Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 11/Road Game 6

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 (4-4-2) at Texas Rangers (2-6-1)
Saturday, March 8, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Surprise
LHP Paul Maholm (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Tanner Scheppers (0-0, 0.00)
Spring Game 11/Road Game 6
Television: None/Radio: KLAC

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(Puig fan, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

THESE GUYS LOOK FAMILIAR: The Dodgers will play a pair of games today and tonight with split-squads playing against Texas in Surprise this afternoon and against the Mariners tonight at Camelback Ranch. Capacity crowds are expected for both Dodger games at The Ranch this weekend with tomorrow’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Giants also approaching a sellout.

• The Dodgers and Rangers met yesterday at Camelback Ranch, with Los Angeles emerging as 2-1 victors. Hanley Ramirez smashed a two-run homer in the first inning off Martin Perez to account for the Dodgers’ scoring. Right-hander Zach Lee made his first appearance of the spring and tossed 2.0 scoreless frames to pick up the victory. Brian Wilson, Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell and Chris Perez each pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Tom Windle picked up the save with 2.0 scoreless frames to close out the game.
• The two clubs last met in the regular season in 2009 and the Dodgers are 11-9 all-time against the Rangers.
• Six Dodgers are pulling double-duty today and are scheduled to appear in both games; OF Mike Baxter, OF Joc Pederson (starting both games), INF Alex Guerrero, INF Miguel Rojas, INF Clint Robinson and INF Brendan Harris.
• Minor league position players suiting up this afternoon include C Chris O’Brien (#70), C Griff Erickson (#79), IF Ozzie Martinez (#83), IF Darnell Sweeney (#84), IF Jamie Romak (#94), OF Jeremy Hazelbaker (#89), OF Jon Garcia (#90), OF Scott Schebler (#91).

(Uribe, Beltre and Hanley, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

ON THE MOUND: Paul Maholm will make his first start of the spring after allowing just one hit in 2.0 scoreless frames on Sunday in relief against the Padres. Maholm forced the Padres to ground into a double play in that outing and has induced a Major League-leading 184 double play balls since 2006. The 31-year-old, who enters his first season with the Dodgers, went 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts with the Braves last year and enters the 2014 season just 50 strikeouts shy of 1,000 Ks for his career.

• Seth Rosin will make his third appearance this afternoon, last pitching on Monday against the Athletics with 3.0 scoreless innings, and has struck out eight without issuing a walk in 5.0 scoreless innings this spring. Rosin, who was acquired from the Mets after he was selected from Philadelphia in the Rule 5 draft, appeared in 26 games (23 starts) last season, going 9-6 with a 4.33 ERA. He was originally selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.
• Non-roster invitee Carlos Frias will also take the mound for his third appearance of the spring after allowing one run on two hits in 1.0 inning on Thursday against the Angels. The 24-year-old has allowed a run in both of his 1.0-inning appearances this spring and is coming off an impressive stint with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, going 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 15 relief appearances.
• Minor leaguers RHP Steve Edlefsen (#86), RHP Justin Souza (#88), RHP Sam Demel (#38) and RHP Henry Sosa (#95) will suit up for the Dodgers this afternoon. Edlefsen, one of the newest Dodgers, was signed out of the club’s Feb. 27 open tryout and has appeared in 27 big league games during the course of his career with the Giants in 2011-2012, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. The 28-year-old was originally selected by the Giants in the 16th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Nebraska.

(Miguel Rojas, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!: The  Dodgers will open the 2014 season two weeks from today (!) against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series in Sydney, Australia. The historic Sydney Cricket Ground has been undergoing renovations to prepare for the first-ever MLB games to be played Down Under. The club will depart Arizona following its March 16 game against the Rockies and land in Sydney on March 18. Following a few days of workouts and sightseeing, the Dodgers will play Team Australia in an exhibition on March 20 and then take on the D-backs on March 22 and 23 to open the regular season.

GETTING CONNECTED: Following tonight’s game against the Mariners, SportsNet LA will debut “Connected With…Adrian Gonzalez” at 10:00 p.m. PT. Alanna Rizzo conducted the in-depth interview, where Gonzalez discussed growing up in both Mexico and the United States, being the No. 1 draft pick and how living in Los Angeles is a great fit for him.

• Gonzalez is batting .400 (6-for-15) with three runs scored, two doubles, a homer and an RBI through six games this spring. Last year, in his first full season as a Dodger, the 31-year-old batted .293 and led the club in most offensive categories, including hits (171), home runs (22), RBI (100) and games played (157).
• Last year, Gonzalez batted .323 with runners in scoring position (51-for-158), the 13th-best mark in the NL, and ranks fifth among active players with a .328 career batting average with RISP.

ON THE MEND: This morning, Zack Greinke threw approximately 35 pitches in a simulated game to Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp, who is also progressing in his rehab. Kemp took some limited-range flyballs today in the outfield to supplement his running program.

(Orel Hershiser and Charley Steiner, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/8/2014 - Dodgers Links - Guerrero, Greinke and Hanley

Check out Matt Kemp and Joc Pederson hangin' out in the outfield, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• My deepest condolences to Yogi Berra and his family.  Via Nathaniel Vinton and Bill Madden at the NY Daily News, "Yogi Berra’s wife of 65 years, Carmen, dead at 85 following complications from recent stroke."
• Jon SooHoo shared some great photos of Yogi's wife, Carmen Berra.
• Via Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com, "Guerrero adjusting to life in US, at second base".
• Jesse then provides some info about Greinke's next step.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dodgers' two-year plan seems to be Hanley at third".

"I’ve asked him, ‘Honestly, where do you think you’re going to end up?’ " Mattingly told Plunkett. "And he says, ‘Third base.’ I think he knows as you get older, you make that move. Hanley is like Alex (Rodriguez). He’s got third base power and pop. As he gets older, obviously guys are going to slow down." 

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Out of options, Javy Guerra is up to the challenge".

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 10/Home Game 5

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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 Texas Rangers (2-5-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3-4-2)
Friday, March 7, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Zach Lee (0-0, ---) vs. LHP Martin Perez (0-0, 4.50)
Spring Game 10/Home Game 5
Television: SNLA/Radio: KLAC

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(Hanley's Hands, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

DOING IT BIG: The Dodgers play host to the Texas Rangers this afternoon in the first of two meetings this spring. The other matchup comes tomorrow, when Los Angeles will send a split squad to Surprise at 1:05 p.m. The two clubs last met in the regular season in 2009 and the Dodgers are 11-9 all-time against the Rangers.

• In just 13 days (Wow!), the Dodgers play Team Australia in an exhibition game at the Sydney Cricket Ground followed by two games against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series, March 22-23. Opening Day is just 15 days away!

HONORING A LEGEND: Yesterday, the Dodgers were saddened to announce the passing of Special Advisor to the Chairman Dr. Frank Jobe, who was 88 years old. Jobe is survived by his wife, Beverly, four sons—Christopher, Meredith, Cameron and Blair—their spouses and eight grandchildren. Jobe, who began his association with the Dodgers in 1964, made medical history in 1974 when he performed what is now termed “Tommy John surgery.” Jobe took over the full-time care of the Dodgers in 1968 and was named a Special Advisor to the Chairman in 2008. Said John: “Baseball lost a great man and Tommy John lost a great friend. There are a lot of pitchers in baseball who should celebrate his life and what he did for the game of baseball.” Today at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers will honor Dr. Jobe with a moment of silence.

(Scott Van Slyke's Grand Slam Swing, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

NICE WORK, JOHN PRATT: Yesterday, the Dodgers had their first taste of the new instant replay system and it was a success as far as results are concerned. Angels’ outfielder Mike Trout tripled to center field in the first inning and was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch a triple into a home run on a great relay from Yasiel Puig to Hanley Ramirez to A.J. Ellis. After looking at the play on a television feed, crew chief Gerry Davis upheld his initial “out” call and history was made. The replay system will be utilized this season for the first time and is being tested in Cactus League play during various Dodger games, including March 11 at Kansas City, March 12 vs. Arizona, March 15 vs. Chicago-AL and March 16 vs. Colorado.

• Dodger video coordinator John Pratt will be assisting with the replay process during Spring Training from the visiting clubhouse. Pratt is in his third season as the club’s video coordinator after joining the organization in 2011 as the Triple-A Albuquerque video coordinator.

THE GENERAL: Dodger right-hander Zach Lee will make his first appearance of the spring today against the Rangers. Lee, who has been slowed by a lat strain the last few weeks, went 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) for Double-A Chattanooga last season. The Texas native was the Dodgers’ first-round draft selection (No. 28 overall) in 2010.

• Dodger reliever and newly-minted knuckleballer Brian Wilson will make his third spring appearance today after firing scoreless innings on Feb. 27 and March 4. Last year, Wilson joined the Dodger bullpen in late August and went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA (1 ER/13.2 IP) in 18 appearances. For good measure, he tacked on 6.0 scoreless frames and a victory in the 2013 postseason as well.
• The rest of the Dodger pitchers will feature a “who’s who” of the big league bullpen as closer Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez and Brandon League are all scheduled to throw.
• Zack Greinke felt good again today and, according to Dodger skipper Don Mattingly, will face live minor league hitters tomorrow. Greinke suffered a right calf strain in his first Cactus League appearance Thursday, Feb. 27.

(Dan Haren, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

TIE ONE ON: The Dodgers held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth yesterday, but came out of Tempe with a 4-4 tie, their second deadlock of the spring season. Scott Van Slyke provided the Dodger offense with a sixth-inning grand slam, the club’s second in two days. On the mound, starter Dan Haren was terrific, firing 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out three.

FOX SPORTS 1 ON 1: Today, Fox Sports 1 visited Dodger camp and conducted interviews with several players for their season preview. The Dodgers will make several nationally-televised Saturday appearances on Fox and Fox Sports 1 early in the season, including April 5 against the Giants (FS1), April 19 vs. the D-backs (FS1), May 10 vs. the Giants (FS1) and May 31 vs. Pittsburgh (FOX).

• The Nine Network from Australia, which will televise the Opening Series against the Diamondbacks in Australia, was onsite this morning, talking to Clayton Kershaw and Brian Wilson.

SOME MINOR ADDITIONS: The Dodgers will have five minor leaguers suiting up for today’s game vs. the Rangers: LHP Fu-Te Ni (#83), LHP Tom Windle (#94), infielder Darnell Sweeney (#87), infielder Jacob Scavuzzo ($90) and outfielder Jon Garcia (#91).

• Windle, the Dodgers’ second-round selection in last year’s draft, will make his first appearance with the big leaguers. The 6-foot-4 left-hander pitched for the University of Minnesota from 2011-13 and last season went 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the Single-A Great Lakes Loons.

(Peering into the Dodgers Dugout, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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The Frank Howard 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet

Here is another post featuring the 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet set.  Go here to see my past post showcasing this set; including complete scans of both the Vin Scully/Jerry Doggett and Don Drysdale booklets.  This time I share the Frank Howard Booklet.

Frank Howard was as tall as a redwood, and as strong as an ox.  He stood 6' 7", and was said to have operated a 100-lbs jackhammer at the age of 14.  Having been drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors basketball club, the Dodgers signed him to a amateur free agent contract in 1958.  He made an immediate impression.

As a minor leaguer he overpowered the competition.  During that first season in 1958, Howard belted 37 home runs and OPS'd .971.  The next year he did even better with 43 homers and 1.032 OPS.  Frank Howard would be named the Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News that year.

Comparisons to Babe Ruth came hot and heavy.  He had the size and the power to be one of the best.  No doubt, the Dodgers brass were salivating at the thought.

In 1960, he supplanted Carl Furillo in right field and won Rookie of the Year honors.  Unfortunately, an early injury the next season slowed his progress.  Then, his lack of discipline at the plate became his undoing.  Even after getting glasses in 1963 he couldn't stop the whiffs.  He continued to be one of the league leaders in being struck out, and saw his playing time diminish as a result.

After the 1964 season, Frank Howard was traded to the Washington Senators to play under former Dodger Gil Hodges.  He said this about the trade:

“Disappointed in the trade? Oh, no,” recalled Howard. “I knew it was time. I was at the stage of my life where I had to find out if I could play every day.”

He would soon find out that he could play every day.  In 8 season in the Senators franchise, he belted 246 home runs, 701 RBI's, batted .277 and OPS'd .870.  Frank Howard would win 2 home run titles, lead the league in total bases twice and RBI's once.  After a talk with Ted Williams, he started taking more walks and had his most productive seasons yet.  He went from 54 walks one season to 102 the next.  Soon, he would become one of the highest paid player in game, and become one of the most popular.  They even built a statue for him at Nationals Park.

Below are complete scans of every page from Frank Howard's 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet.  Click any pic to embiggen. 

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RIP, Dr. Frank Jobe - Sports Medicine Pioneer Invented Tommy John Surgery

The man who has done more for pitchers over the last 40 years than anybody else passed away yesterday.  Dr. Frank Jobe, the inventor of Tommy John Surgery, died at the age of 88 in his Santa Monica home. 

"Frank Jobe is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word," said Dodger President Stan Kasten. "His dedication and professionalism in not only helping the Dodgers, but athletes around the world is unparalleled.   He was a medical giant and pioneer and many athletes in the past and the future can always thank Frank for finding a way to continue their careers."

Former Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser said this on twitter:

He change my life!! Gave me back my career!! I will miss him and I am eternally grateful!!! Dr. Frank Jobe
— Orel Hershiser (@OrelHershiser) March 7, 2014

From Tommy John:

"Baseball lost a great man and Tommy John lost a great friend," said former Dodger Tommy John. "There are a lot of pitchers in baseball who should celebrate his life and what he did for the game of baseball. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to Beverly and the entire family. He's going to be missed."

The Dodgers releases a press release about him last night.  You can read that here.

My deepest condolences to the Jobe family for their loss.

Pic at the very top of Dr. Frank Jobe, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/7/2014 - Dodgers Links - Ryu, Pederson and Instant Replay

Mark McGwire and Ron Cey chat on the field, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Jon Weisman introduces us to the Dodger Insider Magazine.  Check it out!
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ryu appears primed to pitch in Opening Series."

"He looks more comfortable," said Mattingly. "He looks more fluid. He was stiff early on. He looked typical for a guy who hadn't played in a while. For me, early on was really rough and stiff. He's gotten better. We'll just try to keep playing him as much as we can, but we've got to see other people, too."

• Daniel Shoptaw at C70 At Bat shares a preview of the Dodgers that includes some words from myself a fellow blogger Scott Andes at Lasroda's Lair.  Check out what Scott and myself had to say, here.
• Via David Laurila at FanGraphs, "Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers Outfield Prospect."

“If you’re thinking too much, you’re already at a disadvantage. The ball is coming so fast that you need to have a clear mind. When you keep it simple you can be confident with your approach and take that confidence into the box.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig throws out Mike Trout, play upheld by instant replay."
• Here's some interesting news.  Yasiel Puig has changed agents, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors.
• Wow!  I wish I was near Fayetteville, NC this weekend.  They are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Babe Ruth's 1st professional home as a member of the Baltimore Orioles (the minor league club), via Roberta Sandler at the Baltimore Sun.  (Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily)

Not only was Babe Ruth's journey to Fayetteville the first train ride he had ever taken, the Lafayette Hotel provided him with his first elevator ride. He spent his pocket money bribing the elevator operator to let him run it. Up and down. Up and down. He couldn't get enough of that elevator. 

• BTW, if you hadn't heard, it appears Topps will be bringing back Stadium Club, via Chris Olds at Beckett.  See a preview card on the right.

• For any of you Kings fans out there, John Hoven at Mayor's Manor (In my opinion, the best sports blog in LA) breaks down Wednesdays NHL trade deadline day and the various moves made by the Kings and Ducks on TSN Radio.  I think Dean Lombardi, GM of the Kings, might be the best there is in any sport, and I too am scratching my head at what the Ducks did and didn't do. 

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