Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 2/25/2013

Don Mattingly and Mark McGwire sign for fans at Camelback Ranch, pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2013.  See some pics from yesterday, here.

• Steve Garvey is battling prostate cancer, via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy is tracking down all of the new Dodger billboards being found throughout the southland.
• Bill Plunkett of the OC Register writes of the Dodgers' optimism with Chad Billingsley.
• David Brown at Big League Stew had a chance to ask a question to Sandy Koufax, and it was about the movie 'The Big Lebowski.'  The best part is Sandy's reaction to an online media writer.

David Brown: Mr. Koufax, my name’s Dave Brown; I’m from Big League Stew at Yahoo! Sports.
Sandy Koufax: (Leans in with ear) From what?
David Brown: Yahoo! Sports.
Sandy Koufax (starting to walk away): I’m kind of a conscientious objector [to] the digital revolution.

• Beckett shared some preview pics of 2013 Topps Triple Thread cards, and it includes a couple of Dodgers'.  Check them out below.

• Manuel Guerrero at LA Blue Crew shares some photos from his day at Camelback Ranch, and shows us some of his autograph finds.
• Panini unveiled some pics from their upcoming release called 2012 Panini Baseball National Treasures; including cards of Kershaw and Kemp.  Boxes will be available later this week.

• This video may cause temporary hallucinogenic effects, but its awesome!
• Here is a video of Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching his one inning yesterday.  Hat Tip: @MyKBO on Twitter.

Video Link:

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2013 Topps Baseball Spring Fever - Dodgers' Cards

Hold on folks.  I wasn't quite done with the Dodger cards that can be found in packs of 2013 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards.  Randomly inserted into packs are 'Spring Fever' redemption cards that must be turned in to participating card/hobby shops throughout the country from February 20th to the 27th.  To the right is what the redemption card looks like.  One redemption card gets you a free 5 card pack of 'Spring Fever' cards.  See a complete list of participating stores here.  If you have one of these cards hurry up and get your pack right away.  Be sure to contact the store first to make sure they have packs remaining.  Below are the 3 Dodgers in the base set, as well as, an autographed card of AJ Ellis.

Dodgers Base Cards:

#SF-22 A.J. Ellis

#SF-23 Adrian Gonzalez

#SF-48 Matt Kemp

Autographed Spring Fever Autographed Card.

A.J. Ellis #/155

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 2/ Road 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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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (0-1) at Chicago White Sox (1-0)
Saturday, February 24, 2013 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Erik Johnson

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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BACK AT IT: Following their 9-0 defeat at the hands of the White Sox in the Cactus League lid-lifter yesterday, the Dodgers will tussle again with the Sox this afternoon at Camelback Ranch - Glendale in their first official “road” game of the spring. Today marks the highly anticipated Dodger debut of two starters as free agent acquisition Zack Greinke and Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the first two hurlers out of the shoot today for Don Mattingly’s club. Greinke and Ryu will be followed to the mound this afternoon by RHP Peter Moylan, RHP Josh Wall, RHP Steve Ames and RHP Matt Palmer. In case you were wondering, there are 36 days until Opening Day!

• Right-handed minor league pitchers Angel Castro (No. 88) and Blake Johnson (No. 82) will be available to pitch today, sliding over from the other side of the complex.  
• Tomorrow, Feb. 25, the Dodgers will play host to the Cubs at 1:05 p.m. MT and Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be in the booth to call the club’s first televised game on PRIME TICKET. Of the seven televised Cactus League games between PRIME TICKET (four broadcasts) and KCAL (three broadcasts), Scully will be on air on Feb. 25 vs. CHC (PRIME), Feb. 28 vs. LAA (PRIME), March 7 vs. TEX (PRIME), March 17 vs. MIL (KCAL), March 18 vs. ARI (PRIME), March 23 vs. CWS (KCAL) and March 26 vs. COL (KCAL).

ZACK ATTACK: Today, Dodger starter Zack Greinke will don Dodger blue in a game for the first time. Greinke, who won the 2009 American League Cy Young Award, signed a six-year contract with Los Angeles in December. The 29-year-old, who will enter his 10th Major League season, has a 91-78 career record with a 3.77 ERA while posting double-digit wins over the last five consecutive seasons. 

• The “other” big offseason signing, Hyun-Jin Ryu, will also be making his competitive Dodger debut. The seven-time Korea Baseball Organization All-Star and five-time KBO strikeout leader signed a six-year deal with the Dodgers after being posted by the Hanwha Eagles. The 25-year-old left-hander has a 98-52 record and a 2.80 ERA in 190 career games as a professional in Korea. 

(pic link: @HyunJinRyu99)

YOUTH IS SERVED: Three Dodgers in the starting lineup today are 26 years old or younger as Yasiel Puig (22, DH), Tim Federowicz (25, C), Jeremy Moore (25, LF) and Alex Castellanos (26, CF) all make their first spring starts today. Puig went 1-for-2 with a double in his Cactus League debut yesterday. Of the four, Castellanos has the most big league experience of the foursome, despite playing in just 16 games with Los Angeles last season. The Miami native belted his first Major League home run in the Dodgers’ final game of the season last year, ripping a solo shot off San Francisco’s Jean Machi on October 3. 

GIMME SOME MOORE: Starting in left field today will be 25-year old non-roster invitee Jeremy Moore, who was originally selected by the Angels in the sixth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. Moore didn’t play at all last season due to a left hip injury and has appeared in just eight big league games, all with the Halos in 2011. The Louisiana native led the Pacific Coast League with 18 triples in 2011, becoming just the second PCL player in history with double-digit stolen bases (21), doubles (24), homers (15) and triples. Moore owns a career average of .277 with 75 homers, 327 RBI and 124 steals in seven minor league seasons.  

TODAY ON THE DIAL: KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish) TODAY ON THE TUBE: None THE TOUR CONTINUES...: Tomorrow, MLB Network will descend on Camelback Ranch for their annual 30 clubs in 30 Days tour. Eric Byrnes will be onsite talking to numerous Dodgers, including fellow outfielder Andre Ethier. The network will also conduct a live interview with Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti at 10:30 A.M. Arizona time.  

YOU SEE THIS FACE?: Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp advanced to the finals of MLB Network’s #FaceofMLB contest on Twitter by defeating Atlanta’s Jason Heyward in a vote. In next week’s finals, which will run from tomorrow through Friday, Kemp will face off with Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in MLB Network’s bracket to decide who the Face of MLB is. The current bracket matchups can be viewed here.

(pic link: @Dodgers)

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Sunday Dodger Videos: Ping Pong, the Oscars and a Video Showing the Progress at Dodger Stadium

Here are this Sundays Dodgers' Videos.

Ping Pong, next to Baseball, has been the most popular sport at camelback Ranch.  Watch Zack Greinke win a point against Clayton Kersahw.

Video Link:

Several Dodgers talk about the Oscars.

Video Link:

Here is a video taken within Dodger Stadium.  I am uncertain of the exact date it was filmwed, but it must have been fairly recently.  As you can see, it appears that they have laid all of the concrete for the new clubhouse and field level seats, and have begun putting in the new seats.

Video Link:

Stadium Bound shows a bit of the new scoreboards being installed.

Video Link:

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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)
Saturday, February 23, 2013 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Dylan Axelrod vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw

(twitter link: @jphoornstra)

START ME UP: Today the Dodgers begin their 40-game exhibition schedule as they host the White Sox at Camelback Ranch – Glendale at 1:05 pm MT. Manager Don Mattingly has scheduled seven pitchers to throw in the game. Left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw will be followed by Ronald Belisario, Stephen Fife and Matt Magill in addition to non-roster invitees Kelvin De La Cruz, Gregory Infante and Mark Lowe…days until Opening Day: 37!

• Minor league left-handed pitcher Victor Garate will be available to pitch and will be wearing uniform number 95.
• The club will play 36 games in Arizona before playing its final four exhibition games in the greater Los Angeles area against the Angels and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
• On Monday, Feb. 25 the Dodgers will play host to the Cubs at 1:05 p.m. MT and Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be in the booth to call the club’s first televised game on PRIME TICKET. Of the seven televised Cactus League games between PRIME TICKET (four broadcasts) and KCAL (three broadcasts), Scully will be on air on Feb. 25 vs. CHC (PRIME), Feb. 28 vs. LAA (PRIME), March 7 vs. TEX (PRIME), March 17 vs. MIL (KCAL), March 18 vs. ARI (PRIME) and March 26 vs. COL (KCAL).

(pic credit: Jon Soo Hoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

KERSH-AWESOME: Today, starter Clayton Kershaw will toe the rubber for Los Angeles. The left-hander will attempt to become the first pitcher to win three consecutive Major League ERA titles since Greg Maddux accomplished the feat from 1993-95 as a member of the Braves.

• While Kershaw finished second in the NL Cy Young voting in 2012, he picked up one of baseball’s most prestigious honors this offseason with the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement. Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, founded Kershaw’s Challenge, a charitable organization that encourages people to make a difference by giving back to at-risk children and communities in need. The charity has provided assistance to a variety of organizations, including to its cornerstone charity, “Arise Africa,” which helped the Kershaws build and now sustain an orphanage for children in Lusaka, Zambia called “Hope’s Home.”

PITCHING PREVIEW: Pitching has traditionally been a strength of the Dodger organization and last season, the club ranked third in the Majors with both a 3.34 team ERA and a .238 opponents’ batting average.

• Last season, Ronald Belisario tied for the Major League lead with eight wins as a reliever (Rex Brothers and Nate Jones), going 8-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his team-leading 68 relief appearances. The right-hander also led the club with 71.0 innings pitched and his eight wins were the most by a Dodger reliever since Guillermo Mota’s eight in 2004.
• Stephen Fife made five starts for the Dodgers in 2012, posting a 0-2 record with a 2.70 ERA (8 ER/26.2 IP). The right-hander was recalled on July 17 and made his Major League debut that night against Philadelphia, allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings
• Right-hander Matt Magill started 26 games at Double-A Chattanooga and posted an 11-8 record with a 3.78 ERA in 2012. The Simi Valley native held right-handed hitters to a .202 batting average and recorded career highs in starts, innings pitched (146.1) and strikeouts (168).

(pic credit: Jon Soo Hoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

INTO THE SWING OF THINGS: The Dodger lineup today features World Baseball Classic participants Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz of Team Mexico and Hanley Ramirez of Team Dominican Republic. The trio is scheduled to stay in the game longer than the rest of the lineup in order to prepare for the WBC, which kicks off on March 2.

• The Dodgers will face Team Mexico in an exhibition game on March 6 at 1:05 p.m. at Camelback Ranch – Glendale.
• Currently, Team Italy is training at Camelback Ranch – Glendale and Dodger infielder Nick Punto will suit up for the Italians during the WBC. In addition to Cruz, Gonzalez, Punto and Ramirez, reliever Ronald Belisario will lace ‘em up for Team Venezuela.

HI, MY NAME IS: Skip Schumaker, who is starting in center field and batting sixth today, will make his first start in Spring Training for the Blue Crew. The utility man hit .276 in 107 games, appearing in all three outfield positions and second base for the Cardinals last season. The California native had spent his entire Major League career (2005-2012) with St. Louis.

YOU SEE THIS FACE?: Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp advanced to the finals of MLB Network’s #FaceofMLB contest on Twitter by defeating Atlanta’s Jason Heyward in a vote. In next week’s finals, which will run from Monday through Friday, Kemp will face off with Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in MLB Network’s bracket to decide who the Face of MLB is. The current bracket matchups can be viewed here.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #7

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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(pic credit: Jon Soo Hoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

SEVENTH HEAVEN: Today, the Dodgers held their seventh and final full-squad workout before beginning their 40-game exhibition schedule tomorrow against the White Sox. The team worked on pick offs and rundowns followed by Aaron Harang, Kenley Jansen and Javy Guerra throwing live BP. Chris Capuano, Chad Billingsley, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Paco Rodriguez all threw bullpens under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax.

• The club will play 36 games in Arizona before playing its final four exhibition games in the greater Los Angeles area against the Angels and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
• The Spring Training edition of Dodgers Magazine will debut tomorrow at Camelback Ranch and features the heart of the Dodger lineup on the cover; Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier. For those unable to pick one up in Glendale, magazines are also available online at Dodgers.com/magazine.

THIS IS GETTING REAL: Tomorrow is Opening Day at Camelback Ranch with the Dodgers taking on the White Sox for the first of three times during the Cactus League slate. Clayton Kershaw, the 2012 MLB ERA champ, will take the hill for Los Angeles against Chicago right-hander Dylan Axelrod, with RHP Mark Lowe, RHP Ronald Belisario, RHP Stephen Fife, RHP Matt Magill, LHP Kelvin De La Cruz and RHP Gregory Infante expected in relief.

• With Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford likely having their first Cactus League action delayed until around March 1, Don Mattingly announced that tomorrow’s outfield would feature Andre Ethier in right field, Skip Schumaker in center field and Jerry Hairston Jr. in left field.
• On Sunday, the two clubs will meet again at 1:05 pm local time (12:05 pm in Los Angeles) with starter Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu making their Dodger debuts against Chicago right-hander Erik Johnson.
• The Dodgers have played the White Sox in four of the last five years during Interleague Play with Chicago holding a 7-5 advantage in the series.

(pic credit: Jon Soo Hoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

COULD BE LEGENDARY: Dodger alumni Ron Cey, Tim Leary, Fernando Valenzuela, Maury Wills and Steve Yeager will help celebrate a new season of Cactus League play at Camelback Ranch - Glendale’s inaugural Legends Weekend. Former greats from both the Dodgers (tomorrow) and White Sox (Sunday) franchises will be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans from 11:30 am-12:30 pm before being introduced in pregame ceremonies.  I previously posted about the Legends Weekend last week- check out that information here.

CLASSIC BASEBALL: Yesterday, the final rosters were submitted for the 2013 World Baseball Classic with the Dodgers well represented in the once-every-four-year event with Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz playing for Team Mexico, Hanley Ramirez for the Dominican Republic, Ronald Belisario for Venezuela and Nick Punto for Italy. In addition, former Dodger skipper Joe Torre will pilot the U.S. squad. Players will leave camp on or near March 1 with pool play for the World Baseball Classic beginning on March 2 in Taiwan and Japan and on March 7 in Pools C and D in Puerto Rico and Arizona.

• Three places that Tommy Lasorda is likely to be found: Bucca di Beppo, Grimaldi’s and now the visiting clubhouse at Camelback Ranch, ever since it became occupied by Team Italy. The Italians will be here working out until March 5, when Team Mexico moves in prior to their exhibition game on Wednesday, March 6 at Camelback Ranch. 
• Charley Steiner will be calling the Pool D games in Phoenix for MLB International, featuring the United States, Mexico, Canada and Italy. Steiner will call the first of 16 Spring Training games on AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles tomorrow alongside Rick Monday, while Jaime Jarrin, Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yniguez can be heard in Spanish tomorrow on KTNQ 1020 AM.

YOU SEE THIS FACE?: Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp advanced to the finals of MLB Network’s #FaceofMLB contest on Twitter by defeating Atlanta’s Jason Heyward in yesterday’s vote. In tomorrow’s finals, Kemp will face the winner of today’s semifinal matchup of Andrew McCutchen and Joey Votto in MLB Network’s bracket to decide who is the Face of MLB. The current bracket matchups can be viewed here.

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