Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Todays Spring Training Opening Day Game:

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (0-0) vs. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (0-0)

Monday, March 5, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch – Glendale

RHP Chad Billingsley vs. RHP Philip Humber

Spring Game 1/Road Game 1

(Rick Monday chatting with Don Mattingly, via twitter @PONealFSWest)

• IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL: The Dodgers open up their 34-game exhibition schedule as the designated visiting team against the White Sox this afternoon at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The two clubs will meet for the fourth time in five seasons during Interleague Play in 2012 with the White Sox visiting Dodger Stadium from June 15-17. Los Angeles will play 31 Cactus League contests before finishing up the spring slate with three games against the Angels; in Anaheim on April 2 and two at Dodger Stadium on April 3 and 4.

• BILLS ON THE HILL: Chad Billingsley will make his first start of the Cactus League season as he prepares for his seventh big league season after going 11-11 with a 4.21 ERA in 32 starts last year. The 27-year-old is one of only three National League pitchers to have won 10 or more games in each of the past five seasons, joining teammate Ted Lilly and Cole Hamels, and also ranks sixth on the Senior Circuit with 703 strikeouts since the start of the 2008 season. Billingsley will be followed to the mound today by RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Fernando Nieve, LHP Wilfredo Ledezma, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Ryan Tucker and LHP Scott Rice.

(Clayton Kershaw pitches in an intrasquad game for his first live action of the spring, pic via twitter Jon SooHoo @Dodgers)

• IT ALL STARTS AT THE TOP: With the exception of Adam Kennedy at third base, today’s Dodger starting lineup looks very similar to what Don Mattingly is expected to pencil in on Opening Day one month from today in San Diego. Shortstop Dee Gordon will start things off for the Dodger nine this afternoon and ranked fourth in the Majors last season (min. 200 AB) with a .315 batting average as a leadoff hitter (63-for-200). Last season, the 23-year-old became the first-ever Dodger shortstop to be selected to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team and was also recognized as the Gillette presents National League Rookie of the Month in September, batting .372 with a league-leading 42 hits in 26 games. Overall, Gordon had the second-highest batting average among Major League rookies (min. 200 AB) with a .304 mark and tied for second among rookies with 24 steals in 56 games with the Dodgers last season.

• BIG MAC: The Dodgers would like to wish right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal a happy 35^th birthday today! MacDougal re-signed with the club as a free agent this past offseason after ranking second on the team with 57.0 innings pitched as a reliever and a career-high 69 appearances in 2011. The 11-year Major League veteran ranked seventh among National League relievers (min. 50.0 IP) with a 2.05 ERA while going 3-1 with one save last season in his first season with Los Angeles.

• MAJORING IN THE MINORS: Dodger minor league pitchers and catchers have their first workout today with all other minor leaguers reporting on Friday. The first full-squad workout takes place on March 11. The farmhands will hope to repeat their success from last season, when six of the Dodgers’ seven minor league affiliates ended the season with winning records and the teams’ cumulative .543 winning percentage (414-349) was the second highest among Major League clubs behind only Texas’ .565 mark (431-332). In addition, four of the seven clubs reached the postseason with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers winning the Arizona Summer League championship.

• TROLLEY DODGERS: New for 2012, fans can ride a free trolley from the Westgate City Center to all Dodgers and White Sox games at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The trolley stop is located on Westgate Boulevard right across from Yard House and drops off outside the ballpark. The trolley runs every 40 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. with continuous service throughout and after the game.

• Upcoming Spring Training Game Schedule

  

Hake's Auctions: Campy in Mexico

Hake's Auctions, well known for selling vintage toys, has also built a strong reputation for quality sports memorabilia. For at least the past couple of years they were the exclusive auctioneer of the collection of Richard Merkin, a noted Negro League collector. In fact, their current auction has several more items from Merkin's collection that I will highlight in a future post. At this time, though, I want to highlight a couple of Dodgers related items that caught my eye.

Below is an original drawing by noted New York Post cartoonist John Pierotti. From 1958 it features a Brooklyn Dodger with sword in hand riding a torn New York Yankees jersey while heading towards Los Angeles. The Dodger has exchanged his Brooklyn cap for an LA cap as their move to the west coast has become a reality.

(Auction Link)

This is a real treat. Here is a Negro League collectible from the collection of Richard Merkin that Dodger fans will enjoy. This is a real photo post card from 1943. It features a Baseball team from Monterey, Mexico that happens to include soon-to-be Major Leaguer and Brooklyn Dodger Roy Campanella. He is seated on the very far left. A close up of Campy is also below.

(Auction Link)

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 12

AJ Ellis interviews Clayton Kershaw for a future DodgerVision feature, via twitter @dodgers.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

(Javy Guerra building memories for a child, via twitter @Dodgers)

• GETTING TO KNOW YOU: The last day of workouts prior to games kicked off this morning with Dodger skipper Don Mattingly implementing a new wrinkle during the daily team meeting. Mattingly started the getting-to-know-you process yesterday by introducing bench coach Trey Hillman to the team. Today, the responsibility fell on some younger players’ shoulders as Josh Wall introduced Jerry Hairston, Jr. to the club and Rubby De La Rosa familiarized the Dodgers with right-handed reliever Todd Coffey. Mattingly plans to continue the presentations over the next couple of weeks.

• GAME TIME! (sort of): This morning at 11:00 a.m., several Dodgers took part in an intrasquad game on the minor league side, specifically pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, Stephen Fife and Will Savage and catchers Matt Treanor and Gorman Erickson. The hurlers each threw 2.0 innings while the catchers recorded three at-bats in the contest, which consisted of eight half-innings. Kershaw stuck out five of the seven batters he faced and allowed just one hit over 25 pitches. Capuano did not allow a hit or walk while striking out two over 2.0 innings. Fife and Savage each allowed an earned run in their 2.0 innings of work. Kershaw will make his first “official” start of the Cactus League season on March 9 against the Rangers in Surprise.

(Kershaw watching from the dugout, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

• RUBBY SUNDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 23^rd birthday to right-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, who is progressing well after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August. De La Rosa went 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 13 appearances (10 starts) in the big leagues last season before the injury. The native of the Dominican Republic shares his big day with Brooklyn Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance.
  

• CACTUS LEAGUE LID-LIFTER: The Dodgers open up their Cactus League season as the designated visiting team tomorrow against their Camelback Ranch neighbors, the White Sox. RHP Chad Billingsley will get the start for Los Angeles with RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Fernando Nieve, LHP Wilfredo Ledezma, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Ryan Tucker and LHP Scott Rice in relief and right-hander Philip Humber taking the hill for Chicago. The Dodgers open their home slate on Tuesday with LHP Ted Lilly on the mound against the Giants’ Barry Zito.

• GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: On this day 100 years ago, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. This season is the 50^th anniversary of Dodger Stadium presented by State Farm and the club will begin the special season at Chavez Ravine on April 10 vs. Pittsburgh.

(Los Angeles Dodgers veterans Billy Delury, Jaime Jarrin, Ramon Martinez, Alejandro Pena, Tommy Lasorda and Charlie Hough Sunday, March 4, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona,via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

• THE GANG’S ALL HERE: Many of the Dodger broadcasters have descended on Camelback Ranch – Glendale over the last few days as Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín showed up on Thursday, while Charley Steiner and Pepe Yñiguez arrived Friday. This afternoon, former Dodger outfielder and current KABC broadcaster Rick Monday landed in Phoenix, ready to call the game alongside Steiner tomorrow afternoon on the Dodgers’ new radio broadcast partner, AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles. Jarrín and Yñiguez will call the contest for KTNQ 1020, entering their second year as the Dodgers’ Spanish radio partner. The club would also like to welcome Efren Meza, the new Dodger producer for the Spanish radio crew.
  

• MAJORING IN THE MINORS: Dodger minor league pitchers and catchers have their first workout on March 5 and all other minor leaguers report on March 9 with the first full-squad workout taking place on March 11. The farmhands will hope to repeat their success from last season, when six of the Dodgers’ seven minor league affiliates ended the season with winning records and the teams’ cumulative .543 winning percentage (414-349) was the second highest among Major League clubs behind only Texas’ .565 mark (431-332). In addition, four of the seven clubs reached the postseason with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers winning the Arizona Summer League championship.

Sunday Dodger Videos: A Bob Hope Special with Drysdale, Davis and Koufax

Here is this weekends Sunday Dodger Videos.

Watch this vintage Vitalis commercial featuring Don Drysdale.

Video Link:

Here is a Bob Hope Special from 1978 "Salute to the 75th Anniversary of the World Series" that takes a look back at a 1963 clip featuring Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax and Tommy Davis. A couple of years ago I ran into a press photo that I thought was from a Las Vegas musical review show, but as you can see it's not. It is actually from a Bob Hope special from 1963. See that original post here.

Video Link:

Here is outfielder Mike Marshall with announcer Ross Parter in a commercial from 1984.

Video Link:

"Get Up and Go!"
Here is a 1987 MLB commercial featuring Dodger Baseball. Fernando Valenzuela makes a brief appearance and so does Nancy Bea.

Video Link:

Matt Kemp Signing in Scottsdale on Monday

Here is a special notice for those of you who will be in Arizona this week for some Spring Training Baseball. Each evening from Monday to Friday, a Baseball star will be stopping by a Arizona Oakley Store to chat, sign autographs and launch the 2012 Oakley MLB Flak Jacket XLJ performance eye wear. Details are available here. They will only be signing items provided by the store, so don't bring your own stuff. You will have the option of either having a MLB/ Oakley player poster or Oakley Wilson Baseball to have signed.

Our very own Matt Kemp will be at the Oakley Store in Scottsdale on Monday signing autographs from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Matt Kemp
Monday, March 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Oakley Store - Scottsdale Fashion Square

7014 E. CAMELBACK RD.

Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 941-4932

Here are details about the other stars:

Howie Kendrick
Tuesday, March 6, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Oakley Store - Arizona Mills

5000 S ARIZONA MILLS CIR

TEMPE, AZ 85282
(480) 491-0541

Justin Upton
Wednesday, March 7, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Oakley Store - Scottsdale Fashion Square

7014 E. CAMELBACK RD.

Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 941-4932

Nelson Cruz

Thursday, March 8, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Oakley Store - Arrowhead Towne Center
7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center
Glendale, AZ 85308
(623) 334-6889

Pablo Sandoval
Friday, March 9, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Oakley Store - Tempe Marketplace
2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe, AZ
(480) 966-0261

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 11

AJ Ellis takes part in 2012 Read Across America for some local Arizona kids, via twitter @Dodgers.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

(Clayton Kershaw signing for Fan Fest, via twitter @JessRosales1)

• FUN FEST: The first-ever Camelback Ranch – Glendale Fan Fest was a rousing success today with more than 3,000 fans in attendance for the Dodgers’ and White Sox’s autograph sessions and batting practice. While the autographs were the main takeaway from the day’s event, those who stayed for Dodger batting practice were treated to additional souvenirs as the hitting group of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Juan Rivera deposited well over a dozen baseballs onto the outfield berms. The only unfortunate incident on the sun-filled morning was when shortstop Dee Gordon was hit by a bad-hop grounder in the mouth, which required stitches on his upper lip. Gordon is not expected to miss any practice time due to the injury.

• ALMOST GAMEDAY: At 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, the Dodgers will play a four-inning intrasquad game on the minor league fields featuring pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano, Stephen Fife and Will Savage. Kershaw, who will start on Opening Day in San Diego and the Dodgers’ home-opener on April 10, will make his first “official” start of the Cactus League season on March 9 against the Rangers in Surprise.

(Kemp goofs on Rubby De La Rosa, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

• START ME UP: The Dodgers held their annual On Sale event at Dodger Stadium this morning with fans enjoying the festivities which included music, trivia and contests, hosted by Vic “the Brick” Jacobs from AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles. Opening Day tickets are still available on Dodgers.com and prices on many advanced individual tickets for the 2012 season after Opening Day have been reduced as much as $20 per ticket.

• IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 36^th birthday to catcher Matt Treanor! Treanor was signed as a free agent this offseason after spending the 2011 campaign with the Royals and American League-champion Texas Rangers. Treanor, who grew up in Garden Grove and attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, is entering his ninth big league season after originally being selected by Kansas City in the fourth round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.

(Spring Training Fun during Fan Fest, via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

• HALL OF FAME HAPPENING: On March 3, 1997, Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda received a call in Vero Beach, FL from Teddy Ballgame, Ted Williams, letting him know he was to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Lasorda is now enshrined in 17 Halls of Fame.

• MAJORING IN THE MINOR: Minor league pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch today two days ahead of their first workout on March 5. All other minor leaguers report on March 9 with the first full-squad workout taking place on March 11. The farmhands will hope to repeat their success from last season, when six of the Dodgers’ seven minor league affiliates ended the season with winning records and the teams’ cumulative .543 winning percentage (414-349) was the second highest among Major League clubs behind only Texas’ .565 mark (431-332). In addition, four of the seven clubs reached the postseason with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers winning the Arizona Summer League championship.

• A CASE OF THE MONDAYS: The Dodgers open up their Cactus League season as the designated visiting team on Monday against their Camelback Ranch neighbors, the White Sox. Chad Billingsley will get the start for Los Angeles with RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Fernando Nieve, LHP Wilfredo Ledezma, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Ryan Tucker and LHP Scott Rice in relief and right-hander Philip Humber taking the hill for Chicago. The Dodgers open their home slate on Tuesday with LHP Ted Lilly on the mound against the Giants’ Barry Zito.