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: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #5 - All Players Accounted For

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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(Boomer, DeLury, Wallach, Corrales and hidden Mattingly, pic via Jon SooHoo)

TURN UP TUESDAYS: Today marked the fifth day of workouts for pitchers and catchers at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Position players report tomorrow, with the first full-squad workout of 2015 scheduled for Thursday.

• Zack Greinke, who was given a lubricating injection in his right elbow on Thursday, February 19, returned to the mound today and threw his first “official” bullpen of the spring.
• Sergio Santos and newly acquired right-hander Dustin McGowan also threw their first “official” bullpens of the spring.
• Erik Bedard, Juan Nicasio, Brandon League, Adam Liberatore, Josh Ravin, Carlos Frias and Hyun-Jin Ryu all threw their scheduled bullpen sessions today.

ROLL CALL: With first full-squad workouts scheduled for Thursday, all position players have already reported to camp early for voluntary workouts. Carl Crawford, who reported to camp today, and Howie Kendrick and Alex Guerrero, who reported late yesterday, brought Camelback Ranch to full capacity at 60 players for Spring Training.

(Pic via Camelback Ranch on twitter)

TORNEO DE BEISBOL DE VALENCIA: The Dodgers, in collaboration with the City and State of Valencia, Spain, are hosting the second annual Early Bird U19 National Baseball Team event in the 2015 Torneo de Beisbol de Valencia. The tournament, which consists of six nations, started today and will continue until March 1. Juan Garcia Puig, Dodgers international scout and coach of the local baseball team, Valencia Astros, helped coordinate the event with the full support of the Confederation of European Baseball. All parties involved in the event envision that the tournament becoming an annual event that will come to be the official opening of the baseball season in Europe. Spain took home the gold over Germany in the first Torneo de Beisbol de Valencia last year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Los Angeles Dodgers would like to wish Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley a Happy Birthday. Hefley joined the Dodgers as the organist in 1988 and through the years, she has amassed a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs and she maintains a spreadsheet of every anthem performer she has accompanied at Dodger Stadium.Go here to check out my post featuring a Blue Heaven Nancy Bea Hefley Baseball card set.

SCORPION ALERT: A few days ago, a pair of scorpions were spotted on the White Sox side of camp and today they reached the Dodger side, stinging Public Relations maestro Jon Chapper on his left arm. The scorpion, who had been hiding out in Chapper’s jacket sleeve, survived the altercation and sent Jon scampering to the training room. Luckily, Chap was treated promptly with an ice wrap and is not expected to miss any time.

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

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Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2014 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Dodgers coach Pat Corrales and AJ Ellis, pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Mota recalls the greatness of Clemente".

"Being Puerto Rican, he built confidence in Latin American people to not be afraid to express themselves. He was a very proud person, a very proud Puerto Rican, and he was a hero all through Latin America. I had the honor and privilege of being with Roberto Clemente for six years in Pittsburgh and got to know the person, not just the ballplayer. And he was just as great a person as a player."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Justin Turner lands on his feet at Dodgers camp".

“I like to think I play the game pretty hard,” Turner said. “If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here because I don’t have all the other tools that a lot of the guys in here have. It is what it is. I’m in a good place and I’m happy where I’m at.” 

• Via Eno Sarris at FanGraphs, "Brian Wilson Has Thought This Whole Thing Through".  Wilson talks about that knuckleball.
• Via David Schoenfield at ESPN.com, "Ranking the best 'core fives' in the majors".  The Dodgers came in as the team with the best 'Core 5' in the game.  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider)
• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Struggling Puig shows frustrations after hitless game".
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Carl Crawford roster status for Australia awaiting delivery".  He's isn't going to Australia.

The left fielder said on Friday his legs felt 100 percent and that he wasn't having any issues with his right quad or hamstring, both of which were tight early in camp. But Crawford's fiancée is expecting a baby "any day now," per Crawford, and he wants to be there for the birth of his child.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 17/Home 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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 Cincinnati Reds (4-12) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (5-7-4)
Thursday, March 13, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Glendale
RHP Alfredo Simon (0-1, 5.00) vs. LHP Paul Maholm (0-0, 1.80)
Spring Game 17/Home Game 9
Television/Radio: SNLA/None

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(Dodger Fans!, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

COLOR WAR: The Dodgers and Reds face off for the second and final time this spring after Los Angeles scored a 10-3 win over Cincinnati in Goodyear on March 5. The Dodgers dropped the 2013 season series to the Reds, 4-3, but hold a 35-19 (.648) advantage over Cincinnati since 2006, which is the second-best mark among NL clubs in that span (Philadelphia, 36-19, .655).

• Los Angeles opens the 2014 season in just nine days against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series in Sydney, Australia.
• Outfielder Matt Kemp is scheduled to play in a minor league intrasquad game again today at 12:30 p.m. on the back fields of Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Kemp had six at-bats and played in the field for the first time yesterday in a minor league intrasquad game, playing six outs in center field, and ran the bases.
• Minor league position players suiting up today include RHP Red Patterson (#78), LHP Fu-Te Ni (#83), RHP Juan Gonzalez (#94), C Kyle Farmer (#92), INF Darnell Sweeney (#84), INF Ozzie Martinez (#87), INF Daniel Mayora (#88), INF Jamie Romak (#90), OF Jon Garcia (#89), OF Trayvon Robinson (#91) and OF Aaron Bates (#95).

(Matt Kemp, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

ON THE HILL: Paul Maholm will make his third appearance (second start) of the spring today after allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings on Saturday against the Rangers. The 31-year-old has allowed just one run in 5.0 innings (1.80 ERA) this spring, while limiting opposing hitters to a .235 batting average (4-for-17). During the course of his career, Maholm has been especially tough against lefties, holding them to a .225 batting average/.287 on-base percentage/.318 slugging percentage.

• Rule 5 hopeful Seth Rosin will make his fourth appearance today and has not allowed an earned run (one unearned) in 8.0 innings this spring. The 25-year-old last pitched on Saturday against the Rangers, allowing only an unearned run on one hit in 3.0 innings, and has limited opponents to a .161 batting average (5-for-31) this spring.

SPELL CHECK: Cuban infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena reported to Camelback Ranch for the first time today and met with the training staff, players, coaches and media on his first day in Dodger blue. Arruebarrena posted a .276 career batting average with 27 homers and 171 RBI in 437 games in six professional seasons for Cienfuegos in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. The 23-year-old was signed as a free agent on Feb. 22 and will wear uniform No. 11.

(Zack Greinke, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

FILLING OUT THE LINEUP CARD: Bench coach Tim Wallach will once again serve as manager today and Special Advisor to the GM Pat Corrales will be the club’s bench coach with Don Mattingly leaving camp due to a death in the family. Mattingly is expected to be back in Glendale tomorrow. Wallach managed the Dodgers’ Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2009 and 2010 and guided them to a 152-135 (.530) record and an American Southern Division title in 2009.

• The Dodgers fell, 9-2, to the D-backs yesterday at Camelback Ranch. Zack Greinke made his second start of the spring and first appearance since throwing only four pitches (right calf injury) in his Cactus League debut on Feb. 27, and allowed three runs on six hits in 2.0 innings in a losing effort. Andre Ethier gave the Dodgers an early lead with his two-run double in the first inning, but that was the only scoring that Los Angeles could muster. Ethier finished the game 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .357 this spring.
• In the fifth inning yesterday, Wallach issued the Dodgers’ first challenge of the spring under the new replay system. Following replay review, the umpires confirmed the call on the field that Didi Gregorius had kept his foot on second base during a slide on a stolen base attempt. It took 1:48 for the umpires to conduct the replay review. Los Angeles will have two more replay games in Cactus League play, March 15 at Chicago-AL and March 16 vs. Colorado, and the system will also be in place for all three Freeway Series games against the Angels.

ON DISPLAY: Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Hank Greenberg and Joe DiMaggio are among the baseball pioneers featured in a new exhibit that opens to the public today at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Hailed as the first large-scale exhibit focused on the role baseball plays in the lives of immigrant and minority communities seeking to express or challenge American culture, Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American features 130 baseball artifacts. Koufax is the centerpiece of the exhibit, which is open to the public until Oct. 26. The pitcher’s 1963 National League Cy Young Award is on display, as well as scorecards and tickets from his perfect game against the Cubs in '65, the cap he wore during his no-hitter against the Phillies in '64 and a ticket from his first no-hitter against the Mets in '62. There's also a mound where fans can put on a replica Koufax jersey and try to pitch like the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner.

(Pat Corrales and Tommy Lasorda, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #10

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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(Pat Corrales with some young Dodger catchers, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

SUNDAY RITUAL: The Dodgers completed their 10th full-squad workout today with the club’s Cactus League opener just three 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. Reigning Cy Young Award-winner Clayton Kershaw will make his first Cactus League start for the Dodgers.

• Clayton Kershaw, Seth Rosin, Ross Stripling, Sam Demel, Javy Guerra, Jose Dominguez and Daniel Moskos all tossed normal bullpens sessions this morning.

(Andre Ethier, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

AND THEN THERE WAS A GAME (KIND OF): The Dodgers played the first of two intra-squad games today in a contest that was marked by some first-inning fireworks with the bat. The first three batters from “Team Wills” all scored off “Team Koufax” starter Hyun-Jin Ryu as Dee Gordon belted a leadoff homer, Juan Uribe doubled and Hanley Ramirez smoked a two-run home run. Those runs would hold up as “Team Wills” won 3-1 in the four-inning contest. For the victors, Matt Magill allowed one run in 2.0 innings and was followed to the mound by Brian Wilson (1.0 IP, 2 K) and Chris Perez (1.0 IP), who both threw scoreless baseball. On the losing side, Ryu gave up three runs in 2.0 innings while Kenley Jansen and J.P. Howell each tossed a scoreless frame. Scott Van Slyke drove in the lone run for “Team Koufax,” plating Yasiel Puig with a single.

• Tomorrow morning, the boys are back for round 2 at 11:30 A.M., on Field 1 at Camelback Ranch - Glendale. Pitchers scheduled to throw tomorrow include Stephen Fife, Dan Haren, Chris Reed, Paco Rodriguez and Jamey Wright.

(Paco Rodriguez, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

BASEBALL THIS MORNING: Bright and early tomorrow morning, the ESPN “Baseball Tonight” bus rolls into Camelback Ranch – Glendale for its annual spring trip. Karl Ravech, John Kruk and Tim Kurkjian will be on hand as the show will tape and go live near the Field 1 third base side. Clayton Kershaw will be on the show live at 7:00 A.M. PT/8 A.M. MT.   

THIS TIME IT COUNTS: In just 27 days, the Boys in Blue will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first-ever regular season games in Australia. The trip to Sydney begins on March 16 when the club leaves Arizona after their game against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch – Glendale that afternoon. Today, a television crew from Eyewitness Ten News in Sydney shot b-roll and interviewed several Dodger players in the clubhouse, including Andre Ethier, Brian Wilson and Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez then donned an official National Rugby League jersey (South Sydney Rabbitohs) and flashed his trademark “I see you” pose for team photographer Jon SooHoo.  

• Following their trip to Australia, the Dodgers will return to Los Angeles 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.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 26/ Road 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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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (9-13-3) vs. Kansas City Royals (17-6-1)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Surprise Stadium
RHP Aaron Harang (1-0, 10.00) vs. RHP Wade Davis (2-0, 0.00)
TV: None | Radio: None

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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(pic link: Cespedes & Puig: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

DODGER ROYALTY: The Dodgers take on the Royals for the second and final time this spring after defeating Kansas City, 8-1, on March 15 in Glendale. The clubs haven’t met during the regular season since 2005 and the Royals have the upper hand in the all-time series, 4-2. In case you’re counting, Opening Day against the Giants is just 12 days away!

• On the back fields at 1:00 p.m., Zack Greinke, Brandon League and J.P. Howell will all pitch in minor league games. Greinke is expected to throw around 45 pitches.

COSTLY VICTORY: Congratulations are in order for Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez and minor league right-handed pitcher Angel Castro on the Dominican Republic’s undefeated run to the World Baseball Classic title, capped off with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico last night. Ramirez went 1-for-2 in the championship game before he was removed with an apparent thumb injury. He is expected back in Arizona this afternoon and will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. He finished the eight-game tournament by going 5-for-22 with two homers and three RBI.

• With Ramirez traveling and Dee Gordon out of the lineup with an ankle injury, Luis Cruz will make his first start of the spring at shortstop today. Last year, Cruz appeared in 24 games (23 starts) at shortstop, posting a .981 fielding percentage and committing just two errors in 205.1 innings.

BIRTHDAY BOY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to Pat Corrales, who is in his first season with the Dodgers as a special advisor to the GM. Corrales was the first Major League manager of Mexican-American descent and managed for nine years in the big leagues with the Rangers (1978- 80), Phillies (1982-83) and Indians (1983-87) following a nine-year playing career as a catcher.

FEELS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY: The Dodgers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead yesterday with Yasiel Puig and Jerry Hairston Jr. hitting back-to-back first-inning homers and Chris Capuano delivered 5.2 strong innings as Los Angeles downed Oakland, 7-1, at Camelback Ranch. In addition to Puig and Hairston, Juan Uribe and Skip Schumaker added multi-hit games as the Dodger offense finished the game with 13 hits, including five for extra bases. The Dodger bullpen of Mark Lowe (1.1 IP), J.P. Howell (1.0 IP) and Brandon League (1.0 IP) was equally as impressive, allowing just two baserunners (hit, walk) to close out the game with 3.1 scoreless innings.

• After yesterday’s 13-hit barrage, the Dodgers now top National League clubs with a .288 team batting average and a .352 team on-base percentage.
• Los Angeles also leads the NL with 32 steals, led by league leader Dee Gordon’s seven stolen bases.

(pic link: Brandon League: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

LET’S CALL IT AN EVEN .500:  After drawing comparisons to Bo Jackson and Mark McGwire, Yasiel Puig continued to be the talk of camp yesterday by going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, a triple, a homer and two RBI, finishing a double shy of the cycle. Puig is batting an even .500 this spring, tops among National Leaguers, and also ranks among the league’s best in runs scored (13, T-3rd), hits (23, 2nd), total bases (37, 4th), stolen bases (4, T-4th), slugging percentage (.804, 2nd) and on-base percentage (.489, 4th).

ON THE HILL: Aaron Harang will make his fourth start of the spring today against the Royals after last pitching on Friday against the Padres. Harang allowed five runs (four earned) in 4.0 innings in that outing and has gone 1-0 with a 10.00 ERA in his three Cactus League starts. Last season, Harang posted a career-low 3.61 ERA while going 10-10 in 31 starts with the Dodgers.

• Today’s scheduled relievers, Ronald Belisario, Matt Guerrier, Kenley Jansen and Kevin Gregg, will go back-to-back and pitch tomorrow in a simulated game against Carl Crawford and Tim Federowicz at Camelback Ranch.

TUCSON-OLOGY:  On Monday, the Dodgers held their annual Tucson-ology draft to determine who would make the trip to Tucson tomorrow to play in the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation benefit game against the Cubs. The lucky winners were Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Nick Punto, Skip Schumacher, Juan Uribe, Alex Castellanos and Stephen Fife.

• This will mark the Dodgers’ third annual benefit game in Tucson dating to 2011, when the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks played a similar benefit game in Tucson with all proceeds going to the Tucson Together Fund. In addition, The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, in partnership with the Diamondbacks, dedicated a Dodgers Dreamfield in Oro Valley, AZ, on a field that was re-named in memory of Christina-Taylor Green.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 3/Home Game 2

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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Chicago Cubs (2-0) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (0-1-1)
Monday, February 25, 2013 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Carlos Villanueva vs. RHP Chad Billingsley
TV: PRIME TICKET - RADIO: AM 570 KLAC

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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(pic link: Pat Corrales and Pat Listach via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2013)

I LIKE YOUR TIE: The Dodgers and Cubs meet for the first of four times this spring with Chicago right-hander Carlos Villanueva facing Los Angeles righty Chad Billingsley. The two clubs will meet again on Wednesday in Mesa, March 14 here in Glendale and then on March 21 in Tucson with the game proceeds benefitting the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. In case you were wondering, there are 35 days until Opening Day!

• The Dodgers and White Sox played to a 2-2 tie yesterday at Camelback Ranch as Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu combined for 3.0 scoreless innings and Luis Cruz hit the Dodgers’ first homer of the spring. Hanley Ramirez knocked in the Dodgers’ first run of the contest with an RBI single in the third to bring home Tim Federowicz, who doubled to lead off the inning, and non-roster invitee Brian Barden picked up a pair of singles in his two at-bats after entering the game as the designated hitter in the seventh inning.
• Los Angeles will have four players venturing over from the minor league side today to suit up with the Major League club: RHP Ryan Acosta (#84), LHP Victor Garate (#95), RHP Blake Johnson (#82) and IF Rafael Ynoa (#83).

BILLS ON THE HILL: Chad Billingsley makes his first start of the spring this afternoon and will take the mound for the first time since Aug. 24 after missing the last month of the season with right elbow pain. Prior to the injury, Billingsley had been one of the game’s top pitchers in the second half, going 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA (9 ER/45.0 IP) in seven starts after the All-Star break. The 28-year-old right-hander has posted double-digit wins in each of the last six seasons and has never had a losing season at any level as a pro.

• Left-hander Chris Capuano will see his first action of the spring in relief today after establishing a career-best mark with a 3.72 ERA in 2012. Capuano has made 25 relief appearances in his career, posting a 3.80 ERA in 42.2 innings.
• RHP Matt Guerrier will make his first appearance of the spring after pitching in just 16 games last year in an injury-shortened season.
• RHP Shawn Tolleson will make 2013 Cactus League debut after limiting opponents to a .221 batting average (.152 against right-handers) over 40 games last year in his first big league season.
• LHP Paco Rodriguez became the fastest player from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft to reach the Majors last year after he was selected in the second round out of the University of Florida. Rodriguez, 22, tossed scoreless relief in 10 of his 11 big league appearances.
• RHP Kevin Gregg will see his first action in Dodger blue after spending the 2012 campaign with Baltimore. Gregg, 34, is entering his 11th big league season.

  

  (pic link: Hyun-Jin Ryu via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2013)

REALIGNMENT: With Adrian Gonzalez receiving an off-day after starting both of the Dodgers’ first two Cactus League contests, Juan Uribe will make his first-ever start at first base this afternoon. The sure-handed infielder was the Dodgers’ designated hitter on Saturday, going 1-for-2, and has appeared in 1,355 games in his career with a .977 fielding percentage at second base (220 games), third base (259 games), shortstop (917 games) and center field (one game).

• Dee Gordon (shortstop), Nick Punto (designated hitter), Ramon Castro (catcher), Alfredo Amezaga (third base) and Tony Gwynn Jr. (left field) will all make their first starts of the exhibition season this afternoon.

PRIME TIME: The Dodgers will make their first television appearance of the season today with Hall of Famer Vin Scully calling the action on PRIME TICKET. Scully enters his 64th season behind the mic in 2013 and will call six Cactus League contests for the Dodgers this spring.

• Today’s 1:05 p.m. (12:05 p.m. PT) game will also be called by Charley Steiner and Rick Monday and can be heard on AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles, which will also feature Dodger Talk with David Vassegh and Jorge Jarrin tonight at 7:00 p.m. PT.

THE TOUR CONTINUES...: Today, MLB Network descended on Camelback Ranch for their annual 30 clubs in 30 Days tour. Eric Byrnes will be on-site talking to numerous Dodgers, including fellow outfielder Andre Ethier. The network also conducted a live interview with Ned Colletti and spoke with a number of Dodger players on their past WBC experiences.

YOU SEE THIS FACE?: Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp advanced to the finals of MLB Network’s #FaceofMLB and is currently facing off against Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in MLB Network’s bracket to decide who the Face of MLB is. The online hashtag battle (#MattKemp) started today and runs through Friday.

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Dodgers Continue to Look for Best Baseball Minds- They Hire Pat Corrales

You may not know him, but I remember when he used to manage some very bad Indians teams in the 80's.  His record in Cleveland is hardly indicative of his skills, it's just that those where some really terrible teams.  Anyway, he would become the very first manager of Mexican-American descent (I have just discovered that Ted Williams was the first Mexican-American to manage in Baseball- on his maternal side), and went on be a bench coach for Bobby Cox's Braves for 9 years.

Now, he joins the Dodgers as Special Assistant to the General Manager.  From the Dodgers press release:

“We are very happy to have Pat join us,” Colletti said.  “His vast experience, especially from his years in Atlanta and Washington, will be a great strength to our organization. He will assist us in a variety of ways, including evaluating our player development system and helping us at the Major League level.  I have known Pat for a long time and some of my early mentors, whom I respect very much, have worked side by side with him.”

After his playing career, Corrales managed for nine years in the big leagues with the Texas Rangers (1978-80), Phillies (1982-83) and the Cleveland Indians (1983-87).   He was the first major league manager of Mexican-American descent and became only the fourth manager to manage in both leagues in the same season (Philadelphia and Cleveland in 1983).

When he was hired in 1990, former Atlanta Braves’ manager Bobby Cox tabbed Corrales to be his bench coach. Corrales coached alongside Cox for nine years, a period that was part of the Braves’ reign of 14 consecutive National League East titles.  The Los Angeles native joined the Washington Nationals as a bench coach in 2007 and 2008 and returned in mid-season in the same capacity for the Nationals in 2009 and 2011 while also spending time during those years evaluating their minor league system.

Corrales, 71, was a star at Fresno (Calif.) High School and had a nine-year Major League career as a catcher with the Philadelphia Phillies (1964-65), St. Louis Cardinals (1966), Cincinnati Reds (1968-72) and San Diego Padres (1972-73).

As I indicated above, Ted Williams was actually the first Mexican-American to manage in Baseball.  Every source I've ran into has indicated that Pat Corrales was the first, but based on Williams' maternal lineage, he was actually the first to manage.

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