Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 7 / Road Game 4

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.

--------------------------

 Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1-1) vs. San Francisco Giants (2-5)
Monday, March 9, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Scottsdale Stadium

LHP Brett Anderson (0-0) vs. RHP Matt Cain (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

In case you missed today's Dodgers-Giants lineups, here they are in dry erase board form pic.twitter.com/4Cwa3dC6EQ
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 9, 2015

--------------------------

(Old friends Honeycutt and Roenicke, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

A SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: The Dodgers, unbeaten in their last five games, take on the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium today in the first of two Spring Training meetings between the clubs. Last year, Los Angeles won seven of its last nine games against the Giants and took the season series, 10-9, en route to a second consecutive division title. The Dodgers posted their second-best divisional winning percentage last year, going 50-26 (.658), and will play NL West clubs in three of their next four Cactus League contests.

• Opening Day is just FOUR WEEKS AWAY, Monday, April 6 vs. San Diego.

WALK-OFF THIS WAY: Corey Seager’s double to deep center field in the ninth inning scored the game-winner yesterday, as Los Angeles improved to 4-1-1 on the spring with a 4-3, walk-off win over the Brewers at Camelback Ranch. Brandon McCarthy made his Dodger debut, allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings and racking up two of Los Angeles’ 11 strikeouts, and Kyle Jensen powered his second homer of the spring in the victory.

• The Dodgers have now played 41 consecutive errorless innings and have committed just one error through their first six Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.33 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .209 batting average this spring, striking out 47 and walking only 11 in 54.0 innings.
• The Dodgers are averaging six runs per game and have posted a .281 team batting average.

(Kyle Jensen, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

(Mattingly, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Brett Anderson will make his Dodger debut and his first start of the spring today. He was limited to only eight starts with Colorado last year by a broken left index finger and lower back surgery but, when healthy, Anderson has posted a 1.29 WHIP and has limited opponents to a .316 on-base percentage during the course of his six-year MLB career. He has only given up only 41 home runs in 494.0 innings in his big league career, averaging only 0.75 home runs per 9.0 innings.

• Veteran LHP Erik Bedard is expected to make his second appearance of the spring today after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings and taking the loss on Wednesday against the White Sox. He 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).
• 25-year-old RHP Carlos Frias will make his second appearance of the spring today after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings on Wednesday vs. the White Sox. In his first big league season last year, Frias was 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 15 games (two starts) during two stints with the Dodgers.
• RHP Brandon League is also expected to see action today after striking out one in a scoreless frame on Thursday against the White Sox. In 2014, League did not allow a home run in 63.0 innings of work, the most innings by any NL pitcher without allowing a home run.
• RHP Chris Hatcher is expected to appear in today’s game, after pitching a scoreless inning of relief in his first action of the spring on Thursday against the White Sox. Hatcher made his big league debut in 2010 as a catcher and returned the next year as a pitcher, becoming just the first player since 1935 to do so (last: Art Doll, Boston Braves, 1935).
• 24-year-old RHP Yimi Garcia will make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing a scoreless frame on Friday against the Brewers. Garcia saw his first big league action last year and posted a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) in eight games with Los Angeles.
• Also suiting up for the Dodgers today will be minor leaguers RHP Steve Smith (#95), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (#88) and LHP Mike Thomas (#89).

30 IN 30: MLB Network’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days will be on-site tomorrow for an inside look at Dodger camp. The hour-long special, complete with field reports, interviews and predictions, will air tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. PT on the network.

(Fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA DOdgers 2015)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/9/2015 - Dodger Links - Seager, Grandal and Brandon McCarthy

Spring is for dreams of lilac fields of blue and glimpses of future heroes on the diamond.  It's an opportunity get reacquainted, and yesterday afternoon we even got a little peek at a prospect many consider to be the best in our system.  Corey Seager, featured above in a photograph taken by Jon SooHoo yesterday, impressed with his bat when he knocked in the winning run on a walk-off drive to deep centerfield.  He spoke about the at-bat with Alanna Rizzo, via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA:

Facing former Dodger left-hander Brent Leach, Seager fell behind 2-2 in the count after chasing a curveball that he immediately realized he shouldn’t have swung at.

“I was mad at myself for swinging at that breaking ball,” Seager told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after the game. “After that I relaxed and was just looking for something I could hit and he threw me one.”

I know you gotta temper your excitement when it comes to spring, but the more I see of our young future stars the more I can't contain my joy.  There's a lot to be excited about as a Dodger fan.  BTW, you can check out more pics from Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 from yesterday here. 

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "'Dream come true': Dodgers enlist military members for BP help."
• Greg Zakwin at Plysche, Thy Sweater is Argyle shares an interview in a recent issue of Auto Club Magazine with Vin Scully.  Check it out here.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasmani Grandal happy with opposite field power."

"I've always felt like I could drive the ball the other way, and this offseason I worked on that a lot," Grandal said. "I'm still jumping at the ball a little bit, which is the same thing every year until you get your timing back. But the fact that I'm hitting the ball the other way with power, that's one of the things I was looking forward to."

• Eric also writes about Brandon McCarthy's first spring outing: "Brandon McCarthy 'utilitarian' in first spring effort."

"Some of the things that were bugging me from the game, I took those down there and tried to iron them out a little bit," McCarthy said. "A lot of it was just mechanics on the curveball and staying through it. Down in the pen I felt like I got better, and I'm becoming more body aware, which is something I want with each given day, where you just become more aware of what's right and what's wrong. By the time you leave here you feel like you're in midseason form in understanding what your body is doing."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Sunday Dodger Videos: Some Spring Training Videos to Satisfy your Thirst

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

StadiumBound is at Camelback Ranch and shares a video of the boys heading to practice yesterday.

Video Link:

@DaaDozer at West Coast Bias Dodgers provides some sights and sounds of spring.  Watch the Dodger work out on the field without the interruption of any commentary.

Video Link:

Steven Kaufman captures Yasiel Puig taking some batting practice during spring training as Jimmy Rollins does a little bit of trash talking.  Puig responded back with, "OK, Jimmy!"

Video Link:

BJ Kileen does the "Ball Walk" around Camelback Ranch.  Check out some of the new features added to the Dodger spring home.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 6 / 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.

--------------------------

Lo Angeles Dodgers (3-1-1) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (0-3)
Sunday, March 8, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0) vs. RHP Mike Fiers (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

--------------------------

(Bats, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HOME COOKING: The Dodgers are back home this afternoon to take on the Milwaukee Brewers for the second and final time this spring. A split-squad of Dodgers crushed the Brewers, 10-1, on Friday in Maryvale. Last season, Los Angeles lost five of its six games with Milwaukee, including a late-season sweep Aug. 15-17 at Dodger Stadium. This year, the “Brew Crew” will play host to the Dodgers seven times, including four contests in Milwaukee May 4-7. The Dodgers host the Brewers for three games July 10-12, their final games before the All-Star break.

NOT THAT COOL: Los Angeles gave up four runs in the ninth inning yesterday and then salvaged a 5-5 tie with the Cleveland Indians in Goodyear. The big performance of the day was from newly-acquired catcher Yasmani Grandal, who went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and three RBI on the day.

• Until the ninth, the Dodger relievers were solid behind starter Mike Bolsinger, as Chad Gaudin (2.0 IP), Jeremy Horst (1.1) and Chin-hui Tsao (2.2) all tossed scoreless baseball.
• Through five games, the Dodgers have a .294 team batting average, a .354 on-base percentage and a .469 slugging percentage.
• A couple Dodgers in the starting lineup this afternoon have been on fire, namely center fielder Joc Pederson (5-for-7 with two doubles and four runs scored) and designated hitter Scott Schebler (5-for-10, three doubles, two RBI).

  

  (Yasmani Grandal, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy, signed by the club to a four-year deal in the offseason, will make his Dodger debut this afternoon vs. Milwaukee. McCarthy is coming off a career year last season with the Yankees and Diamondbacks in which he established career highs in innings (200.0), wins (10) and strikeouts (175). After being acquired by the Yankees on July 6, the Glendale, CA, native went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts with New York. In 207 games (153 starts) for the White Sox (2005-6), Rangers (2007-9), A’s (2011-12), Diamondbacks (2013-14) and Yankees (2014), McCarthy is 52-65 with a 4.09 ERA in nine big league seasons.

• Left-handed relievers Daniel Coulombe and Ryan Buchter are both expected back on the mound after each fired a scoreless inning on Thursday against the White Sox. Coulombe appeared in five games for the Dodgers last year, posting a 4.15 ERA. In his three years in the minors, Coulombe has gone 7-3 with eight saves and posted a 3.43 ERA in 126 games. Buchter made his Major League debut with Atlanta last season, which was his only big league appearance. In nine minor league seasons he has posted a 32-18 record with a 3.44 ERA in 327 games (two starts) in the Nationals (2006-08), Cubs (2009-11) and Braves (2011-14) organizations.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is looking to bounce back from a rough first-time out in 2015. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits in his 1.0 inning of work in the Cactus League lid-lifter Wednesday.
• Three right-handers that impressed in their Dodger debuts and are expected to see action today are Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin. The trio each tossed a scoreless inning on March 4 vs. the White Sox. Santos, a former first-round pick of the D-backs in 2002, spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jays and is a converted shortstop. The 27-year-old 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. 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.

WHO’S GOT NEXT?: The Dodgers will have seven minor leaguers joining the club today against the Brewers at Camelback: infielders Jarek Cunningham (No. 87) and Luis Mateo (No. 86); outfielder Joey Curletta (No. 95); catcher Ryan Scott (No. 88); RHP Steve Smith (No. 94), LHP Mike Thomas (No. 89) and RHP Jeremy Kehrt (No. 85).  

(Juan Uribe, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/7/2015 - Dodger Links - Colletti, Pederson and Rollins Impact on Puig

It looks like rookie Joc Pederson is one of the guys.  As evidenced in Jon SooHoo's photo above, Joc goofs around with Andre Ethier before yesterday's split squad game.  I wonder if Joc did the ol' "what's in your ear" joke and pulled out a Baseball to the wonder of everyone within view.  Check out more pics by Jon from yesterday here.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Bill Dwyre at the LA Times, "Ned Colletti is enjoying his new, purer baseball role with the Dodgers."

"At first, when it happened," Colletti says, "my feelings were a little bit hurt. But I've always been clear on one thing. I'm far from perfect. I'm more human than perfect.

"When pride and ego become your individual culture, you have some rough roads ahead."

• Via AJ Cassavell at MLB.com, "Pederson keeping hot spring start in perspective."

"I've had four at-bats," Pederson said Friday morning before adding an RBI single against the Brewers in Phoenix as part of a Dodgers split squad. "Yeah, some things have went my way to start, but I still have a lot of work to do to get comfortable in the box."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN LA, "Adrian Gonzalez builds a case for the RBI."

“My thing is, if teams are going to look at just analytics, Paul Goldschmidt and Miguel Cabrera should be hitting first because they’re going to get on base the most,” Gonzalez said. “But teams want them to drive in runs. That’s why those guys hit third or fourth.” 

• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "One of Yasiel Puig’s accused smugglers is sentenced to house arrest: report."
• Rollins impact on Puig is starting to be felt.  Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Spring growth: Puig a more poised presence."

"I like Jimmy," Puig said. "He's a good teammate. Every day he talks to me: 'What do you need? What can I help you with today?' He talks to me about hitting the ball to right field, center field. He always wants to help me get better."

• Panini releases their 2015 Donruss Baseball set this coming week.  Below are some preview images to gaze at.  Go here to check out even more.
  

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 5 / Road 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.

--------------------------

Los Angeles Dodgers (3-1) vs. Cleveland Indians (2-2)

Saturday, March 7, 2015 – 12:05 PM PST | Goodyear Ballpark

RHP Mike Bolsinger (0-0) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (0-0)

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

Today's #DodgersST lineup: Rollins SS Crawford LF Gonzalez 1B Grandal C Kendrick 2B Ethier DH Uribe 3B Schebler RF Sweeney CF Bolsinger P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 7, 2015

--------------------------

(Mattingly & Puig, pic via @MLB on twitter)

CLEVELAND ROCKS: The Dodgers hit the road today to take on reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians. Los Angeles knocked off Kluber on June 30, 2014 at Dodger Stadium - when he was outdueled by Dan Haren in a 1-0 Dodger win - but the Tribe took two of three in the series and holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series between the clubs.

• Opening Day is less than a month away, April 6 vs. San Diego at Dodger Stadium!

(Two outs, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

TAKE TWO: Los Angeles won both split-squad games yesterday at home against the Mariners and on the road against the Brewers, combining for 17 runs on 25 hits in the victories:

• In Maryvale, the Dodgers held the Brewers hitless through six innings and blasted three homers (Ellis, Guerrero, Sweeney) to cruise to a 10-1 victory. Joc Pederson (2-for-3, 2B) and Alex Guerrero (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) continued their hot starts to the spring and produced two of the Dodgers’ five multi-hit games, along with Scott Schebler (2-for-2, 2B), Kyle Jensen (2-for-3, RBI) and Darnell Sweeney (2-for-2, HR). On the mound, Zach Lee (2.0 IP), Julio Urias (1.2 IP) and Yimi Garcia (1.1 IP) combined for 6.0 hitless innings, while Mike Thomas and Steve Smith each tossed an inning of scoreless relief.
• In Glendale, Los Angeles took advantage of three Mariners errors to pull out the 7-4 victory. David Huff allowed just one hit and struck out two in 2.0 scoreless innings and Chris Anderson picked up the win in relief, tossing 2.0 scoreless, hitless frames. O’Koyea Dickson hit his second homer of the spring with a solo shot in the seventh inning.
• Through four games, the Dodgers have a .285 team batting average, a .356 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage.

(Bag of balls, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Mike Bolsinger will make his first start of the spring and his Dodger debut today against the Indians. Bolsinger was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Nov. 22, 2014 after seeing his first Major League action last year. In his five minor league seasons, he has gone 33-21 with a 3.49 ERA in 104 games (74 starts) and posted a 2.58 strikeout-to-walk ratio, striking out 426 against only 165 walks in 464.2 innings. With the Diamondbacks last season, he struck out nearly three times as many batters as he walked (48 strikeouts/17 walks).

• Veteran RHP Chad Gaudin is also expected to make his first appearance of the spring today and will appear in a game for the first time since the 2013 season, when he went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 games (12 starts) with San Francisco. Gaudin has a career 1.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio, striking out 673 and walking just 382 batters in 836.1 innings. He has limited right-handed hitters to a .244 batting average during the course of his career.
• A slew of hurlers from the minor league side will be joining the Dodger staff today: RHP Matt Shelton (#89), RHP Jeremy Horst (#97), RHP Chin-Hui Tsao (#91), RHP Blake Smith (#88) and LHP Dustin Richardson (#98).
• Earlier today, Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed his first live BP of the spring against minor leaguers at Camelback Ranch. Ryu is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Thursday against the Padres.

(The fish was this big, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

COLLEGE BALL: The two most recent College World Series champions will be on display in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic tomorrow, when 2013 titlist UCLA meets USC and defending champion Vanderbilt faces TCU. The TCU-Vanderbilt game is slated to begin at 11:45 a.m. and the USC-UCLA matchup is at 3:30 p.m. Tickets priced at $25 for Dugout Club seats, $20 for Baseline Club seats and $10 for Field level seats are available at Dodgers.com/classic, uclabruins.com and gettrojantix.com. Tickets for USC and UCLA students and children under 14 are $5 and also are available in advance only at the UCLA and USC box offices or at Dodger Stadium on the day of the event. Parking is $10 and is available only at the gate. Parking and stadium gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

(Dugout at Camelback Ranch, pic via Scott Killeen on twitter)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *