Day 41 Spring Training Report

Here is todays lineup: Furcal SS, De Jesus 2nd, Ethier RF, Kemp CF, Uribe 3rd, Loney 1st, Thames DH, Barajas C, Kapler LF.

Below are Spring Training notes from the Dodgers:

• ON THE MOUND: Dodger right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will make his sixth and final spring start tonight and he is still searching for his first 2011 victory. Kuroda is slated to take the mound for the first time in the regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Giants opposing LHP Barry Zito. Following Kuroda to the mound this evening are LHP Scott Elbert and RHP Lance Cormier. The Angeles will counter with left-hander Scott Kazmir.
  

• FREEWAY FOLLIE: The Dodgers allowed two runs in the ninth inning and dropped yesterday’s Freeway Series opener to the Angeles, 5-4, at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles made two errors in a contest that saw five errors combined. On the mound, a trio of relievers looked ready for the season as Mike MacDougal (1.0), Matt Guerrier (1.1) and Hong-Chih Kuo (1.0) allowed just one baserunner between them. At the plate, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe and Rod Barajas collected run-scoring hits.
• CHAD’S GOING TO HANG: This afternoon, the Dodgers announced that right-handed pitcher Chad Billingsley signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him in Dodger Blue through the 2014 season. Billingsley, 26, has posted a winning record in each of his five Major League seasons and all eight of his professional campaigns. As a Los Angeles Dodger, the right-hander is 59-41 (.590) with a 3.55 ERA in 160 career games (131 starts). His winning percentage since his 2006 debut ranks 12^th in the NL over that time and his 52 victories since 2007 are tied for eighth among current NL hurlers.

(Pic Link: Plixi Dodgers)

• DONNIE’S 11: Once again, the Dodgers will dress 11 minor leaguers for tonight’s game, including their past two Minor League Players of the Year, Dee Gordon (70) and Jerry Sands (68). Corey Smith (98) has made an impact in his nine games with the big league club and is batting .600 (6-for-10) with two homers and six RBI in limited game action. Allen Webster (88) has thrown 2.0 scoreless innings already for the Dodgers this spring and enters the season rated as the club’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America. Randy Keisler (91), Justin Sellers (72), Matt Wallach (87), Michael Antonini (92), Steven Ames (93), Jon Huber (71) and Merkin Valdez (97) are also available for Don Mattingly tonight.

(Pic Link: TwitPic KimLovesLAD)

• BIRTHDAY BONANZA: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to broadcaster Pepe Yñiguez and Physical Therapist Nancy Patterson. Yñiguez is entering his 13^th full season with the club while Patterson is beginning her first. The duo share their big day with Hall of Famer Cy Young, former British Prime Minister John Major and tennis player Jennifer Capriati.

(Pic Link: Yfrog c_c_k)

• LATIN AMERICAN CONFIDENTIAL: In a recent ESPN Magazine survey, active Latino players were asked, “Which team scouts Latin America the best?” The Dodgers were named most often (19.7%) followed by the Yankees (9.5%) and Rangers (8.3%). “The Dodgers were pioneers,” one Dominican position player told the publication. “I remember how important their academy was when I was a kid. Everybody wanted to grow up and be a Dodger.”

Auto Collection: Steve Garvey Sweet Spot

Here is my Steve Garvey 2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot autographed card.

Just Another Reason to Dislike Brian Wilson

Courtesy of the Giants twitter account I ran into another reason why we must hate Brian Wilson.

When asked about the "Best and Worst" things about travel within the division, Wilson remarked that the worst food spread was in,

"Los Angeles, The Dodgers Dogs, that's why."

Although I don't take kindly to his obvious disrespect for that culinary delight, I must say that I find it hilarious that the clubhouse food spread for the opposing team in LA includes Dodger Dogs. That's pretty awesome.

Some Dodger Related Videos

Here are some Dodger videos to get you excited about the season.

Below, Nick Garner of SportsTalk4Kids visits with Clayton Kershaw in Glendale, Arizona.

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"Take Me Out to the Ballgame" from last nights game.

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Here is a short video of the LA Dodgers playing a preseason exhibition game against the Tokyo Giants during Spring Training, 1967.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/29/2011

Baseball on the mind.

• Even after the loss of the Kings top 2 scorers for the season, I still BELIEVE- and so do the guys at Surly & Scribe.
• GCRL writes about the very first "In-Action" Topps Baseball card of a Dodger.
• This is going to be a consistent theme all season long. From the Militant Angeleno.
• 30 Year Old Cardboard does his top 10 wrestlers of the '80's.
  
• A friend pointed me to a album that is all about Baseball. It is called "The Baseball Project," and includes REM guitarist Peter Buck. Below is their song 'Harvey Haddix.'
  

And the song 'Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays.'

Find more artists like The Baseball Project at Myspace Music

• Badger! Badger! Badger!
• Bob Lemke reads the entire run of The Sporting News from 1953 and provides a contemporary look at the year.
  
• OK Bob. I love your card recreations, but I despise this one. If Jackie played in 1957 this might have been his card. Read all about it here.
• Just Collect opens up a vintage pack of 1947-66 Exhibit cello pack. (Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily)

YouTube Link:

Day 40 Spring Training Report

Here is todays Dodger lineup: Furcal SS, Gwynn LF, Ethier RF, Kemp CF, Loney 1st, Uribe 3rd, Barajas C, Carroll 2nd, Lilly SP.

Below are Spring Training notes from the Dodgers:

• HIT THE ROAD: The Dodgers dropped their Camelback Ranch finale yesterday to the Indians by a 6-1 margin as many of the club’s regulars departed for Los Angeles after just one at-bat. Chad Billingsley allowed two runs over 3.0 innings in his final tuneup before his first start of the regular season on Friday. Blake Hawksworth concluded his impressive spring with a 2.61 ERA after striking out three in 2.0 scoreless frames.

• I CAN SEE FOR MILES: Non-roster infielder Aaron Miles went 2-for-2 yesterday to raise his batting average to .347 in 23 Spring Training games. The switch-hitter’s 17 hits tie for second on the club with Ivan de Jesus, one behind Matt Kemp’s team-leading 18 knocks.

• ON THE MOUND: Ted Lilly will make his fourth and final spring start tonight after striking out five over 6.0 innings of two-run ball in Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over the White Sox. Lilly is expected to throw around 60 pitches and will be followed by Jonathan Broxton, Matt Guerrier, Hong-Chih Kuo, Mike MacDougal and Kenley Jansen. The Angels will counter with right-hander Ervin Santana.

• HANG 10: The Dodgers will dress 10 minor leaguers for tonight’s game, including their past two Minor League Players of the Year, Dee Gordon (70) and Jerry Sands (68). Corey Smith (98) has made an impact in his nine games with the big league club and is batting .600 (6-for-10) with two homers and six RBI in limited game action. Allen Webster (88) has thrown 2.0 scoreless innings already for the Dodgers this spring and enters the season rated as the club’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America. Randy Keisler (91), Justin Sellers (72), Matt Wallach (87), Michael Antonini (92), Steven Ames (93), Jon Huber (71) and Merkin Valdez (97) are also available for Don Mattingly tonight.

• LATIN AMERICAN CONFIDENTIAL: In a recent ESPN Magazine survey, active Latino players were asked, “Which team scouts Latin America the best?” The Dodgers were named most often (19.7%) followed by the Yankees (9.5%) and Rangers (8.3%). “The Dodgers were pioneers,” one Dominican position player told the publication. “I remember how important their academy was when I was a kid. Everybody wanted to grow up and be a Dodger.”

• LEADERBOARD: Matt Kemp’s five Spring Training home runs are the most for a Dodger during the spring slate since Andre Ethier slugged six in 2008. Kemp is tied for third in the Cactus League in homers and is also tied for ninth on the circuit with 15 RBI. Not to be outdone, Tony Gwynn Jr. is tied for third in the league with six stolen bases and Clayton Kershaw finds his name among the leaders in ERA (2.49, T-5^th) and innings (25.1, 5^th). After firing 3.0 innings yesterday, Chad Billingsley moved into an eighth place tie with 24.0 innings in Cactus League play.