  Jon Rosen at LA Kings Insider shares a recent interview with him here.

“I don’t know if it’s going to sink in anytime soon,” Nickson said on Thursday. “I just talked to Pat Foley – he called like 10 minutes ago, literally – who won it last year in Chicago. He was telling me it’s been a year since he won it and he still kind of walks around and goes ‘Did this really happen?’ I guess it’s nice to know that your work is appreciated and the work that you do put in gets rewarded in some way.”

(Nick and I)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 26 / Home Game 13

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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San Francisco Giants (6-19-1) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (13-6-6)
Friday, March 27, 2015 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Chris Heston (0-0, 2.00) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (1-0, 3.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570

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(Dodger Stadium with new cut grass, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Dodgers, who have the Majors’ best spring winning percentage at .684, take on the Giants for the second time this spring after tying, 5-5, on March 9 in Scottsdale. The clubs will have one more exhibition matchup on Sunday in Scottsdale before opening their 19-game regular-season series on April 21 at AT&T Park. Los Angeles won the 2014 season series between the clubs, 10-9, and has been victorious in seven of its last nine game against the Giants.

• Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will call tonight’s game from Camelback Ranch as he kicks off his unprecedented 66th season with the club. Scully will also call all three Freeway Series games next week.
• Dodger Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe will throw tonight’s ceremonial first pitch as he concludes his annual visit to Spring Training. Newcombe, who pitched in 10 big league seasons from 1949-60, was a four-time All-Star, 1949 Rookie of the Year and took home both the Cy Young and MVP Awards in 1956.

THOSE WINNING WAYS: The Dodgers won their third consecutive game yesterday, beating the White Sox, 9-6, at Camelback Ranch. Clayton Kershaw improved to 3-0 on the spring, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out eight in 6.0 dominant innings. The Dodger offense continued to click with 13 hits, including home runs by Yasiel Puig, Jimmy Rollins and Kiké Hernandez. 

• Puig has homered in three consecutive games and has four home runs in his last five games, batting .400 (6-for-15) with eight RBI since March 20. Overall, Puig is tied for second in the NL with five homers this spring.
• Hernandez caught fire in San Antonio last weekend, hitting .429 (6-for-14) with four home runs and five RBI in his last six games since March 20.

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: The Dodgers raised their Major League-best home run total to 40 (eight more than the Cubs’ 32) with three more longballs yesterday and have a .286 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .488 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson leads the NL with a .756 slugging percentage this spring and also ranks among the league leaders in batting average (.400, T-3rd), hits (18, T-1st), runs (11, T-3rd), total bases (34, 3rd), on-base percentage (.438, 8th) and home runs (4, T-4th).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and is batting .486 with four doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .513 on-base percentage and a .857 slugging percentage in 14 Cactus League games.

(Zack Greinke, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

ON THE MOUND: RHP Zack Greinke will make his fourth Cactus League start tonight, last pitching on Saturday against the Rangers in the Alamodome when he picked up the win and struck out six in 4.0 scoreless innings. Greinke won each of his five starts against the Giants last year, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA (6 ER/34.0 IP) and limiting San Francisco hitters to a .216 batting average (27-for-125) with 36 strikeouts.

• LHP Paco Rodriguez is expected to make his eighth appearance of the spring tonight. Through seven Cactus League appearances, Rodriguez has tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and striking out nine.
• RHP Yimi Garcia is also expected to see action tonight. Garcia has held opposing hitters to a .138 batting average this spring, allowing only four hits in 8.1 scoreless innings.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams will make his fourth Cactus League appearance tonight. He tossed a scoreless inning in a Single-A game on Tuesday against the Brewers and last pitched in a big league game on Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits to the Rockies.
• RHP David Aardsma will see action for the eighth time this spring. The veteran reliever has held opposing hitters to a .160 batting average, while striking out seven through 7.0 innings of work.

(Job Fair at Dodger Stadium, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 18 / Road Game 9

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(8-3-6) at Oakland Athletics (10-7-1)
Friday, March 20, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Hohokam Stadium

LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 2.16) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (1-0, 5.68)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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MESA MADNESS: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .727,  travel to Mesa to take on the Athletics in the second and final meeting of the spring between the two clubs following Los Angeles’ 10-5 win in Glendale on Monday. The teams, who haven’t met during the regular season since 2012, will have a home-and-home, two-game series during the regular season, in Los Angeles July 28-29 and in Oakland Aug. 18-19.

• A split-squad of Dodgers that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner, Alex Guerrero, Darwin Barney, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson among others, traveled to San Antonio last night and will take on the Rangers this evening at the Alamodome. The pitching matchups for the two-game Big League Weekend series feature left-hander Erik Bedard for the Dodgers against Texas right-hander Anthony Bass tonight, followed by RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Anthony Ranaudo tomorrow afternoon.

NICE TIE: The Dodgers established a record with their sixth tie of the spring yesterday, tying the Angels, 7-7, at Camelback Ranch. Los Angeles pounded another 11 hits, including a three-run homer by Alex Guerrero, to raise his spring batting average to .400. Andre Ethier and Justin Turner both posted multi-hit games in the victory, as Turner hit safely for the eighth consecutive game and is now hitting .423 this spring. Brett Anderson lasted just 1.2 innings in his third start of the spring, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no-decision.

• Yesterday marked the Dodgers’ sixth consecutive game with double-digit hits as the club raised its cumulative batting average to .271 in 17 games this spring.

  

  (Guerrero 3-run home run, via Dodgers on tumblr)

OH HAPPY DAY!: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to Pat Corrales, who turns 74 today! Corrales is in his third season with the Dodger organization as a special advisor to the GM following a nine-year MLB playing career and a nine-year run as a big league manager.

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, will make his fourth start of the spring today after allowing one run on four hits in 3.1 innings in his last start, Sunday at Seattle. Kershaw has faced the A’s twice in his career, in 2009 and in 2012, allowing just one run and striking out 15 in 13.2 innings (0-0, 0.66 ERA).

• LHP J.P. Howell is expected to make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching 0.2 innings on Tuesday against the Rangers.
• RHP David Aardsma, who last pitched on Tuesday against the Rangers, is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today.
• LHP Adam Liberatore has struck out four in 5.0 scoreless innings in five Cactus League outings, last pitching on Wednesday against the Cubs.
• Kershaw will bat ninth today as Dodger pitchers hit for themselves for the first time this spring. Last year, Kershaw hit .175 with his first-career triple and three RBI, while Dodger pitchers combined to lead the National League with both a .163 batting average and a .207 on-base percentage.
• Kershaw and Howell, along with Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson, will be featured on a special “Connected With…the Pitching Staff,” which debuts tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. PT on SportsNet LA.

(Clayton Kershaw, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Today marks the first day of exhibition games for Dodger minor leaguers as the club’s Triple-A and Double-A teams take on the Rangers at Camelback Ranch. The Single-A clubs begin games on Sunday.

NEWEST DODGER: Congratulations to Lisa and David Huff on the birth of a son, Ethan Thomas Allen Huff, yesterday! Huff’s next start has been pushed back to Sunday, with Chad Gaudin taking the hill Saturday against Colorado at Talking Stick.

RYU UPDATE: On Wednesday, Dodger left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu reported feeling tightness in his left shoulder, similar to the discomfort he experienced last season, and after consulting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, he elected to have an inflammation-reducing injection. Ryu will not throw for three days and his next step will be determined at that time. Ryu pitched 3.0 innings on Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, and has tossed 5.0 innings this spring.

ROSTER UPDATE: Yesterday, the Dodgers reassigned RHP Ben Rowen to minor league camp.  Including Brandon Beachy and Chris Withrow, who are on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers have 43 players remaining in big league camp.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 15 / Road Game 8

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 (8-2-4) vs. Texas Rangers (7-6-1)
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Surprise Recreation Campus

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 21.60)   
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(St. Patrick's Day 1998, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

POT OF GOLD: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .800, travel to Surprise to take on the Rangers in the first of four exhibition contests between the clubs this spring. The teams will match up again this weekend as their split-squads travel to San Antonio for a two-game series and will also meet on March 29 in Glendale. The clubs will play four regular-season games in 2015, June 15-16 in Arlington and June 17-18 at Dodger Stadium, marking their first games against each other since 2009 and the Rangers’ first visit to Los Angeles since 2001. The Dodgers will don green caps in today’s game in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!

• Yesterday, the Dodgers optioned pitchers Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Mike Bolsinger, Joe Wieland and Carlos Frias along with catcher Austin Barnes and reassigned infielders O’Koyea Dickson and Erisbel Arruebarrena to minor league camp. Including Brandon Beachy and Chris Withrow, who are on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers have 50 players remaining in big league camp.

NO LUCK OF THE IRISH NEEDED: The Dodgers erupted for three home runs, including a pinch-hit grand slam by Darnell Sweeney, during an eight-run eighth inning yesterday to down the A’s, 10-5, at Camelback Ranch for their third consecutive win. Scott Schebler and Chris Heisey also homered during the eighth-inning rally, and Darwin Barney had a game-high three hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Zack Greinke made his second start of the spring, allowing just one hit – a solo home run by Josh Phegley – in 3.0 innings in a no-decision.

TEXAS TWO-STEP: The countdown is on to Big League Weekend, with the Dodgers taking on the Rangers Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio! Erik Bedard and Zack Greinke are expected to start the two San Antonio exhibition games for the Dodgers, with a roster that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson.

MAKING JACKIE PROUD: Major League Baseball announced yesterday that the Dodgers will play host to the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium in the 2015 Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day, Wednesday, April 15.  It will mark the first time that Baseball’s tribute to civil rights leaders and figures will be held in conjunction with its annual commemoration of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947. The Civil Rights Game was developed by MLB to pay tribute to the spirit of the civil rights movement and to honor those who embodied the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. This is the first Civil Rights Game hosted by the Dodgers and second one they have played in (2012), while this will be the first overall for the Mariners.

(Hyun-Jin Ryu, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will make his second start of the spring today after striking out two in 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings on Thursday at San Diego. Ryu, who has never faced the Rangers, has struggled against American League opponents during the course of his career, going 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA (25 ER/47.2 IP) in eight starts.

• LHP Paco Rodriguez is expected to make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching on Saturday against the Indians. Rodriguez has yet to allow a run and has struck out five in 3.0 innings this spring.
• LHP J.P Howell is also expected to see action today after firing a scoreless inning on Saturday against the Indians.
• RHP Juan Nicasio will make his fourth Cactus League appearance today after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in Friday’s tie with the Reds.
• RHP David Aardsma will also make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching on Saturday against the Indians. Aardsma has allowed just one hit in 3.0 scoreless innings this spring.
• RHP Pedro Baez, who last pitched on Saturday against the Indians, has allowed just one hit in 3.0 innings this spring.
• Los Angeles pitching has been terrific so far this spring, as the club has combined to post a 3.02 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .209 batting average, striking out 98 and walking just 32 in 125.0 innings.

THE HOME OF THE DODGERS: Yesterday, iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the Dodgers announced the debut of the all-new AM 570 LA Sports.. The new baseball season will bring a new name, a new look, a re-brand, a re-launch and a new co-ownership with the Dodgers to the station formerly known as KLAC. AM 570 LA Sports will be under the co-ownership of iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the Dodgers, will have a new logo and will also incorporate the new 2015 Dodgers slogan “We Love LA.”  Another new addition, Dodger Talk featuring David Vassegh and Kevin Kennedy, will now air immediately following Dodgers baseball games or at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(Retired #'s added to Club Level at Dodger Stadium, pic via @DodgerInsider on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 12 / Home Game 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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Cleveland Indians (5-6-1)  at Los Angeles (5-2-4)
Saturday, March 14, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch - Glendale

LHP Bruce Chen (1-0, 3.60) vs. LHP Brett Anderson (0-0, 0.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: KLAC/KTNQ

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(Dodger fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

CAMELBACK ROCKS: The Dodgers and Indians meet for the second of three games this spring in a sold-out contest at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Los Angeles and Cleveland also square for the final time during the Cactus League slate on March 22, a contest also at Camelback Ranch.

• Last night, the Dodgers’ played to their fourth tie (the club’s first tie was against the Indians on March 7) this spring, 3-3, moving their record to 5-2-4 this spring. With 21 Cactus League games left, the club is one tie short of equaling the franchise mark for ties in a spring season, established in 2006 and matched last year. Once again, the Dodgers came from behind to equal the score, as Corey Seager’s sacrifice play plated Darnell Sweeny in the bottom of the ninth last night. Outfielder Joc Pederson went 2—for-2 and his Cactus League average now stands at .421. On the mound, right-hander Chris Hatcher stayed perfect this spring, tossing  a scoreless frame, while Juan Nicasio (1.0 IP), Daniel Coulombe (1.0) and Yimi Garcia (1.0) all tossed scoreless baseball.  

MAN, THAT’S BRISK: Through 11 Cactus League contests, the Dodgers’ average game time is two hours and 39 minutes, with the longest game being 2:53 on March 6 and the shortest being last night’s 2:18 no-nonsense affair. The club has also played three of its 11 contests at the exact game time of 2:46.

(Adrian Gonzalez stretches for the out, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

RUN PREVENTION:  Los Angeles pitching has been terrific so far this spring as the club has combined to post a 3.12 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .206 batting average, striking out 76 and walking just 21 in 98.0 innings. The 3.12 mark is tied with Philadelphia for third among NL clubs, trailing just Cincinnati (2.83) and Pittsburgh (3.09).

MINOR NEWS: Dodger minor leaguers held their first official workout of the spring this morning on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. The minor league portion of the Spring Training schedule gets underway for the Triple-A and Double-A rosters on March 20, while the two Single-A clubs have their opening games on March 22.

ON THE MOUND: 27-year-old left-hander Brett Anderson will make his second start of the spring today after tossing two scoreless innings against the Giants. During the course of his career, he has posted a 1.29 WHIP and has limited opponents to a .316 on-base percentage and a .370 slugging percentage. In 2014, Anderson allowed only one home run in 43.1 innings of work.

• Veteran RHP David Aardsma is expected to make his third appearance of the spring today after pitching a scoreless inning of relief in the Dodgers’ tie against the Rockies on Tuesday. The former first round draft pick has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning during the course of his career with 305 strikeouts against only 169 walks in 306.1 innings.
• LHP J.P. Howell will make his second appearance of the spring today after giving up two runs and striking out one in an inning of relief in a 7-4 win over the Mariners. Howell enters his third season with the Dodgers after tying for the club lead with 68 appearances and setting a career-best mark with a .183 opponents’ batting average in 2014.
• Hard-throwing LHP Paco Rodriguez is also expected to see action today after striking out the side in a scoreless inning of relief against the Rockies on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Miami native tossed scoreless relief in 15 of 19 big league appearances, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 2014.
• RHP Dustin McGowan is expected to appear in today’s game, after pitching an inning of relief in his second appearance of the spring on Tuesday against the Rockies. After joining the Toronto bullpen in 2014, the 10-year veteran went 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA (16 ER/43.0 IP) in 45 games, while limiting opponents to a .215 average and a .284 on-base percentage.
• RHP Pedro Baez will make his third appearance of the spring today after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday’s 2-2 tie with the Rockies. Baez posted a 2.63 ERA and limited opponents to a .188 batting average in 20 relief appearances in four stints with the Dodgers in his first MLB action last year.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams will make his first appearance of the spring today. In 2014, Adams posted a 2-1 record in 22 relief appearances for the Phillies, with a 2.89 ERA (6 ER/18.2 IP) and limited opposing batters to a .232 average.

IN MEMORY: The Dodgers join the rest of the Los Angeles sports world in mourning the passing of longtime sports talk radio host Joe McDonnell at the age of 58. The club wishes to pass along its deepest condolences to McDonnell’s family and to all those in the Southern California sports community who lost a colleague and friend. Dodger EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen said, “Joe was all about sports and loved the Dodgers. He was a fixture at Dodger Stadium and will be terribly missed by players, management and fans.”

(Dodger fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #4

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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(Warning!  Pic via @LKRBOI on twitter)

A CASE OF THE MONDAYS: Today marked the fourth day of workouts for pitchers and catchers at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Position players report on Wednesday, with the first full-squad workout of 2015 scheduled for Thursday.

• David Aardsma, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Paco Rodriguez, Pedro Baez, Mike Bolsinger, Yimi Garcia, Julio Urias, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson and Chris Reed all threw their second “official” bullpens of the spring.
• A couple more position players reported to camp early for voluntary workouts, including Andre Ethier and Jimmy Rollins.

(Dustin McGowan, pic via Jon SooHoo)

NEWEST DODGER: Today, the Dodgers announced the signing of free-agent right-handed pitcher Dustin McGowan to a one-year contract and placed right-handed pitcher Brandon Beachy on the 60-day disabled list (recovery from right elbow surgery). McGowan, who will wear No. 27, has a 25-27 career record with a 4.57 ERA in 158 games (68 starts) in seven big league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005-08, 2011, 2013-14. In 90 career relief appearances, McGowan has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.79 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .224 batting average. The 32-year-old made a career-high 53 appearances (eight starts) for the Blue Jays last year, going 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA and his first-career save. McGowan started the campaign as a member of Toronto’s starting rotation and went 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA (22 ER/39.0 IP) in eight starts, before being added to the bullpen, where he was a solid contributor with a 3.35 ERA (16 ER/43.0 IP), a 1.16 WHIP and a .215 opponents’ batting average in 45 appearances.

(Orel Hershiser and David Aardsma, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

GOING FAST: The Dodgers announced two more Cactus League sellouts today, for March 13 (7:05 p.m. vs. Cincinnati) and March 14 (1:05 p.m. vs. Cleveland). The club had previously announced a sellout for the March 27 game vs. San Francisco. Tickets for both the Dodgers’ and White Sox’ Spring Training games at Camelback Ranch-Glendale are on sale now and record attendance is expected at the park this season. The Dodgers’ home Spring Training game schedule features a total of 15 games and tickets can be purchased online at Dodgers.com/Spring or via the phone by calling 800-905-3315. Single-game tickets are available for purchase at the Camelback Ranch-Glendale ticket office now and ticket office hours are 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. MT from Monday-Saturday. On game days, the ticket office remains open for 30 minutes following the conclusion of play. Single-game tickets start at just $9 and parking is always free at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

A BULLDOG BEHIND THE MIC: The Dodgers would like to welcome the 1988 Cy Young Award winner and current club broadcaster Orel Hershiser to Camelback Ranch! Hershiser will be in town for the next few days shooting short interviews for SportsNet LA’s “Connected With” series with Dodger players and coaches, before returning next month to call games on the network. SportsNet LA will broadcast 31 Dodger Spring Training games, including the team’s three Freeway Series exhibition games against the Angels. The first live Spring Training telecast will be the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener against the White Sox on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:05 p.m. PT.

IN OTHER NEWS: Congratulations to Zaidi on winning the Dodger front office Oscar pool by correctly predicting 20 of 24 category winners in last night’s award ceremony…in a heated game of golf match play yesterday, the duo of Tim Wallach and Steve Yeager defeated Rick Honeycutt and Jose Vizcaino at The 500 Club in Glendale.

(Puig being Puig, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #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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(Julio Urias signing for fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

WE LOVE LA: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their first official workout of the spring today at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, with 30 pitchers and six catchers in camp. The lone battery member yet to report to Arizona is right-hander Kenley Jansen, who underwent surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot Tuesday.

• Clayton Kershaw, Brandon League, Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson, Joe Wieland, Chris Hatcher, Juan Nicasio, Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Erik Bedard, David Huff, Josh Ravin and Ryan Buchter all threw their first “official” bullpens of the spring today.
• Non-roster reliever Sergio Santos missed today’s workouts due to illness.

A IS FOR AARDSMA: David Aardsma donned Dodger blue for the first time today after signing a minor league contract with an invite to big league camp yesterday. Aardsma spent the 2014 season in the St. Louis organization and went 4-0 with 11 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 33 games for Triple-A Memphis, where he limited opponents to a .161 batting average. The 33-year-old is two games shy of 300 career MLB appearances, going 15-17 with 69 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 298 games with the Giants (2004), Cubs (2006), White Sox (2007), Red Sox (2008), Mariners (2009-10), Yankees (2012) and Mets (2013).

• If Aardsma makes an appearance for the Dodgers this year, he will top the all-time alphabetical franchise roster, just ahead of pitcher Don Aase (1990).

(Justin Turner and friends, pic via John Force Racing on twitter)

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: Yesterday, SportsNet LA announced that the network will broadcast 31 Dodger Spring Training games, including the team’s three Freeway Series exhibition games against the Angels. The first live Spring Training telecast will be the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener against the White Sox on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:05 p.m. PT. Most Spring Training games on the network will be called by Charley Steiner, who will be joined by Rick Monday, Kevin Kennedy and Orel Hershiser. Vin Scully, who is entering his 66th season with the club, is expected to call four Spring Training telecasts, including the Freeway Series.

COLLEGE BALL: The two most recent College World Series champions will be on display in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic Sunday, March 8, when 2013 titlist UCLA meets USC and defending champion Vanderbilt faces TCU, the Dodgers announced today. The TCU-Vanderbilt game is slated to begin at 11:45 a.m. and the USC-UCLA matchup is at 3:30 p.m. Tickets priced at $25 for Dugout Club seats, $20 for Baseline Club seats and $10 for Field level seats are available at Dodgers.com/classic, uclabruins.com and gettrojantix.com. Tickets for USC and UCLA students and children under 14 are $5 and also are available in advance only at the UCLA and USC box offices or at Dodger Stadium on the day of the event. Parking is $10 and is available only at the gate. Parking and stadium gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

• Defending CWS champion Vanderbilt is ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America preseason top 25. TCU, which advanced to the 2014 CWS in Omaha, Neb., is rated No. 7.  UCLA is ranked No. 11.

(Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

PACE YOURSELF: Today, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced additions to the sport’s pace of game program and a series of modifications to the instant-replay system. The pace of game program will enforce the batter’s box rule, requiring that all batters must keep at least one foot in the batter’s box unless one of a group of exceptions occurs, and also a new component, the addition of timers that will measure non-game action and break time between innings and pitching changes during each Major League game. For replay, managers will be able to invoke challenges from the dugout and can retain their challenge after every call that is overturned. In addition, tag-up plays are now reviewable and a manager must use a challenge in order to review whether a play at home plate included a violation of the rule governing home plate collisions.

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Blog Kiosk: 2/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Kasten and Guerrero

The Kershaw's celebrated their first Valentine's Day with daughter Cali Ann by sharing a wonderful pic on twitter.  Check it out above.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kasten delivers Presidents' Day message to fans."

"The Dodgers understand fielding a team that will contend for championships year in and year out begins with our scouting and player development departments and, as was demonstrated during the offseason, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful in those areas. We reached the postseason the last two years and that has only whet our appetite to capture the ultimate prize in 2015.

• Vias Mark Langill at Dodger Insider, "Life at the ballpark with Janet Marie Smith."
• Via Peter Gammons at the Gammons Daily, "The Moncada Phenomenon and its Roots."
• Via Scott Andes at Lasorda's Lair, "Dodgers Sign Right Hander David Aardsma, Extend Invite To Spring Training."
• Send out your good thoughts and prayers to Pedro Guerrero.  Via some tweets from Antonio Puesan, Guerrero is in the hospital.

 

Former Dodger and Cardinal, 1981 World Series Co-MVP Pedro Guerrero had a seriously stroke, he is at ICU in CEDIMAT in Dominican Republic.
— Antonio Puesan (@antoniopuesan) February 16, 2015

Guerrero Had a brain hemorrhage a type of stroke It's caused by an artery in the brain bursting and causing localized bleeding #Dodgers
— Antonio Puesan (@antoniopuesan) February 16, 2015

• Check out who was at Dodger Stadium doing some filming on Friday - Dean Norris of Breaking Bad fame.

Thrilled to b filming at my favorite MLB stadium  #dodgers #thinkblue @Dodgers (Gonna go run the bases) pic.twitter.com/qcfz2YVkoI
— dean norris (@deanjnorris) February 13, 2015

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