Blog Kiosk: 6/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Once again Zach Greinke was dominant on the mound for the Dodgers.  He went 6.2 innings and allowed just one earned run.  Still, the Dodger lost due to a blowup in the later innings.

Much of the blame for can be laid at the feet of the bullpen.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"We haven't been nearly as consistent as we were early," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of his bullpen. "We've had some games that we've let get away from us, and we've got find a way to get the ball to [Kenley Jansen]."

Zack added further:

"It makes sense what [the Dodgers] did. Liberatore has been amazing getting lefties out all year," Greinke said. "The matchups made a lot of sense."

Maybe the Dodgers recent troubles out of the 'pen are just the natural doldrums that occur during a long season.  After all, they've been lights out for much of the year, so you have to expect that lulls and valleys will occur from time to time.  Even know this, though, does little to assuage the stress these lapses can have on the fanbase.  Hopefully, the team and the peanut gallery in the stands can weather the storm.

The photo above is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics of yesterday;s game from Jon.  Below are some links to check out:

• BTW, today is the Baseball Draft, and the Dodgers have four picks to make this evening.
• ICYMI:  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers send David Huff outright to Triple-A, lose Sergio Santos to free agency."
• Via Matt Goldman at Beyond the Boxscore, "Andre Ethier is good again."

This season, Ethier's power is back, he's driving in runs again (although his defense is still awful), and it no longer seems that he's destined for an early end to his career. He's on pace for his highest ISO in five years, his best wOBA in seven years, and his best wRC+ and fWAR ever.

• GCRL shares some more Steve Garvey cards in his collection, here.  It includes a whole bunch of different inserts.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Jose De Leon, Cody Bellinger Standout in May Prospect Review."
• Ha!  I remember this.  Via jbox at Gaslamp Ball, "Two Padres who attacked Giants' anti-mascot in 1984 revealed."

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Welcome to the Blue, Sergio Santos!

The Dodgers threw a bit of a curveball. 

With the recent trade for Xavier Cedeno the other day and word that he would meet the team in San Diego, I naturally assumed that he would be placed into the Dodgers bullpen today.  Considering the flurry of roster moves the club has made to shuffle players in-and-out of the team roster it seemed obvious.  Well... I shoulda realized that assuming anything only makes an ass out of me.

This afternoon the Dodger instead announced that Cedeno would be DFA'd and 31-year old veteran reliever Sergio Santos, only acquired by the Dodgers in early January, would join the team.

Via a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Sergio Santos, optioned right-handed pitcher Mike Bolsinger to Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeño for assignment.

Santos last pitched on Tuesday, with a scoreless inning of relief against Nashville (Athletics), and tossed scoreless relief in five of six appearances with Oklahoma City, posting a 3.86 ERA (2 ER/4.2 IP). The 31-year-old was a non-roster invitee at Spring Training and allowed seven runs (six earned) in 10.2 innings in 11 games (one start) with the Dodgers. The Los Angeles native was signed by the club as a free agent on Dec. 29, 2014 and has a 7-12 record with 39 saves and a 3.89 ERA in 180 games in five Major League seasons with the White Sox (2010-11) and Blue Jays (2012-14).

Bolsinger, the reigning Triple-A Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week, allowed just one run on five hits in 5.2 innings in a no-decision as the Dodgers' spot starter yesterday at San Francisco.

Cedeño was acquired on Wednesday from Washington in exchange for cash considerations.

Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA:

"Growing up in LA, I was a huge Dodgers fan. Ever since I got in baseball, I always hoped for an opportunity to be traded to them, or to become a free agent to be able to sign with them," Santos said during spring training. "It's a little surreal putting on the Dodgers hat and Dodgers uniform, especially because I've put it on for so long but never been a part of the team, so it's nice to be a part of that now."

In celebration of Santos' arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from a photo taken by Dodger photoagrapher Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and the 1962 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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Blog Kiosk: 4/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Scully, Santos and Metal Detectors at Dodger Stadium

Spring Training is quickly coming to a close.  The Dodgers played their last home game yesterday afternoon and set a new Camelback Ranch attendance record of 147,066.  That's an average of 9,804 fans per game.  Photo above tweeted by the @Dodgers.

Below are some links to check out:

• Yeah.  I'm linking to a Bill Plaschke story again: "As Dodgers' TV blackout drags on, they're losing sight of their fans."  He provides a deeply personal look at a 94 year old fan who's life had been centered around the Dodgers and cannot now watch the club due to the cable issues.  

"I feel so helpless," Ballard says. "It's like my team just forgot all about me."

• Via Curbed LA, "The Vin Scully Map Guide to Los Angeles."  Borrowing the idea of the "Map to the Stars" commonly found on the streets of Los Angeles, Curbed LA shows you everything related to Vin Scully.
• Metal detectors are coming to Dodger Stadium.  Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "New MLB security procedures begin Saturday at Dodger Stadium."  I'm surprised that this hasn't happened sooner.
• The Dodgers are whittling down their relief staff.  Bill Plunkett of the OC Register tells us a bit about it on twitter:

#Dodgers have released Dustin McGowan. Mike Adams paid $100K retention bonus. Will start season in minors with June 1 opt out
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 31, 2015

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers' 2015 club rebuilt by relying on metrics, analytics."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Sergio Santos working to come home."

He'd also get the chance to pitch at Dodger Stadium, 25 miles from where he grew up. His parents could come to a lot more games than when he was in Chicago or Toronto.

"It'd be like a dream come true," Santos said. "They're both excited, have their fingers cross and all that stuff, so we'll see."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Andre Ethier leaves game after HBP, X-rays of elbow negative." 
• Check out a listing of this season's commemorative MLB Baseball's here.  (Hat Tip: Paul Lukas of UniWatch on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 31 / Home Game 15

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 White Sox (9-15-3) at Los Angeles Dodgers (16-8-6)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.65) vs. RHP Joe Wieland (0-0, 1.00)
TV: SNLA

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(Autograph seekers, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

THANK YOU, ARIZONA: The Dodgers finish their home portion of the spring schedule today, officially saying goodbye to their seventh season at Camelback Ranch. So far this spring, Los Angeles is 7-4-3 at home, and 140,925 fans have come through the gates this March. The Dodgers sold out their games on March 13, 14, 19 and 27 and want to thank baseball fans in Arizona and Dodger fans across the country. For the Camelback finale, the Dodgers, who have the National League’s best spring winning percentage at .667, will take on the Chicago White Sox for the fourth and final time this spring. Los Angeles has taken two of three from Chicago thus far, losing the Cactus League opener, 6-4, before coming back to win on March 5 and March 26. Just a friendly reminder, Opening Day at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres is in just six days.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER WIN: The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale yesterday, 4-2, behind a strong start from left-hander Brett Anderson. Anderson moved to 2-0 in the Cactus League, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings and giving up just four hits while striking out two. The native of Texas walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.13 this spring. As of now, Anderson is slated to start his first game during the regular season on April 10 in Arizona. At the plate, Adrian Gonzalez, Kiké Hernandez, Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis produced run-scoring hits.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Today, the Dodgers acquired minor league utilityman Elliot Johnson from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. Johnson appeared in seven games for the Indians last season and spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .236 with five homers in 87 games. In addition, the club signed right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal. Garcia pitched last season in Taiwan.  

DONNIE DODGER BASEBALL: On this date in 2011, Don Mattingly recorded his first victory as a Dodger manager, a 2-1 victory over the Giants. That game was also the first-career Opening Day start for Clayton Kershaw, who is set to make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start on April 6 vs. San Diego. Mattingly has a career record of 354-293 and his .547 winning percentage ranks fifth in franchise history among managers with at least 250 games at the helm, trailing just Charlie Dressen (.642), Burt Shotton (.603), Leo Durocher (.567) and Walter Alston (.559).

FOLLOW THE CACTUS LEADERS: The Dodgers have blasted a Major League-leading 45 home runs (four more than the Cubs’ 41) and have a .288 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .490 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson continues to rank among the NL leaders this spring in batting average (.368, 7th), slugging percentage (.754, 3rd), hits (21, T-2nd), runs (13, T-2nd), total bases (43, 2nd) and home runs (6, T-2nd).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games and is batting .465 with six doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .489 on-base percentage and a .814 slugging percentage in 17 Cactus League games. Turner’s 20 hits this spring tie for fifth-most in the NL and his 35 total bases rank eighth.
• Yasiel Puig ranks among the NL’s best this spring in home runs (5, T-4th) and RBI (13, T-7th); Kiké Hernandez places among the league’s best in home runs (5, T-4th) and runs scored (12, T-5th).

ON THE MOUND: RHP Joe Wieland, sporting a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9.0 IP) in four Cactus League games, will make his first start this spring today. Wieland was optioned to the minor leagues on March 16 and figures to start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Nevada native was acquired from the Padres in the Matt Kemp deal and is 35-22 with a 3.27 ERA in 95 games (87 starts) during seven minor league seasons with the Rangers and Padres’ organizations.

• RHP David Aardsma will see action for the ninth time this spring. The veteran reliever has held opposing hitters to a .143 batting average, while striking out nine through 8.0 innings of work.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is expected to make his eighth appearance, including one start, of the spring this afternoon. Nicasio, who was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014, has 11 strikeouts and just two walks in 11.1 innings this spring and has a 2.18 career strikeout-to-walk ratio in four big league seasons (294 SO/135 BB).
• RHP Sergio Santos has tossed scoreless relief in five of eight appearances this spring, while striking out 10 in 7.2 innings. He last pitched in a big league game on Sunday against the Giants, allowing two runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his ninth Cactus League appearance today. Garcia allowed his first run of the spring in his last start on Friday against the Giants.

(Joe Wieland, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/20/2015 - Dodger Links - Guerrero Making Strides and Ryu Shut Down

It was crowded in the Dodger clubhouse when spring training started, and it was especially cramped on the infield.  With all four infield positions taken by able veterans, all that remained were a handful of reserve spots on the bench.  So, it didn't seem likely that there would be room for Alex Guerrero to make the team.   Fast forward a couple of weeks and it now appears the Dodgers can't afford to not keep him in Los Angeles. 

Alex Guerrero has had a great spring.  He's looked good at the plate (no surprise since he was coveted for his bat), and has improved measurably on the field.  Don't be surprised if he pushes his way onto the Opening Day roster.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Oh, Oh.  Ryu is being shut down, via a tweet from Bill Shaikin.

#Dodgers P Hyun-jin Ryu shut down with inflammation in left shoulder. Had an injection, next step TBD in 3 days.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 20, 2015

 

• Peter Gammons at the Gammons Daily makes note of the new generation of the short stop; including Corey Seager.

Indeed, one of the storylines of spring training has been this generation of multi-dimensional young shortstops. Anyone and everyone who passes by the Dodgers is drawn to 20-year-old Corey Seager, 6-4, 220, with the John Olerud swing, great hands and exchange and big arm on defense and what players, coaches and the manager describe as “a unique internal clock.”

And with Jimmy Rollins clearly the heartbeat of this renovated Dodger team, Seager is going to triple-A for a year. “There’s no doubt in my mind he can stay at short,” says Don Mattingly. 

• Via Sons of Steve Garvey, "Johnny Blanchard Breaks Down the Dodgers' Non-SNLA Schedule for Us."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Did Albert Pujols make Yasiel Puig a better outfielder?"

"On Yasiel, nobody should tag and Albert’s not a burner, so he’s basically anticipating that Yasiel’s going to be taking something for granted, so he’s taking advantage of the way he plays," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "That’s what he did. It was a good lesson for Yasiel."

• Via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com, "Grandal catching on to quirks of Dodgers pitchers."

"The more I catch them, I get a little bit better with them," Grandal said. "For now, it's really just talking game plan and things they like to do in different situations, counts. ... I think that's, for now, the one thing we can do the most."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brandon League throws without shoulder pain, closer to mound return."

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 16 / Home 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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Chicago Cubs (6-9-1) at Los Angeles Dodgers (8-2-5)
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Jake Arietta (1-1 1.50)    
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(Yasiel Puig, pic via @MLB on twitter)

WINNING TIME: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .800 and are unbeaten in their last six games, take on the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch this afternoon. The last time the Dodgers lost was March 11 in Mesa, when they were beaten by these same Cubs, 4-3. Los Angeles won the season series over Chicago last year, 4-3, and will play six regular-season games against the Cubs, June 22-24 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 28-30 at Dodger Stadium.

AND SO IT HAS BEEN DONE: The Dodgers exploded for 11 runs and 15 hits yesterday, but gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth and finished in an 11-11 tie with the Rangers in Surprise. The five ties for Los Angeles this spring (with 15 Cactus League games left) equals the franchise mark for ties in Spring Training, previously reached in 2006 and 2014.

(Kendrick Home Run, via Dodgers on tumblr)

• New Dodger Howie Kendrick was 2-for-2 and hit a long three-run homer to the deepest part of center field yesterday, giving him six RBI this spring, which ties Darnell Sweeney, Kyle Jensen and Scott Schebler for the team lead. Kendrick is also hitting .364 during his first spring in blue.
• The Dodgers’ 18 home runs rank fourth in the Cactus League, trailing the Giants (22), Cubs (19) and Padres (19).

TEXAS TWO-STEP: Big League Weekend, with the Dodgers taking on the Rangers Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio, is almost here! The traveling party will depart Camelback Ranch tomorrow at 5:40 p.m. 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.

TELL YOUR STORY: Major League Baseball has officially launched the 2015 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which will recognize one fan per MLB Club who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease.  Dodger fans, ages 18 and older, can now share stories about themselves or loved ones who are “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” by visiting HonoraryBatGirl.com for a chance to be recognized on the field, Sunday, May 17 (1:10 p.m. vs. Rockies). Fans also are invited to visit the site to vote for these inspirational stories, designed to provide hope and motivation for those currently in the fight against breast cancer. Entries can be submitted through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy will make his third start of the spring today. He has allowed two runs in 5.0 innings pitched with three strikeouts. The 6’7’’ veteran established career highs in wins (10), strikeouts (175) and innings pitched (200.0) last season with the Diamondbacks and Yankees. McCarthy made his major league debut against the Cubs on May 22, 2005, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings.

• LHP Adam Liberatore is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today. Through four Cactus League appearances, Liberatore has tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits and striking out three.
• RHP Dustin McGowan is also expected to see action today. McGowan has allowed five hits and 4 runs in 3.0 innings thus far.
• RHP Sergio Santos will make his fifth Cactus League appearance today. Santos has not allowed a run in 4.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .083 batting average.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams will make his second appearance of the spring today. In his first Cactus League appearance, Adams allowed one run on one hit in 0.2 innings pitched.

REMEMBER WHEN: Sixty years ago today, Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched for the first time in a Dodger uniform at Holman Stadium, Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL. On March 18, 1955, Koufax made his debut for Brooklyn in a camp game against the “All-Stars,” a collection of players from Dodger minor league teams. The 19-year-old faced seven batters and struck out five, while walking two in two innings of work. Sports writer Roscoe McGowan wrote in The New York Times, “Sandy Koufax, Brooklyn’s $17,000 bonus right-hander, made his debut tonight against the All-Stars.” Apparently, an editing mistake changed Koufax to a “right-hander.”  

(Rollins playing catch, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 10 / Road Game 6 - It's the Will Ferrell Show

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 (4-2-3) at San Diego Padres (4-4)
Thursday, March 12, 2015 – 6:15 p.m. MT | Peoria Stadium

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0) vs. RHP James Shields (1-0)
TV: SNLA/MLB Network Radio: None

(Lineup via @Dodgers on twitter)

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

WE SIGNED WHO?: The Dodgers play their first night game of the spring tonight against the San Diego Padres in Peoria. The game was originally scheduled to take place at 1:05 p.m., but was moved to 6:15 to accommodate the newest Dodger, Will Ferrell. The Dodgers lost for just the second time in Cactus League action yesterday, falling to the Cubs, 4-3. Los Angeles and San Diego will also meet on March 25 in Glendale, before the main event, Opening Day, April 6, at Dodger Stadium, which is just 25 days away.

ACTUALLY A PRETTY NICE LITTLE THURSDAY, WE’RE GOING TO GO TO HOME DEPOT…MAYBE BED, BATH & BEYOND, I DON’T KNOW, I DON’T KNOW IF WE’LL HAVE ENOUGH TIME: All afternoon and later this evening, actor and comedian Will Ferrell will be suiting up for 10 MLB Cactus League teams – including the Dodgers – to benefit cancer charities. Ferrell is honoring the 50th anniversary of Bert Campaneris playing all nine positions in one game, in 1965, and will play all nine positions (and DH) during the course of the day in the following Cactus League games: Mariners at Athletics, noon; Cubs at Angels, 1:10 p.m.; Reds at D-backs, 2:10 p.m.; Giants at White Sox, 4:05 p.m.; Dodgers at Padres, 6:15 p.m. Ferrell’s efforts are part of a special for HBO airing later this year in collaboration with MLB Media and the production team at Funny Or Die. HBO is donating proceeds to Cancer for College, and MLB is raising additional money for that cause in addition to Stand Up To Cancer through the auction of game-used, autographed gear and equipment featured throughout this one-of-a-kind project. Ferrell will be pitching for the Dodgers, playing the outfield for the Padres and umpiring during tonight’s contest, which will air on SportsNet LA and MLB Network.

Will Ferrell will pitch for the #Dodgers no earlier than the bottom of the sixth inning tonight.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 12, 2015

LOOK RYU’S BACK: The Dodgers welcomed starter Zack Greinke back to the fold yesterday and he tossed 2.0 innings and allowed two runs against the Cubs in Mesa. Tonight, the club will see Hyun-Jin Ryu take the mound for the first time this spring after dealing with back tightness the first couple weeks. Following Greinke to the mound yesterday and tossing scoreless baseball were David Huff (1.2 IP), Zach Lee (2.0) and Chris Reed (1.0). At the plate, Justin Turner singled and doubled, raising his average to .308 this spring while Howie Kendrick’s two hits lifted his average to .333. Scott Schebler had one plate appearance and walked, giving him a .429/.467/.857 slash line in seven Cactus League games. 

• The Dodgers have committed just three errors through their first nine Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.49 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .213 batting average this spring, striking out 62 and walking just 20 in 80.0 innings.

(Julio Urias, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: 28-year-old left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will make his first start of the spring tonight. Ryu enters his third Major League season after seven All-Star seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. He has a 28-15 record and a 3.17 ERA in 56 career regular-season starts and has gone 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA (5 ER/16.0 IP) in three postseason starts. Ryu’s 28 regular-season victories tie for the third-most by a Korean-born pitcher.

• LHP Adam Liberatore is expected to make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning in the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Brewers last Sunday. During the course of his career, the hard-throwing lefty has limited opponents to a .242 batting average with nearly a strikeout per inning (309 SO/318.0 IP).
• LHP Ryan Buchter will make his third appearance of the spring tonight after giving up one run and striking out the side in an inning of relief in Sunday’s win against the Brewers. Buchter saw his first MLB action with one relief appearance for Atlanta last year and has gone 32-18 with a 3.44 ERA in 327 games (two starts) in nine minor league season in the Nationals (2006-2008), Cubs (2009-2011), and Braves (2011-2014) organizations.
• RHP Mike Bolsinger is also expected to see action tonight after giving up one run on two hits in two innings of work on Saturday. The 27-year-old saw his first big league action with the D-backs last season, striking out nearly three times as many as he walked with 48 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 10 games (nine starts).
• Veteran RHP Chad Gaudin is expected to appear in tonight’s game, after pitching two scoreless innings of relief in his first action of the spring on Saturday. Gaudin last pitched during the 2013 season for San Francisco, going 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 games (12 starts).
• RHP Sergio Santos will make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Brewers. The Los Angeles native has gone 7-12 with 39 saves and a 3.89 ERA in 180 games in five Major League seasons with the White Sox (2010-11) and Blue Jays (2012-14).
• RHP Josh Ravin will also make his third appearance of the spring tonight after striking out two in an inning of relief last Sunday against the Brewers. The West Hills native enters his second season in the Dodger organization and 10th professional campaign.

AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS: This weekend, former assistant to Tommy Lasorda, Colin Gunderson, returns to Camelback and will sign copies of his new book, Tommy Lasorda: My Way, along with the Hall of Fame skipper himself. There will be two signings in the center-field pavilion at Camelback Ranch: from 6-8 p.m. tomorrow night and from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday.     

(Hernandez and Kendricks, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 1 / Home 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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 Chicago White Sox (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)

LHP Jose Quintana (0-0) vs. LHP Erik Bedard (0-0)

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch – Glendale

TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

(Dodger lineup, via ESPN reporter Mark Saxon on twitter)

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(Puig, pic via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEY, NEIGHBOR!: The Dodgers open up Cactus League play and their seventh season at Camelback Ranch – Glendale today against the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles will play 31 exhibition games this spring, including 15 games at Camelback Ranch and 26 total Cactus League contests, in addition to two games against the Rangers in San Antonio and the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels.

• The Dodgers have gone 2-5 in their Cactus League openers since re-locating Spring Training to the desert in 2009, including dropping both split-squad contests in 2011.

HEY, NEW GUY: Since the end of the 2014 season, the Dodgers have added 19 new players to the 40-man roster, including  Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Heisey, who will make their debuts with the club this afternoon. Of the pitchers expected to throw in today’s contest, only Carlos Frias has previously pitched for the Dodgers.

• Rollins is batting in his familiar leadoff spot today and ranks fourth on the all-time list with 46 career leadoff home runs, behind only Rickey Henderson (81), Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Rollins also ranks among active players in career hits (2,306, 7th) and stolen bases (453, 4th).

ON THE MOUND: Non-roster left-hander Erik Bedard will make his Dodger debut today after spending the 2014 season in the Tampa Bay organization, going 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) with the Rays and making one start with Triple-A Durham. Bedard has averaged 8.60 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and has posted a 2.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 241 career big league games (230 games) over 11 seasons with Baltimore (2005-07), Seattle (2008-09, ’11), Boston (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Houston (2013) and Tampa Bay (2014).

• RHP Carlos Frias is expected to appear in today’s game after seeing his first big league action last year, going 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 15 games (two starts) during two stints with the Dodgers. In his 13 relief appearances in the Majors last year, he limited opponents to a .205 batting average (20-for-98) with 25 strikeouts against only six walks and posted a 1.01 WHIP in 25.2 innings.
• RHP Juan Nicasio will don Dodger blue for the first time in a game today after he was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014 in exchange for minor league outfielder Noel Cuevas. Nicasio, 28, appeared in 33 games for the Rockies last year and saw his first career action out of the bullpen, where he went 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA (8 ER/20.2 IP) and tossed scoreless relief in 14 of his 19 appearances.
• RHP Sergio Santos, a former first-round pick of the D-backs in 2002, will make his Dodger debut today after spending the last three seasons with the Blue Jays.  Santos, a converted shortstop, will be facing his former White Sox teammates today after making his MLB debut with the club in 2010 and saving a career-high 30 games for Chicago in 2011.
• 27-year-old LHP Adam Liberatore was acquired in a trade with the Rays on Nov. 20, 2014, which also brought RHP Joel Peralta to Los Angeles, and had a career year for Triple-A Durham last year, going 6-1 with four saves and a 1.66 ERA in 54 games. In parts of three seasons at the Triple-A level, Liberatore has gone 12-5 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and an average of 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.
• RHP Josh Ravin, a graduate of Chatsworth High School, is in his second season in the Dodger organization after combining to go 2-1 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque last year. Ravin is entering his 10th professional season and was originally selected by Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.
• The Dodgers have three additional pitchers suiting up today from the minor league side: LHP Jeremy Horst (#97), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (#87) and RHP Blake Smith (#91).

(Getting Puig's signature, pic via LA Times photographer Luis Sinco on twitter)

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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: 12/30/2014 - Dodger Links - Time Warner, Kuroda and Sergio Santos

Missing Baseball in the dead of winter is the worst thing in the world.  I'm left to daydream of batted balls, snagging fly's and tagged out runners while the sky darkens with the treat of a cold rain.  Heck, sometimes I find myself window shopping online in hopes of finding a unique photo to remind why Spring is so eternal.  It's like their a symbol that the new year will truly be reborn once again, and that Baseball will begin anew.

Featured above is a vintage press photo I scoped out on eBay of Brooklyn second baseman Andy High tagging out infield prospect Fred Johnston down low.  It was taken during a Spring training workout in Clearwater, Florida on 3/9/1924 by Underwood & Underwood.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 2015 projections & fun with The Bill James Handbook."
• Via Ben Bergman at 89.3 KPCC, "Time Warner Cable adds 'sports programming fee' to the bill. Thank you, Dodgers?"  (Hat Tip: Dodgers Chatter)

Starting Jan. 1, your Time Warner Cable bill is going to get a little more expensive, with the addition of a “sports programming fee” of $2.75 a month. The charge is modest, but remember a lot of your cable bill goes to sports already, to pay hefty carriage fees to ESPN and an increasing number of regional sports networks (RSN's).

• Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining shares his own fantasy Baseball cards of the Dodgers.  Check them out here.  The Bubble machine .gif fantasy card is awesome.
• Via August Fagerstrom at FanGraphs, "Appreciating Hiroki Kuroda."  

Kuroda was never the best pitcher in the league; he was never the best pitcher on his team. But he wasn’t supposed to be. What he was, was consistent. In an era where pitchers are more volatile than ever, Kuroda was anything but.

• Here are even more preview pics from Panini America's National Treasures Baseball card set, via Chris Olds at Beckett.  Check out the Kershaw and Puig cards below.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers, Sergio Santos reportedly nearing minor league deal."  This is likely a depth move for the Dodger bullpen.
• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "The Team Projections and You (National League)."  His comments about the Dodgers recent makeover keep me optimistic.
• A fun read.  Via William Ryczek at The National Pastime Museum, "Phil Linz and His Harmonica Win the 1964 American League Pennant for the Yankees."

But Linz left his mark on the 1964 pennant race as, of all things, a harmonica player—and not a very good one. 

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