Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 19/Home Game 11

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 Diego Padres (6-8-3) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (5-9-4)
Saturday, March 15, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch
RHP Joe Wieland (0-1, 7.71) vs. RHP Sam Demel (0-0, 0.00)
Spring Game 19/Home Game 11
Television/Radio: None/None

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(Carl Crawford Siginign for Fan, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE: With just three games remaining on the 2014 Cactus League slate, the Dodgers will face the Padres in the second-to-last home game of the spring season this afternoon. The two clubs tied each other, 3-3, back on March 2 at Camelback and Los Angeles won the regular season series, 11-8, in 2013.

• Los Angeles opens the 2014 season in just one week against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series in Sydney, Australia.
• The Dodgers open the North American portion of their 2014 season on March 30 in San Diego. Los Angeles has opened up in San Diego three times (1973, 2009, 2012), including two Opening Day victories at PETCO Park.
• Tonight, the Dodgers play their final Cactus League road game of 2014, taking on the White Sox in a sold-out contest at 7:05 p.m.
• Minor league players suiting up today include C J.C. Boscan (#45), IF Brendan Harris (#35), RHP Sam Demel (#38), LHP Julio Urias (#84), OF Jeremy Hazelbaker (#92), RHP Steve Smith (#93), OF Trayvon Robinson (#91), IF Daniel Mayora (#89), C Webster Rivas (#88), IF Jamie Romak (#94) and RHP Romulo Sanchez (#97).
• Official minor league Spring Training games begin today and Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp will suit up in one of those contests here at Camelback Ranch.  

(Josh Beckett, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

NOW HURLING NEAR YOU: Right-handed pitcher Sam Demel will get the start for the Dodgers this afternoon. Demel was invited to big league camp as a non-roster player and was reassigned on March 4. The Texas native has pitched in five Cactus League games this spring, allowing just two hits in 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out three. Demel also recorded a save on March 11 at Kansas City. The 28-year-old pitched for the Diamondbacks in parts of three seasons (2010-12), going 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 72 career outings.

• Also scheduled to pitch today is Dodger closer Kenley Jansen, who has tossed 5.0 scoreless innings and fanned six in five Cactus League contests. Jansen has yielded just two hits without walking a batter this spring.
• Left-handed prospect Julio Urias may make his big league camp debut this afternoon. Urias, who is 17, went 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA in 18 starts for Single-A Great Lakes last season. The native of Mexico struck out 67 and walked just 16 last season. 
• Other pitchers scheduled to relieve are LHP J.P. Howell, RHP Chris Perez and RHP Javy Guerra. 

(Yaiel Puig, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

MAKING IT HAPPEN: The Dodgers’ starting infield consisting of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.286), second baseman Dee Gordon (.250), shortstop Hanley Ramirez (.226) and third baseman Miguel Rojas (.409) is hitting a combined .265 with three homers, 12 RBI and nine stolen bases this spring. Gordon has eight of those stolen bases and has not been caught this spring. The eight steals are tied with Oakland’s Billy Burns for the most in the Major Leagues. Despite playing in only 181 games since 2011, Gordon ranks 16th in the NL with 66 steals and has been successful on 77.6% of his stolen base attempts in the big leagues (66-for-85).

• Yesterday, the Dodgers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Chicago Cubs in Mesa. Dee Gordon had two hits (2-for-3) for the second consecutive game and Miguel Rojas went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Gordon’s third triple of the spring season tied him for the big league lead while Rojas’ .409 batting average leads the club. On the mound, Josh Beckett tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, but was removed with a sore right thumb while both Paco Rodriguez (5.0 IP) and Jose Dominguez (7.0 IP) continued their perfect springs.
• As a team, the Dodgers have been patient at the plate during Cactus League play, drawing 69 walks (3rd, MLB) in 18 spring games. The club’s 15 spring home runs rank fourth in the Cactus League, trailing just the Mariners (17), Rockies (16) and Padres (16).
• On the pitching side, the Dodgers’ 4.47 ERA ranks seventh in the Cactus League while the club’s 21 errors are the third most among the teams training in Arizona.

(Hershiser speaks with the Dodger minor leaguers, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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(pic via MLB Fan Cave on twitter)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2013 - Dodgers Links - MLB to Ban Home Plate Collissions, the Hairston Legacy and Dodgers Phase II

The above photo was taken during the first ballgame at Ebbets Field, April 5, 1913.  Dodger Manager Bill Dahlen is seen looking out towards the field.  Pic via @Dodgers_History on twitter.

• Watch the Dodgers Season's Greetings Holiday message right here.
• ICYMI: Via David Brown at Big League Stew, "MLB will outlaw crashes at home plate".

"This is, I think, in response to a few issues that have arisen — one is just the general occurrence of injuries from these incidents at home plate that affect players, both runners and catchers," Alderson said. "And also the general concern about concussions that exists not only in baseball but throughout professional sports and amateur sports today. It's an emerging issue, and one that we in baseball have to address as well as other sports. So that's part of the impetus for this rule change as well."

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "What will Jose Dominguez’s role be in 2014?"
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers reportedly add Sam Demel on minor league contract".
• This is great.  Via Alex Remington at FanGraphs writes, "Jerry Jr. and The Amazing Hairstons".

Jerry’s actually from one of the great baseball families — his grandfather Sam, father Jerry Sr., uncle Johny, and brother Scott all reached the major leagues — and Jerry Jr. had more plate appearances than the rest of them combined. As a matter of fact, as Red Reporter points out, “The Hairston family is the biggest baseball family ever.” His family is one of only four three-generation families in major league history, along with the Boones and Bells, and, most recently, the Colemans (Joe Sr., Joe Jr., and Casey).

• Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports writes a great piece on the Dodgers plans - "Rosenthal: Will Dodgers stick to Phase 2 plan or keep adding payroll?"  I don't quite know what to think of this:

The Dodgers still could trade Kemp before then — he seems to have ticked off someone in upper management, though few seem to know who or why. 

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