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.

--------------------------

(Camelback Ranch field, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE: With the sun shining once again, the Dodgers held their sixth and final full-squad workout of the spring today at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The club worked on rundowns and did baserunning drills before taking batting practice on the main fields. Right-handers Brandon McCarthy and Chad Gaudin threw a live BP session on Field 3 while Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, David Aardsma, Pedro Baez, Dustin McGowan, David Huff, Ryan Buchter, Paco Rodriguez, Chris Reed, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson, Julio Urias and Mike Adams tossed regular bullpens. 

LINE ‘EM UP:  Today, Dodger Manager Don Mattingly announced his lineup for club’s Cactus League opener vs. the White Sox tomorrow afternoon. Jimmy Rollins will leadoff and play short; Carl Crawford bats second in left field; Adrian Gonzalez will play first and hit third; Howie Kendrick makes his Dodger debut in the cleanup spot and plays second; another first-time Dodger, Yasmani Grandal will catch and hit fifth; Andre Ethier hits sixth and is in center field; Juan Uribe bats seventh at third base; Joc Pederson will be the designated hitter, batting eighth and Chris Heisey rounds out the lineup in right field, batting ninth. The pitchers scheduled to throw after starter Erik Bedard are Carlos Frias, Juan Nicasio, Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin.

READ ACROSS AMERICA: This afternoon, the Dodgers celebrated Read Across America day as minor leaguers Alex Verdugo and James Baldwin read to schoolchildren at Villa de Paz Elementary School on 103rd and Camelback.

(All-Star panels on the legends walk, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

EVERYONE IS IN TOWN: In advance of the first game and telecast tomorrow, Dodger broadcasters Rick Monday and Pepe Yniguez arrived in Glendale today as they prepare to call the first Cactus League game tomorrow. Monday is entering his 23rd season as a Dodger broadcaster and this season will be behind the microphone for every AM 570 Los Angeles Sports broadcast as either an analyst or play-by-play man. Yniguez, who enters his 17th season with the Dodgers, will join Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela on SportsNet LA calling the games in Spanish.   


MAKING MEMORIES: Those coming to the ranch this morning, took notice of several new installations around the complex’s grounds. Visible to fans for the first time were a new scoreboard on the Dodger replica field and All-Star panels on the legends walk, which make for tremendous photo opportunities. In addition, fans coming to the stadium for the Cactus League lid-lifter tomorrow will see the retired numbers of Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale in left field. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Dodgers would like to wish Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers pitching coach and former Dodger Scott Radinsky a Happy Birthday. Radinsky graduated from Simi Valley High School and pitched in Los Angeles from 1996-98. The left-handed reliever has been coaching in the organization since 2013, when he started as the pitching coach for Rookie-advanced Ogden. Last year, Radinsky was the pitching coach for Double-A Chattanooga.

(Adrian Gonzalez via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/25/2014 - Dodger Links - Bring on the Cards!

Winning sure can be exhausting.  Last night I was full of joy as the Dodgers captured their second NL West Division crown in a row.  This morning I am tired from the release of a season long built up of angst, worry and fear.

No more do I have to hear the rabble rousing screams of the chattering class declaring our teams lack of class, will or chemistry.  Instead, I bask in the glory of Dodger Blue as I await the start of Baseball's second season. 

You see, the reason we go through this entire exercise, a season filled with 162 maddening games, is to have a chance to compete for the crown.  And the only way to get there is to earn an opportunity.  This Dodger team has done just that, and this Dodger fan is eternally grateful for their work.

So, on to the part of the season that REALLY matters.  On to the pageantry and majesty of a national spotlight on national television.  On to having an opportunity to watch the "Boys in Blue" compete with the best in the land.  On to taking that next step on the road to the World Series.  You've done us proud, and I am certain you will not disappoint.

There are three games remaining in the season and as you know there is nothing left to chase after.  We are the National League Western Division Champions and with the Nationals solidly ahead by two games for the leagues best record, I think it's fair to say that we'll be facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs.  BTW, the gif above of the last out of last night's game is via the Dodgers on tumblr.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Michael Lananna at MLB.com, "After grind of season, Dodgers let loose in celebration."

"Let me tell you, this team always has fun -- it's one of those types of teams," said left fielder Carl Crawford, interrupted briefly by Puig throwing ice chips at his face. "You've got to be loose, man. You can't be uptight all the time."

...

"A lot of guys had individual issues throughout the year, but we got here as a team, and that's what the most important thing is," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "Now we're in the tournament, we're all healthy and we're ready to go."

• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest has up an celebration post including gifs, dancing and moonshine.  I kid you not.
• Via Aaron Gleeman at Hardball Talk, "Matt Kemp is playing like a superstar again."
• Via Chris Moran at Beyond the Boxscore, "The Dodgers deep lineup will be tough to beat."

The point is that Dodgers are healthy, and they can beat you in a myriad of ways. They have speed, power, and on-base skills. Also, with Hanley Ramirez rounding into shape and Matt Kemp recovering his old form at the plate, they are healthier than they've been all year.

• Via Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, "Diamondbacks set to offer pitching great Dave Stewart the GM job."
• Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest also notes that Dodger VP of Player Development DeJon Watson likely appears headed to Arizona also.  Boo!  He's one of the stars of the Dodger front office.
• Here's a report by Ron Shah of FanGraphs on Dodger prospect James Baldwin.

James Baldwin is one of the most intriguing prospects in the California League. The outfielder checks off all the boxes with his graceful athleticism, tools across the board, and major league bloodlines. But the 23-year-old is currently facing an uphill battle due to his struggles in the batter’s box, which may ultimately deter him from reaching his tools-based ceiling.

• True to the Blue shares his day with Joc Pederson - at his autograph appearance a couple of weeks ago.
• Via Cody Ulm at MLB.com, "(Roberto) Hernandez hopes to beat Rox, earn playoff role."

Hernandez showed enough promise with three quality starts in his first four tries for the Dodgers after the team acquired him from the Phillies in early August. But since then, he's failed to last longer than 4 1/3 innings in his four most recent starts, surrendering 11 runs in 15 innings.

I'd be surprised, but good luck.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2014 Topps Pro Debut - The Dodger Prospect Base Cards

With the 2014 MLB draft starting tonight it's only fitting that Topps would release their Pro Debut minor league Baseball card set this week.  The set features some of the best up-'n-coming prospects the Dodgers have in their system.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if half of the players featured end up on the Major League roster in a few years. 

BTW, there's a surprise omission from this set for the Dodgers.  Joc Pederson is nowhere to be found.  What's up with that?

Below are the Dodger prospect base cards.  I hope to have the insert cards available to show soon.

#30 Corey Seager - Quakes                 #63 Jesmuel Valentin - Quakes

 #171 Zach Lee - Lookouts                   #172 Julio Urias - Loons

#173 Chris Anderson - Loons                  #174 Tom Windle - Loons

#176 Scott Schebler - Quakes             #177 James Baldwin - Loons

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 11/19/2013 - Dodgers Links - Puig and some Little Leaguers, Alexander Guerrero Injury and Uribe Wants a 3-Year Deal

Yasiel Puig hung out with a bunch of youngsters at Dodger Stadium, yesterday.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  See more pics of the day from Jon SooHoo, here.  Ken Gurnick at MLB.com tells us all about it - "Puig holds clinic for Little Leaguers at Dodger Stadium".

"I played Little League when I was 9, went through the system, and now I'm grateful that I'm able to do this for these kids," said Puig. "Maybe they'll be able to support me when I get old."

That's Yasiel Puig and today he invited 50 kids from the neighborhood to play at Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/Qkfycfl39b
— Yvonne Carrasco (@yvonnecarrasco) November 19, 2013

• JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers writes a story about former Dodger coach Matt Martin.
• Via Evan Bladh at Opinion of Kingman's Performance provides an update on Alexander Guerrero - "Alexander Guerrero on Dominican Website - Claims his wrist Injury Is Getting Better, but Dodger Management Is Keeping Him from Returning Until He's 100%".  I had thought he had leg issues, but apparently it's his wrist - (or maybe it's his thigh?  Interpretation help please).

Guerrero:  They tell me to continue but they want me at 100%.  Because the Dodgers will start Spring Training in Arizona 3 weeks earlier because they have some games in Australia.  Since they’ll be in Australia, they’ll want me to be with the team.

• Funny stuff.  For the record, this photo tweeted by MLBcathedrals is an obvious photoshopped image, and I find it hilarious how many folks believed it was real.  Heck, even Diamondbacks VP of Communications Josh Rawitch was compelled to respond.

ICYMI; changes in signage were made to the Arizona Diamondbacks Right Centerfield pool for next year. pic.twitter.com/g07srTBFWi
— Ballpark History (@MLBcathedrals) November 18, 2013

The above tweet has since been deleted because general media started to ask the Diamondbacks why they made the sign - not realizing it was a photoshopped image.  Wow!  Some people are so gullible.  Below is the original photo.

• Via Craig Durham at MLB.com, "Baldwin getting valuable experience in Australia: Outfield prospect building on strong second half while with Great Lakes Loons".

"I went to Panama last year, and this is a great opportunity to come to a different country," said Baldwin, who is ranked the Dodgers' No. 17 prospect by MLB.com. "I'm just thankful for everybody that sent me here, and I'm happy to be here, trying to get better any way I can to try and make it to the big leagues as soon as I can."

• Skip Schumaker will not be a Dodger next season.  Per @Ken_Rosenthal on twitter, he has signed a two year deal with the Reds.
• The Dodgers signed infielder Brendan Harris to a minor league contract and invitation to Spring Training, via Tim Dierkes on twitter.  See his stats at Baseball Reference, here.  He'll likely compete for a reserve/backup infielder position.
• Mike Petriello at FanGraphs writes, "Getting Replay Right The First Time".
• Jon Heyman of CBS reports on twitter that the Dodgers have an interest in retaining Juan Uribe, but that Uribe wants a 3-year deal. 
• Via Mark Whicker of the OC Register, "Hollywood nights on horizon for prospect Seager".

“The pitchers in the Cal League had more of an idea how to execute,” Seager said. “They found a way to attack me and they did. They came inside a lot harder, and then they threw a lot of balls south of the zone, and I was chasing. Everybody has those months. I had mine, and I got through it.”

• Via Helene Elliott at the LA Times, "NHL announces all-access TV series that will include Kings and Ducks".

The seven-part series, called “NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other,” will begin Jan. 22 on NBC Sports Network and will initially feature the Kings and Ducks as they prepare for their Stadium Series game on Jan. 25 at Dodger Stadium. Episodes will air on NBCSN on Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 27 (two hours), March 5 and March 12.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *