The Last of My Spring Training Photos

Sorry for the delay in posting these photos. My last day in Arizona was this past Saturday. I had a late evening flight arranged so that we could make the Dodgers vs. Angels game in Phoenix. I was surrounded by red, but the Blue was more vocal. Derek Lowe looked great and appears ready for the season. Unfortunately, our relief staff continued to falter. Saito did not look good out there.

Below is Derek Lowe pitching in the first inning.

Hu's on Third! Sorry I had to do it.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is one of the nicest facilities I've ever visited. There are more shopping and dining activities available here than many local malls. The highlight of my 2 hour wait, other than chatting with a Giants fans at a nearby watering hole, was when I stumbled into a small art gallery consisting of artworks owned by the airport. Imagine my surprise when I noticed Jackie Robinson and Kirk Gibson in the corner of my eye.
This place was a nice distraction. My short 2008 Spring Training adventure was coming to an end and this place was a nice way to end the trip.
My Spring Training Photoalbum:

YouTube: Ron Stilanovich- Hardball made easy with Kemp and Ethier

Career minor leaguer, Ron Stilanovich, can teach you how to play while making you laugh. In two videos below he convinces Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to assist him. This is some good stuff. A must see. I can't stop laughing.

Matt Kemp is helping catchers block the plate: "That's why they call me the Bison."


YouTube Link: ScrappyRon1:

Andre Ethier hits sky-high fly balls in the sun: "Oh! I got it."


YouTube Link: ScrappyRon1:

Weekly Blog Kiosk 3/23/2008

Let's Go Dodgers! clap*clap*clapclapclap

• SOSG interviews Will Carroll.
• Roberto knows what's important. Dodger Stadium is about to have some new culinary choices. Say hello to Canter's Deli, Beasley's, Camacho's Cantina and Ruby's Diner.
• Scragtop88 captures Andre Ethier pondering his future in the outfield below.
  

• If your going to the coliseum game then you are probably in need of some parking help. Check out Jon's Dodger Thoughts comments section for some help. For other info go here.
  
• This coming Saturday is National Baseball Card Day.
• If your going to New York this year be sure to check out The Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave. They have an exhibit called “Baseball’s League of Nations: A Tribute to Native American Baseball Players.” hat tip: SCD:
• With all of the problems facing China and the upcoming Olympics now they have to deal with Westerners distaste for squat toilets.
  

YouTube: How Sweet It Is. The Fruits of Victory!

Watch Tommy Dance.


YouTube Link: DC8super63:

Carl Erskine playing the national anthem on his harmonica at the Dodgers last game at Dodgertown.


YouTube Link: ogre52:
Hat Tip: The Trolley Dodger:

Spring in Arizona

Today was a historic moment. The Dodgers played their first cactus league game in Arizona and ended up routing the White Sox 8 to 2. Good Times.

Furcal hit a monstrous homer to left in the third inning while Penny pitched an effective 6 innings. The Dodgers put the game away in the seventh inning when they scored 5 runs on the back of Kemp's three run homerun. Unfortunately, Saito and Broxton looked a bit shaky in their one inning stints, but, for know, I'm not worried. The sun was shinning and the realization that the Dodgers will be just a 5 hour drive away next Spring made me smile a bit. Sure, I'm gonna miss the charm of Dodgertown, but imagine the upside. The Dodgers are closer to home. My hope is that Dodgertown of the West maintains the charm and closeness experienced in Vero Beach.

Check out my photoalbum featring photos from this Spring.

Above is the first pitch of the game, and the first Dodger pitch in Arizona.

Brad Penny pitching in the first inning.

Saito in his windup.

An added bonus to this short Spring trip is that I had a chance to see my first Kings game outside of Southern California tonight. The Phoenix Coyotes have owned the Kings all year, having gone unbeaten in this seasons previous 6 games. As luck would have it, the Kings scrapped a 6 to 5 win in overtime. How about that. Three LA teams win on the same day- the Dodgers, Kings and Lakers.
I'd like to send a special shout out to my Alma Mater. Congratulations to the CSU Fullerton Titans on winning the Big West and on their opportunity to play in the big show against Wisconsin. Unfortunately, their Cinderella bid ended before it could really start, but, as we Dodger fans know, championship teams aren't built overnight. It must be nurtured and built from the ground up and it seems the Titans are working on doing that. Maybe someday soon Fullerton will be known for more than their Baseball program.

Check out some more pics from the hockey game in my photoalbum.

Inge?

During this Spring there were rumors that the Dodgers were looking hard at Detroit's Brandon Inge. Since we appeared to have a couple of horses already vying for a spot at third base these rumors appeared baseless. Now, with the recent freak injuries to Nomar and LaRoche these rumors are sure to come back. The Detroit News picks up the story.

An injury to Dodgers third baseman Nomar Garciaparra has led to speculation that the team may be interested in the Tigers' Brandon Inge..."We'll continue to see if we can figure out (a replacement) from within or outside," general manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday.

Now, do we really want to do a trade? Is Inge the answer, or is he just an expensive temporary backstop? A competing Detroit newspaper, Detroit Free Press, counters The Detroit News.

If Brandon Inge is traded before Opening Day, it probably won’t be to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers intensified their internal discussions about adding an infielder after learning Wednesday that Nomar Garciaparra has a microfracture in his right hand, but Inge is not high on their list of trade targets.

Not surprisingly, his salary is the biggest reason.

Wow. Inge is owed $19.1 million til 2010. That's a lot of money.