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

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(Kershaw and AGon head ping pong tourney draw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

THE FORCE AWAKENS: The Dodgers held their fourth full-squad workout of Spring Training today, getting in some team defense work (cutoffs and relays), to go along with live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play this Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Pitchers who faced live hitters today were Scott Kazmir, Mike Bolsinger, Jharel Cotton, Jacob Rhame, Pedro Baez and Louis Coleman. 
• Alex Wood, Brandon Beachy, and Jamey Wright all threw regular bullpens.

SPOTLIGHT: During his morning media session, Dodger manager Dave Roberts named three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw the starting pitcher for the Cactus League opener as well as Opening Day 2016 in San Diego. The Opening Day nod will be Kershaw’s sixth consecutive Opening Day start, leaving him one shy of the Dodger franchise record (7), shared by Don Drysdale (1958-61, ’63, ’65, ‘69) and Don Sutton (1972-78). Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983-86, ’88) and William “Brickyard” Kennedy (1894-96, 1898-1900) are the only other members of the franchise to tally at least six Opening Day starts. 

• Kershaw has three Opening Day victories, trailing just Drysdale (5) and Sutton (4).

(McCarthy and Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo at @Dodgers on twitter)

THE BIG SHORT: Standing just 5’9, the shortest player in Dodger camp is speedy outfielder Rico Noel, who was signed by the club to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training on Dec. 23, 2015. Noel made his Major League debut for the Yankees last September, going 1-for-2 with five runs scored and five stolen bases in just 15 games. In six minor league seasons with the Padres (2010-15) and Yankees (2015), the Oklahoma native has hit .254 while stealing 283 bases in 344 attempts (82.3%). Noel has swiped 50 or more bases in a season three times: 2011 (62), 2012 (90) and 2013 (59). The 27-year-old was originally selected by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Coastal Carolina University.

• The tallest player in Dodger camp is Brandon McCarthy, who stands 6’7. 

STRAIGHT OUTTA FULLERTON:  The Dodgers would like to welcome Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda, who arrived for his first day of camp at Camelback Ranch this morning. Lasorda, 88, is entering his 67th season in the Dodger organization. The longtime skipper compiled a record of 1,599-1,439 (.526) in 20 seasons, including two world championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles. 

(Roberts and Lasorda, pic via Jon SooHoo at @Dodgers on twitter)

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

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(Puig and Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo on the Dodgers twitter)

GOING LIVE: The Dodgers held their third full-squad workout of Spring Training today, with PFP and bullpen sessions, along with their first live batting practice of the spring in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Pitchers who faced live hitters today were Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Chris Hatcher, Yimi Garcia, Joe Blanton, J.P. Howell, Luis Avilan, Carlos Frias, Matt West and Adam Liberatore
• Brett Anderson, Zach Lee, Ross Stripling, Chase De Jong and Josh Ravin all threw regular bullpens.

(Kershaw on Photo Day, pic via Dodgers on twitter)

SAY CHEESE: The Dodgers held their annual Photo Day this morning, with players showing off their pearly whites for the Dodger team photographers, SNLA, MLB Photos, MLB.com, MLB International, ESPN the Magazine, Topps, USA Today, Getty Images, Baseball Magazine Sha, the LA Times, the Associated Press and ICON Sportswire.

ONE MORE TURNER: While plenty of the familiar faces of the Dodger players are back from last year’s division title, the coaching staff is almost entirely new, with the exception of 11-year pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. The new hitting coach in Los Angeles is Turner Ward, who spent the past eight seasons in the Arizona organization, including three years on the Diamondbacks’ Major League staff as hitting coach (2014-15) and assistant hitting coach (2013). Under Ward’s coaching, last season, Arizona produced two Silver Sluggers (first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and center fielder A.J. Pollock) and led the NL in hits (1,494), while ranking among the Major League best in runs (720, 2nd), extra-base hits (491, 2nd), batting average (.264, 3rd), on-base percentage (.324, 3rd) and slugging percentage (.414, 2nd). Ward began his coaching career with two seasons in the Pirates’ organization in 2006-07 and has compiled a 216-190 record (.532) during four seasons managing in the minors: 2006 (Rookie-level GCL Pirates), 2007 (Single-A State College) and 2011-12, when he led Double-A Mobile to back-to-back Southern League championships and was named the league’s 2011 Manager of the Year. Welcome Turner!

(Turner posing for Topps on photo day, pic via Topps on twitter)

AUTHOGRAPH SESH: During the past two days, Dodger players have signed hundreds of bats, balls, photos and jerseys, primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. The signed items will be used for fundraising purposes organized by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the money raised will be donated to over 200 non-profit organizations and schools in the greater Los Angeles area. For more information, please visit www.dodgers.com/ladf or www.dodgers.com/donations.

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Blog Kiosk: 2/27/2016 - Dodgers Links - Utley, AJ and Vin Scully

This is hilarious.  Featured above is a pic by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016 of Dodgers prospect Jose De Leon gleefully struggling over a team prescribed geography assignment during the clubs Friday morning team meeting.  No doubt he's searching for some tiny little island on the wrong part of the map.

I can't wait for them to force the rookies to do some sort of skit or routine 'cause you know there will be plenty of photos online to share. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Via AM570 LA Sports, "Vin Scully receives Lifetime Achievement Award." He received the award from the Los Angeles Sports Council  on Thursday evening.  This link shares some audio from his speech.  Via ABC7.com:

"We all can't be heroes. Most of us have to stand at the curb and cheer as they go by, and for 67 years, thank God, that's what I've been blessed to be. I've been that man on the curb applauding as the heroes went by," Scully said while accepting his award, which was presented by former Dodgers President Peter O'Malley.

• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "A.J. Ellis makes no secret of desire to catch Clayton Kershaw."

"To be a part of that is something that is a thrill for me, and I will relish and cherish every opportunity I can to be out there for him," Ellis said, as Kershaw stood within earshot. "I think we have a good relationship and we really work well together, although he probably doesn’t need me back there because he can probably throw to you behind the plate. But there are those games, those situations, where he’s told me that I make a difference and that’s what makes our partnership work so well."

• Video: Go behind the scenes as Kenta Maeda joins the Dodgers and prepares for the 2016 MLB season. New episodes every Thursday on SportsNet LA. (Link Here)
• Boo!  Puig's helicopter dreams appear to be over.  Via a tweet from LA Times reporter Andy McCullough:

The Dodgers have told Yasiel Puig he can not, theoretically, fly a helicopter to Dodger Stadium. Federal law prohibits it, the FAA says.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) February 26, 2016

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "Baseball cracks down on hard slides such as the one by Dodgers' Chase Utley in playoffs vs. Mets."

“It’s kind of been all I’ve known for awhile so it’ll probably be a bit of an adjustment – not only for middle infielders but also the baserunners.” Utley said. “Probably umpires as well, trying to get on the same page, like with the home plate rule and the batter’s box rule. It kind of took a little time to get comfortable with it, but eventually we’ll get there.”

• Awesome!  Via Baseball History Comes Alive, they share a vintage 1903 photograph of the Negro League team the Cuban Giants playing a ballgame in the Catskills.
• This sounds fantastic.  Via Blowout Buzz, "California-based illustrator readies for ‘card show’ of his own in March."

So far, the Texas-born artist (Cuyler Smith) has produced limited-edition prints for Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot, George Constanza from Seinfeld and Jimmy Dugan from A League of Their Own. An Adam Banks from The Mighty Ducks is presently still available for $15 via the gallery that is hosting his upcoming “card show.” Only 100 copies of that one were made.

His show called “Trading Cards” will open with a reception on March 11 at 7 p.m. and run through March 26 at Gallery 1988 (East) in Los Angeles.

• Panini's 20165 Donruss Baseball card set comes out next week so they shared some preview pics on their blog yesterday.  Check them all out here.  Below are three different Seager cards and an Kershaw.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #2

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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(Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ROLL IT BACK: The Dodgers held their second full-squad workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Brandon Beachy and Alex Wood threw their first live bullpen sessions of the spring today on the minor league side. Tomorrow, live BP will be fully incorporated into the workout with a plethora of Dodger pitchers throwing to big league hitters on Fields 1, 2 and 3.
• Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias, Ian Thomas, Chris Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jamey Wright, Lisalverto Bonilla and Jose De Leon all threw regular bullpens.

  

  (Koufax and Kenta, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

ROSTER UPDATE: Today, the Dodgers released non-roster right-handed pitcher Brooks Brown.

DODGER ROYALTY: Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax stopped by Camelback Ranch today, greeting Dodger players and staff during a brief visit to camp. Koufax wasn’t the only Cy Young Award winner in camp today, joining Special Advisor Greg Maddux (four-time winner, 1992-95) and guest coach Eric Gagné (2003), who are both expected to be regulars in Glendale throughout the spring.

• 1956 Cy Young Award winner and Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe is expected in camp towards the end of March.
• In addition to Gagné, Shawn Green, Ron Cey and Eric Karros will spend time at Camelback Ranch as guest coaches this spring.

THE WORLDWIDE LEADERS: The Dodgers were featured throughout the day today on ESPN’s SportsCenter with Tim Kurkjian, Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone anchoring coverage from Camelback Ranch. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez kicked off the coverage with a live hit on SportsCenter this morning, while Dave Roberts invited Kurkjian inside his office for a chat and Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Justin Turner taped features for the network. Clayton Kershaw was featured on SportsCenter last night.

(Agon doing SportsCenter, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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A Rookie Checklist of Kenta Maeda Cards

With Kenta Maeda's recent arrival to the Dodgers spring camp in Glendale I thought it would be fun to take a look at some Baseball cards from the eight-year veteran of the Japanese Central League.  As you know, he began his professional career in 2008, after being drafted the year prior by the Hiroshima Carp.  Since that time collectors have been awash in cardboard gold.

Featured below is a checklist of his rookie cards from 2007 - the year he was drafted.  I have also included American issued cards of the Japanese ace.  Before doing so, though, I want to do a shout out to Japanese Baseball Cards, Beckett and the Trading Card DB for their previous work on this matter.

Kenta Maeda Rookie Cards

This is Maeda's very first professional Baseball card, and as you can see it features him celebrating having been drafted by the Carp.  A "Gold Signature" autographed card exist and is numbered to only 200 copies.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find a pic of one.

2007 BBM Rookie Edition #76

Blog Kiosk: 2/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Helicopters and Vin Scully Avenue

Rise and shine, Dodger Fans!

It's Friday!

Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• WTF!  Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Why “Vin Scully Avenue” might not be official in time for the Dodgers’ home opener."

The spokesperson for Cedillo’s office, Arturo Chavez, said in an e-mail that the process is moving on schedule. He described the first week of April as a “best case scenario.” Realistically, however, the name change will take place “most likely the first week of May.” The Dodgers’ home opener is April 12 against the San Francisco Giants.

Chavez added that the BOE has received “mixed pro and con” responses so far from residents. We’ll find out what the exact objections are soon enough, once the BOE prepares its report.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "MLB rule revisions tweak slides, neighborhood play."  The changes seem reasonable enough.  Of course, the devil is going to be in its use going forward. 
• Video: Alanna Rizzo catches up with Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who became part of the Dodgers front office this season as an adviser. (Link Here)
• Video: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw discusses his performance in last year’s postseason, this year’s changes in the rotation and more. (Link Here)
• So what's the deal with Dodger players and helicopters?  If you'll recall, a couple of years ago Zack Greinke considered getting a helicopter to get to games (link here), and now Puig is on the verge of getting one (link here).  Via TMZ, "Yasiel Puig: Yes, He's Buying A Helicopter ... Says Car Customizing Guru."
• Uh-Oh!  Yasiel Puig missed the teams first full-squad workout.  No worries, though.  He had oral surgery to have his wisdom teeth removed, so he's expected to return on Friday (today), via an AP report at Yahoo Sports.
• Via Michael Rothstein at ESPN, "Clayton Kershaw says Lions QB Matthew Stafford has a better arm than him."

“I think Matthew’s probably got the better arm,” Kershaw said on SportsCenter. “Put it this way, he can definitely throw a baseball better than I can throw a football. I’ll probably give him the edge.”

• This is definitely off-topic, but well worth your time.  Check out some vintage photographs of Native Americans from 1904 to 1924 via Alex Q. Arbuckle at Mashable,
• If you are heading to Arizona then you should check this out.  Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "D-Backs Owner Ken Kendrick’s Collection on Exhibit."

Phoenix Art Museum will showcase 41 cards, including some of the rarest and most important cards ever made beginning March 9 through April 24.

Kendrick, a loBabe Ruth 1916 Sporting News 101-5 rookie card PSA 8ngtime collector, is managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and owns one of the hobby’s most valuable collections of important baseball cards.

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