Day 8 Spring Training Report

Here are some notes from the Dodgers on Day 8 of Spring Training. I haven't said this yet, but I would like to extend a big thanks to the folks in the PR department for passing along this information and to whoever it is that has been providing daily photos from Camelback on their twitter feed.

• LIKE A FINE TUNED ENGINE: Camp was humming right along today during the third full squad session of 2011. It was another day of bullpens, “live” batting practice, cage work and individual and team defensive drills as the roster eagerly awaits the first games on Saturday afternoon.

• ARM ACTION: This morning, Dodger pitchers Hong-Chih Kuo, Jon Link, Oscar Villarreal, Roman Colon, Scott Elbert, Jon Huber and Luis Vasquez threw bullpens while hurlers Jonathan Broxton, Ron Mahay, Jon Garland, Matt Guerrier, Chad Billingsley and Travis Schlichting faced hitters and threw live batting practice. Right-hander Vicente Padilla has surgery this morning in Los Angeles and will report back to the team for the beginning of his rehab tomorrow. Padilla could begin tossing a ball in three to four weeks if all goes well.
  

(Pic Link: HitPix Dodgers)

• HEAD EAST YOUNG MEN: On Saturday, two squads of Los Angeles Dodgers will head east on the I-10, with one team playing the Giants in Scottsdale and the other taking on the Angels in Tempe. In Scottsdale, Dodger right-handed hurler Tim Redding will get the start and is scheduled to be followed by RHP Carlos Monasterios, RHP Oscar Villarreal, RHP Jon Huber and LHP Wilkin De La Rosa. Over in Tempe, RHP Hiroki Kuroda will make his first start of the Spring and is scheduled to be followed by RHP Rubby De La Rosa, LHP Scott Elbert, RHP Lance Cormier, RHP Roman Colon and RHP Luis Vasquez.
  
• THE BIG BOARD: This morning, Baseball America released its 22^nd annual Top 100 Prospects list and three Dodger minor leaguers were included in the rankings. Dee Gordon checked in at No. 26 overall while Zach Lee (No. 89) and Rubby De La Rosa (No. 90) appeared back-to-back. Gordon and De La Rosa are both non-roster players this spring, participating in their first big league camp. Lee was the Dodgers first-round pick (28^th overall) in the 2010 Draft.

(Pic Link: HitPix Dodgers)

(Loney & Tony smile for the twittercam)

• SIGN HERE PLEASE: Today was autograph signing day for the players and coaches at Camelback Ranch. Nearly 300 jerseys, more than 250 photos and almost 2,000 baseballs were signed and will be distributed over the course of the season to various fans, clients, sponsors, community groups and charitable endeavors.

• PLAY IT AGAIN NANCY: The Dodgers would like to wish Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley a very happy birthday. Hefley began tickling the keys in 1988 and has a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs.

(Pic Link: HitPix Dodgers)

• OUR SIR CHARLES: The Dodgers would like to welcome radio broadcaster Charley Steiner to Camelback Ranch. Steiner arrived this afternoon and will kick off his seventh season with the organization on KABC 790 this Saturday against the Angels at 1:05 p.m.
  

(Pic Link: HitPix Dodgers)

• LET ‘EM SEE YA SMILE: Tomorrow is the annual Spring Training photo day in which a bevy of entities snap pictures of the 2011 Dodgers from 7-9 a.m. at Camelback Ranch. Among those on site tomorrow are the Associated Press, Getty Images, MLB Photos, Baseball Magazine Sha, Dodger broadcast partner KCAL 9, Topps and MLB.com.