Welcome Home, Ron Roenicke!

Bring Back All the Dodgers!

This announcement comes as a bit of a surprise.  The Dodgers have brought Ron Roenicke back into the fold.  He has been hired by the team to take over 3rd base duties for the ballclub.

As you may know, the West Covina native started his professional career as a Dodger, and by my estimation is a Dodger through-and-through.  I say this because he had numerous opportunities during his prep career to turn professional, but seemingly waited until is hometown team came calling.  He had been drafted five-times:  Oakland Athletics in 1974, the San Francisco Giants in 1975, the Detroit Tigers in 1976, the Atlanta Braves in 1976, and finally the Dodgers in 1977. It was only then, after hitting .284 with nine home runs for UCLA and being drafted 17th overall, did he sign on the dotted line. 

By 1981 he made his debut in Los Angeles, and continued to play ball professionally until he retired in 1988.  Over that span he played for six different clubs by being a reliable reserve outfielder and switch-hitting batter off the bench. 

In 1992 he joined the Dodger franchise once again as a field coach.  Then in 1994 he earned his stripes as a manager through the entire Dodger system; first with the rookie-level Great Falls, Single-A San Bernardino Spirit, Double-AA San Antonio Missions and Triple-AAA Albuquerque Dukes.  Unfortunately, a logjam in LA stopped his progress.  He went on to work for the Giants, Angels (winning the championship in 2002), and finally as a manager with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In honor of Roenicke's return I made a fantasy Baseball card for him that you can see on the right.  I used the 1971 Topps design and an old B&W photograph I captured from an eBay listing.

Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the hiring of Ron Roenicke, who will coach third base for the remainder of the season. Roenicke managed the Brewers to a 342-331 record from 2011-15, before being replaced in May. The Southern California native was an outfielder in the Majors from 1981-88, including parts of three seasons with the Dodgers (1981-83). Before being named the Brewers’ skipper prior to the 2011 campaign, the 58-year-old was a longtime coach for the Angels, serving as their third base (2000-05) and bench coach (2006-10). 

Dodger coach Lorenzo Bundy will move to the dugout, where he will remain the outfield coordinator. Bundy has been on the Dodgers’ big league staff since 2014.

BTW, with this signing there is speculation brewing, via the Halos Heaven blog, that this could be a move towards bringing back Mike Scioscia.  Frankly, I'd be surprised by this.  On the other hand, anything is possible. 

Below are the career player and managing stats for Roenicke:

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Blog Kiosk: 6/19/2015 - Dodger Links - A Walk Off Balk

Embraces all around for a tough close game that ended in a surprising way.

Last night the Dodgers won on a walk-off balk.... That's right, they won 'cause a rookie pitcher just a couple months past his 22nd birthday did a little fidget while standing set to deliver his pitch.  What caused it can be attributed to third base runner Kike Hernandez; who did a fake steal for home.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Hernandez, game enough to wear a banana suit if it'll trigger a rally, jumped at the chance for a mock steal of home and Kela flinched.

"He fell for it," said Hernandez. "I used to do them all the time in high school."

And we have third base coach Lorenzo Bundy to thank for coming up with the idea to execute it.

"That's the way we roll in the Minor Leagues sometimes," said Bundy. "I felt after the young pitcher got into trouble [walks to Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier], then he gets the double play [on Alberto Callaspo after he failed to bunt] and, in a tight situation, a lot of times they get the two outs and kind of relax. I figured with two strikes on Jimmy, I'd just take a shot."

Wow!  This might be the oddest way to win a game.  Go here to watch a replay of it.  BTW, the last time the Dodgers won in this fashion was in 2010.  Scott Andes at Lasorda's Lair tells us all about it here.  And of course, the ever affable Kike Hernandez shared something funny on twitter:

That. Was. Bananas!!!! 🍌🍌🍌🍌 #DOYERSSSS

— Enrique Hernandez (@kikehndez) June 19, 2015

The above photo via the Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Ogden roster includes 12 new Dodgers draft picks, 3 converted pitchers."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers meet to discuss hitting woes."

“When we were going good, we were having quality at-bats up and down the lineup. We need to continue to make the guy fight for every out,” Mattingly said. “It’s not that complicated, really, just the mentality of team baseball, getting a good pitch, making him fight for his out, don’t give him any easy ones. If he beats you, then he beats you. We’ve just got to get back to who we are and we feel like we’re a team that is going to have quality at-bats.”

• Via Ron Clements at the Sporting News, "Vin Scully calls Joc Pederson best fielding CF Dodgers have ever had."
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "StewPod #5: Joc Pederson talks 'Call of Duty' and MLB's talented rookie class."
• I just came across this interview, so I thought I would pass it along.  Here is a 2007 interview, via NPR, with Frank Robinson as he speaks about the legacy of Jackie Robinson.  He also tells us about his first meeting with Jackie.  Check it out here.
• In the strange but true bin.  Sports card hobby veteran Bob Lemke writes about a, "Player's "prank" would be child abuse today."

A player's "prank" 50 years ago rated a visit by the sheriff, but today would likely have resulted in child abuse charges, a suspension and a multi-million dollar lawsuit....

In the complaint, Mrs. Doreen Buechler charged that when Seattle had been in town on May 11, a player wearing uniform #40 had given her 13-year-old son a chaw of tobacco that made him ill. Jernigan, the Rainers' manager confirmed, had worn number 40 at that time.

The complaint alleged that young Buechler had asked the player for a baseball. Jernigan told the kid he'd give him a ball if take a chew of tobacco and hold it in his mouth for 10 minutes. The boy was later found lying in the middle of a lavatory floor at the park "violently ill."

I'm a terrible man for laughing, aren't I?

I must admit, though, that the same thing happened to me... kind of... I tried chewing tobacco once in my life, and made the mistake of swallowing some of it... Yeah... I didn't feel very well after that.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/24/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last night Tommy Lasorda visited with Jimmy Kimmel and had an opportunity to meet with Taylor Swift, as evidenced by the photo above tweeted by @TommyLasorda.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Report: Bundy to return as third-base coach."
• Just more stuff to add to his mantel.  Via Jesse Spector at The Sporting News, "Clayton Kershaw edges Mike Trout for Sporting News Player of the Year."

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year for 2014, as selected by a panel of  244 major league players. Kershaw beat Angels superstar Mike Trout by just three votes.
...
“It’s awesome,” Kershaw said of the honor. “It really is cool to have that respect from other guys in the league. That’s a huge compliment. For my peers to give that to me, that’s awesome.”

• Via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register on twitter, four Dodgers are finalist for a Gold Glove:

#Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 3B Juan Uribe, Ps Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove awards at their positions
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 23, 2014

• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA shares his choices for "Top three greatest Dodger moments of 2014."  I think I have to agree.  Although, I may have gone with a different order.  Still, it's definitely a great group of highlights.
• Via Eric Stephen of True Blue LA on twitter, Dodger prospect/reliever Danny Coulombe has been very busy:

Busy week for Dodgers LHP @DPCoulombe: married Sun, pitched Tue (w/Josh Byrnes watching), now off AFL roster (hopefully enjoying honeymoon)
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) October 23, 2014

• Via Kevin Nelson at Sports Collectors Digest, "Operation Bullpen Endures, Public Fascination Continues."  I would be very interested in seeing a movie about the largest fraud ever perpetrated in the sports memorabilia hobby.
• Buster Olney of ESPN tells us a bit about Andrew Friedman's contract on twitter:

Not surprisingly, Andrew Friedman's deal with the Dodgers is record-setting: from sources, $35 million over 5 years, plus incentives.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 24, 2014

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Blog Kiosk: 10/3/2014 - Dodger Links - Mattingly, Kershaw and Ryu Pitching Game 3

Are you ready for some Dodger playoff Baseball?

No doubt Clayton Kershaw is; as evidenced by the photograph above.  Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014 captured him running in the outfield yesterday in preparation for his start tonight.  Go here to check out more photos from the Dodgers workout yesterday.

If you are going to tonight's game go here for information about the scheduled pregame autograph signings, a game give-away and other stuff about the game.  Oh... And get there early.  Like... You should leave right now!

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Richard Justice at Sports on Earth, "Mattingly Always True To The Team."

Mattingly has had disagreements with others, and at times, he has called out the entire group. Through it all, he has never lost his team, either individually or as a whole. That's because players believe Mattingly is a fair man and that he will ask only that they play hard and put winning first.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Five Q's: How will Kershaw fare vs. Cards?"
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Hyun-jin Ryu named Dodgers NLDS Game 3 starter."

"He's pretty much a 100-110 [pitch] guy all year long. We don't expect him to be much different than that. We don't feel like he's lost a ton of arm strength, this is late in the year," Mattingly said. "If anything, Hyun-jin is the right guy for missing this much time."

• Interview transcripts from the postseason workouts yesterday are availble to check out now.  Go here for Clayton Kershaw's interview, or here for Don Mattingly's interview.
• Chris Olds at Beckett.com provides some early sneak peak photos of Topps 2015 Museum Collection Baseball card set.  Go here to check them all out.  To the right is a Clayton Kershaw card.
• The Dodger owners, Guggenheim, are apparently looking at purchasing an ownership stake in the Brooklyn Nets, via Net Income at NetsDaily.
• Dave Cameron at FanGraphs takes a look at, "The Strengths and Weaknesses of Every Playoff Team."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers give D-backs permission to talk to Bundy."

"It's exciting for me, especially being the first time for a manager's job," Bundy said. "It's a great experience to go through, a learning experience. But I'm also 110 percent focused on my job here right now."

• Wow!  You gotta check this out.  Via Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post, "Watch rare footage of the Senators beating the Giants in the 1924 World Series."
• Topps just released concert styled posters for each team in the playoffs.  They are available at their website, here.  They measure 11"x17" and are on traditional Baseball card cardstock.  The poster on the left below (the blue one) is numbered to 99 copies and the rainbow version (on the right) is limited to only 1 copy.  The rainbow version is already sold out.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/17/2014 - Dodger Links - Moving AA & AAA to Oklahoma

It was a beautiful Colorado evening last night.  It was cool and partly cloudy with a slight breeze blowing in from left.  Heck, it was so nice the Dodgers decided to take a breather.  Actually, that's not entirely true.  The Dodgers got their hits, they just couldn't drive them home.

Once again, every Dodger position player (including the pitcher) got a hit, but they could only muster four runs.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

The National League’s No. 1 team with runners in scoring position had three hits but 11 outs, stranding 10 runners and wasting most of their 16 hits, including three by Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig’s first home run since July 31.

Yeah, it was one of those nights.  The Dodger loss and an subsequent Giants win over the Diamondbacks keeps the magic number at none.  The two photos above were taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more pic by him from yesterday's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Steven Silverman at Beyond the Boxscore, "Zack Greinke, forgotten ace."

As much coverage as a certain Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher has gotten in these pages (and others) in recent weeks, there are other good stories coming out of Chavez Ravine. Zack Greinke, even if he had to resort to hitting a home run to escape Clayton Kershaw's monstrous shadow this week, has been quietly having another solid year.

• It is now official.  Per a Dodger press release, they are moving their AAA operations from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City in 2015.  In fact, they are buying a piece of the team.

The owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that they have reached an agreement with Mandalay Baseball Properties, LLC on the purchase of the Oklahoma City RedHawks.  The purchase would be part of a partnership in which Peter Guber will be the Executive Chairman and Managing Director of the team and partners Paul Schaeffer and Larry Freedman will manage the operations of the company.

The Dodgers also announced they will change their triple-A franchise affiliation to Oklahoma City in 2015 and continue to play in the Pacific Coast League, while moving to the American Northern Division. 

As Eric Stephen at True Blue LA notes, the Dodgers are also expected to move their AA club in Chattanooga to Tulsa.

The Dodgers contingent will make their way to Tulsa, 107 miles away, for a 1 p.m. PT press conference for what the Double-A Tulsa Drillers called on Wednesday "a major announcement regarding the franchise."

• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Dodgers’ third base coach details the perils of elevation on a player’s evolution."  JP speaks with Dodger coach Lorenzo Bundy about the difficulty in evaluating players in Albuquerque.  
• Via a Dodgers press release, Clayton Kershaw has been named the Dodgers' nominee for the 2014 Roberto Clemente Award.
• Via David Brown at Big League Stew, "Jake Peavy on next start: 'I was just in the shower thinking about Dee Gordon'"
• Via Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, "DeJon Watson will be brought back for second interview in Arizona."

Watson, who's been considered instrumental in the development of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, star outfielder Matt Kemp and many other young Dodgers, served as the scouting director and farm director of the Dodgers before rising to become an assistant to Ned Colletti in L.A. The Dodgers appear on their way to a second straight NL West crown.

• GCRL shares the evolution of Dodger first baseman through baseball cards, part II.
• I just love trip reports to amusement parks in foreign lands.  Check Chaos and Kanji at Enakyo Wonderland, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #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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(Vizcaino,Wills,Bundy, Castro, Davis and Stubbs, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

THE BEAT GOES ON: The Dodgers completed their eighth full-squad workout today with the club’s Cactus League opener only five days away! Los Angeles will kick off its 25-game exhibition slate on Wednesday against the D-backs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

• Dan Haren, Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Chris Reed threw normal bullpens today, while Clayton Kershaw, Javy Guerra, Seth Rosin, Jose Dominguez, Ross Stripling, Daniel Moskos and Sam Demel faced live hitters during simulated innings. 
• Matt Kemp got a few extra swings in today and faced live pitching on the minor league side.
• Yasiel Puig was held out of on-field action again today, instead working out in the batting cage and the weight room, after fouling a ball off his right leg on Wednesday. He is expected to be a regular participant in tomorrow’s workout.

(Kershaw and AJ Ellis during similated game, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

A-OK: Earlier today, Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Andre Ethier during live BP as he watched the action in one of the bullpens down the left field line of Field 1. Koufax was joking about the incident a few minutes later and emerged with only a small cut on his forehead. As a precaution, he was taken to a local hospital for a CT scan, which came back negative.

(Sandy Koufax, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

“THE KID”: Tomorrow, the City of Fullerton will honor Baseball Hall of Famer and former Dodger Gary Carter by dedicating Field No. 2 at Fullerton Sports Complex in his name. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Fullerton Sports Complex at 560 E. Silver Pine St. and will be attended by Carter’s wife, Sandy, brother, Gordon, and other family members. Carter grew up in Fullerton and played 19 Major League seasons, including the 1991 campaign with the Dodgers, before his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Carter passed away on Feb. 16, 2012 at the age of 57.

THE GAMES BEHIND THE GAMES: The Dodgers will play two intra-squad games on Sunday, Feb. 23 and Monday, Feb. 24 on Field 1 at Camelback Ranch - Glendale. Pitchers scheduled 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.

(Koufax and Jansen, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: We’re just four days away from the launch of SportsNet LA on February 25, the new 24-hour-a-day network of the Dodgers. 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. In addition to airing games during Spring Training, SportsNet LA will also air a nightly show, “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” at 7:00 p.m. PT.

• The network has announced its full launch night programming schedule, led by 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’s programming lineup will include shows “Backstage: Dodgers,” “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” “Leadoff LA,” “Dodgers Clubhouse,” “Connected With,” “Talkin’ Blue,” “Dodgermentary,” “Timeless Dodgers” and “Dodgers Squeeze Play,” all set to air starting Feb. 25. For more information, please visit www.ineedmydodgers.com.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Blog Kiosk: 1/22/2014 - Dodgers Links - Kemp, Bundy and Clayton

Tommy Lasorda received the NL Bobby Murcer Award on behalf of the Dodgers at the B.A.T. charity dinner last night, pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Mark Newman at MLB.com has a story up about the event, here.

• Listen to Petros and Money of KLAC-AM speak to Don Newcombe on MLK Day, here.
• Via Rany Jazayerli on Grantland writes a great story on Clayton Kershaw titled, "So Good, So Young".
• Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider writes, "Meet Dodgers third base coach Lorenzo Bundy".

“It was flattering,” Bundy said on being appointed Dodger third base coach. “I’m a very humble person. The opportunity to first, work with the Dodgers has always been very special. Especially growing up, I grew up a Dodger fan per se because of Jackie Robinson. He was someone talked about often in my family. Especially by my dad.”

• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Dodgers' Matt Kemp advised by agent to not rush back for opening day".   He also notes that Alexander Guerrero is currently working out in Arizona with Jose Vizcaino at 2nd base.
• Apparently, Matt Kemp wanted to use the phrase "Beast Mode" on some apparel he would be marketing, but it is trademarked by Marshawn Lynch.  TMZ tells us that Lynch told Kemp no, and they have a video response from Kemp.
• Masahiro Tanaka chooses the Yankees, via Bryan Hoch at MLB.com.
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Daily Distractions: Cut fastball could fast-track Ross Stripling to Los Angeles."  JP also tells us that Dodger Stadium will have permanent metal detectors onsite by the 2015 season, here.
• Adam Rubin at ESPN tells us that, "Tommy Lasorda blasts A-Rod".
• Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest provides an update on the 15 Dodgers who are non-roster invitees to Spring Training.  It includes word that the Dodgers just signed free agent catchers Miguel Olivo and Griff Erickson to minor league contracts
• Old Time Family Baseball writes, "My New Favorite Baseball Team: Fat Men’s Amusement Company".  This is great.  Over the years, I've seen vintage postcards featuring these portly men of the ballfield, and I've wondered what there story was.  Who are they?  Could they play competitive ball?  Did they ever try to steal?  Unfortunately, there remains few answers, but it was nice to see this story, nonetheless.  There's a great video of a real uniform presented on the Antique Roadshow that you have to watch.  BTW, I totally disagree with the appraisal.  I think at auction, all of the items would sell in excess of the $2k stated - easily.
• Via DSWright at Fire Dog Lake, "Grantland Editor-In-Chief Apologizes For Story That May Have Led To Subject’s Suicide".  This is an episode of when reporting goes wrong.
• Night Owl Cards blog has been named the 2013 Best Card blog of the Year for the 3rd straight time.  Congrats! 

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Blog Kiosk: 12/5/2013 - Dodgers Links - Isotopes Go Breaking Bad, an Interview with Bundy and Steve Lyons Lays Down Some Snark

This just might be the best thing ever!  Via Danny Wild at MiLB.com, "Isotopes pay tribute to 'Breaking Bad': Heisenberg-esque tee a unique souvenir for Albuquerque fans". 

• Via Chris Flick at True Blue Crew writes, "Is JP Howell targeted by the Nats?"
• Ryan Walton at Valley Bay News caught up with recent Dodger minor league signee Clint Robinson.
• Via Greg Zakwin at Yahoo, "Los Angeles Dodgers Easily Have Best Rotation in Baseball".

While there are plenty of rotations that can lay claim to a top-three ranking in the game, one group clearly stands above all others as easily the best in baseball: the staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Via Ross Gassmer at Dodgers Nation, "Video: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Discusses Contract, NLCS Loss".
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "New (Dodgers) third-base coach Bundy has paid his dues".

"For those of us who have been in the Minor Leagues a long time trying to get to the Major Leagues, with all the hard work you have to do in the Minors, and now to be rewarded, well, I feel like I earned it," Bundy said from Mexico, where he is into his third decade as a Winter League manager because "I'm trying to get better.

• Here's an old friend alert.  Via Dodgers Nation on twitter, former Dodger Dave Hansen has joined the Angels coaching staff as assistant hitting coach.
• Tom Verducci at Sports Illustrated writes a great argument for including Jack Morris into the Hall of Fame.  His article explains what I have believed for some time; that Jack Morris, when placed in context of his peers during his era, was one of the best - if not the best starting pitcher in Baseball.
• This is for those interested in the upcoming 2014 Draft.  Via Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Next year's Draft deeper, packed with pitchers".

"Last year was one of the weakest Drafts I can remember," a scouting director with a National League team said. "Last year was really weak in high school pitching, and this year there's some really good-looking high school pitchers. Last year was the weakest year I've ever seen in shortstops, and this year there are shortstops. It's better in almost everything."

• Steve Lyons is not happy, via his twitter.  Lyons takes a little swipe at the reported newest member of the Dodgers broadcast team, Nomar Garciaparra.  He claims he's not trash talkin', still he sounds a little bitter about his exit.

I certainly wasn't an All Star when I played. Excuse my ego now but the new guy has big shoes to fill...
— Steve Lyons (@SteveLyons12) December 4, 2013

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Here are your 2014 Dodgers Coaching Staff

On the first day of the GM/Owner Meetings in Orlando, Florida the Dodgers announce who will be leading our team for the 2014 Baseball season.  As expected, Mattingly is back and Tim Wallach will be the bench coach.  Also, Lorenzo Bundy goes from being the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes manager to the Dodgers 3rd base coach.  Everyone else returns.  All that's missing, at this point, is an announcement regarding who will be the new trainer.

2014 Dodger Coaching Staff:

Don Mattingly - Manager (fourth season)
Lorenzo Bundy - Third Base coach (first season)
Chuck Crim - Bullpen Coach (second season)
Rick Honeycutt - Pitching Coach (ninth season)
Davey Lopes - First Base Coach (fourth season)
Mark McGwire - Hitting Coach (second season)
Tim Wallach - Bench Coach (first season, fourth on staff)
Ken Howell - Assistant Pitching Coach (second season, seventh on staff)
John Valentin - Assistant Hitting Coach (second season)
Manny Mota - Coach (35th season)
Steve Yeager - Coach (third season)

Below is some background on our newest coaching addition, Lorenzo Bundy, from a Dodgers press release:

Bundy joins the Dodgers' Major League staff after managing Triple-A Albuquerque for the last three seasons. Under Bundy, the Isotopes went 225-206 (.522) and tied a franchise record with 80 wins in 2012, when he was honored as the Pacific Coast League's Manager of the Year. Overall, the 54-year-old has managed 12 seasons in the minors in the Expos (1990-94), Marlins (1997) and Dodger organizations (2007-08, 2010-2013) and the 2014 season will mark Bundy's fourth time serving on a big league coaching staff after working as the Marlins' bench coach (1998), the Rockies' bullpen coach (1999) and the Diamondbacks' first base coach (2009). Bundy played eight professional seasons from 1981-89 with stints in the Texas, Pittsburgh and Montreal organizations in addition to playing in the Mexican League after he was originally selected by Baltimore in the 22nd round of the 1977 draft.

Pic at the very top via Jon SooHoo.LA Dodgers 2013

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