Thursday, March 08, 2012

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 16

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

OAKLAND A’S (4-2-1) vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (1-1-1)

Thursday, March 8, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Jarrod Parker vs. LHP Chris Capuano

Spring Game 4/Home Game 2

Todays Starting Lineup:
Dodgers: Gordon SS, Mark Ellis 2B, Kemp CF, Ethier RF, Rivera LF, Loney 1B, Uribe 3B, Federowicz C, Kennedy DH
A's: Weeks 2B, Pennington SS, Smith LF, Carter 1B, Gomes DH, Donaldson 3B, Cowgill RF, Choice CF, Recker C
Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:
(On the bus with the Dodgers, via twitter Jon SooHoo @Dodgers)
  • YOU’RE GOING TO HOLLYWOOD: This morning was the annual “Dodger Idol” competition at camp during which the players in their first Major League camp perform a musical number for the amusement of their teammates and staff. The details are under lock and key, but the participants were Nathan Eovaldi, Stephen Fife, Josh Wall, Chris Withrow, Alex Castellanos, Matt Wallach, Gorman Erickson, Will Savage and the winner, Scott Rice. Rice was the lone entertainer to perform an original music composition.
  • YOU AGAIN?: The Dodgers will take on the Oakland Athletics for the second straight day this afternoon after the two clubs tied 3-3 yesterday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The two clubs will also meet for a three-game Interleague series from June 19-21 at Oakland. The A’s have won 13 of 22 all-time regular season contests between the franchises with the California neighbors splitting their two World Series matchups in 1974 and 1988.

(The view from the press box at Phoenix Stadium, via twitter @TheReal_DV)

  • INSPIRATION: The Dodgers would like to welcome Cory Hahn and his father, Dale, to Camelback Ranch today. Hahn is a former Santa Ana Mater Dei High School star baseball player and won the 2010 Orange County player of the year award, before being drafted by the Padres in the 26th round of the 2010 draft. Hahn chose instead to attend Arizona State University, where in his third collegiate game he was paralyzed from the chest down after sliding headfirst into the second baseman’s knee on a stolen base attempt. Hahn was a guest of Dodger right fielder Andre Ethier and spoke to the entire team this morning

  • SETTLING NOTHING: The Dodgers and A’s played to a 3-3 tie yesterday in Aaron Harang’s spring debut. Harang allowed two runs over 2.0 innings, but Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, Alberto Castillo and Will Savage all fired scoreless innings and the club came back to even things up. At the plate, the Dodgers managed just four hits with three of them coming off the bat of left fielder Cory Sullivan, who went 3-for-4 with a double.

(James Loney signing for Dodger fans during a Spring Training road game, via twitter Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

  • THE L.A. CC: Dodger left-hander Chris Capuano will make his official 2012 Cactus League debut this afternoon against Oakland. Capuano pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in an intrasquad game last Sunday on the minor league side. The Massachusetts native has limited left-handers to a .229 average over his nine-year Major League career, and won 11 games while working 186.0 innings last season for the New York Mets. Following Capuano to the mound will be RHP Stephen Fife, RHP Todd Coffey, RHP Matt Guerrier, RHP Mike MacDougal and LHP John Grabow. The Athletics will counter with RHP Jarrod Parker.

  • THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!: Yesterday, Major League Baseball launched its fourth annual Honorary Bat Girl contest. Fans are encouraged to visit HonoraryBatGirl.com to submit stories online about how they, or someone they know, are “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” in their daily life and why they would like to be an "Honorary Bat Girl" for their favorite MLB Club this Mother’s Day. Nominations and voting end on April 5, so log on today and make someone’s dream come true.

  • LEETCHY LEFTY: The Dodger roster will have two additions today and one is left-hander Brent Leach, who will wear No. 96 and suit up for the squad. Leach pitched in Japan last season, but made his big league debut for the Dodgers in 2009. The Mississippi native appeared in 38 games that year, going 2-0 with a 5.75 ERA for Joe Torre’s club. The other addition is RHP Javier Solano, who will wear No. 91.

Blog Kiosk: 3/8/2012

Here is a preview image of Matt Kemp's card from the upcoming 2012 Topps Finest set expected in stores on August 8th, via Cardboard Connection. Also, it was announced the other day that Topps signed an exclusive marketing deal with Japanese sensation Yu Darvish.
  • Scott Andes at Lasorda's Lair breaks out his Ten Blue Commandments of the Dodgers Lineup.
  • Beckett released more preview pics of 2012 Topps Heritage cards; including a Kemp and Koufax card. There was one card they have that is just too awesome not to put up here. Check it out below and see Beckett's post with those other pics here.
  • Jim Caple at ESPN ranks the best looking Baseball uniforms and list the Dodgers as #1. (Hat Tip: Save the Dodgers)
  • Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times reports that Andre Ethier's knee doing just fine. poised for a big year?
    "There's a squareness to him right now," Manager Don Mattingly said, explaining that Ethier's improved balance has translated into a more compact stroke.
  • Ever since I was a kid I've had this at the back of my mind. Upper Deck is running a series called "How to Open a Trading Card Shop." Check out Part 1, here.
  • The Albuquerque Isotopes just released their promotion schedule for 2012 and it includes a Dodger Stadium Replica and a Green Chile Pepper Bobblehead. Cool! See the schedule here.
  • Bob Lemke asks a very good question. Whatever happened to the autographed baseballs given to the King Faisal of Iraq in 1952 by Jackie Robinson?
    Did they survive the July 14, 1958, coup d'etat in which a faction of the Iraqi army lined up the king, members of his family and servants in a palace courtyard and machine-gunned them? Did they survive the Saddam Hussein rule?

    Or perhaps the balls returned to the U.S. in the dufflebag of an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who "found" them in the palace, museum or archives in Baghdad?
  • I don't care much about jewelry, but found myself fascinated by a recent warehouse visit that held thousands of costume jewels made by Joseff of Hollywood and worn in some of Hollywood's greatest films from the Golden Era, via Collectors Weekly.
  • Fresh Guacamole. Watch it. Really! Just watch it.


Video Link:

Weekend Autograph Opportunities:

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.

This weekend I am not aware of any Baseball related events. Oh, well. I guess that's not too surprising since Spring Training has just gotten started. Fortunately, there are a couple of signings taking place at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry on Saturday to occupy your time.

First, Lakers great and Basketball Hall of Famer James Worthy will be there from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. See the flyer below for details. Here is a weblink, as well.

Also, coming out on Saturday is Oregon Duck running back and future NFL draft pick LaMichael James. He will be there from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Information can be found here. Event flyer is below.
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BTW, I do know of a couple Baseball player signings in Arizona for any Dodger fans who happen to be out there right now. Tonight, Thursday, March 8, Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers will be signing at the Oakley Store in Glendale, Arizona. Then on Friday, March 9, evening SF Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval will signing in Tempe, Arizona. 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.
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


Link here.

UPDATE:
Well... It appears that I was wrong. LA Inspiration points to a Baseball signing event featuring a Baseball player this coming Saturday. Former Angels ace Chuck Finley will be signing for the first 300 fans in Irvine. Details below:

Saturday, March 10th
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Living Spaces Irvine
101 Technology Dr.
Irvine, CA
(949) 453-6700