Saturday, February 20, 2016

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #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.

--------------------------
(Clayton Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

HERE WE GO AGAIN: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their first official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.
  • Josh Ravin missed today’s workout due to flu-like symptoms.
(Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Dave Roberts addressed the club’s pitchers, catchers and staff this morning as he opened his first season as Dodger manager. Roberts is the 10th manager in Dodger history and the 28th in franchise history after serving as the bench coach for the Padres the last two seasons. Roberts, who is of African-American and Japanese descent, becomes the Dodgers’ first-ever minority manager and the fourth L.A. Dodger manager to also play for the franchise, joining Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell and Glenn Hoffman.

ON THE MOUND: Among the first Dodgers to throw a bullpen today was newly-signed right-handed reliever Louis Coleman. Coleman, 29, spent the majority of the 2015 season with the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha, going 8-2 with nine saves and a 1.69 ERA in 38 games, before receiving a call-up to Kansas City on Sept. 7 and making four scoreless appearances (3.0 IP) in the big leagues. Coleman made his Major League debut in 2011 with the Royals and appeared in 152 games with Kansas City from 2011-15, going 6-4 with two saves and a 3.20 ERA. He’s limited opposing hitters to a .223 batting average in the big leagues, while averaging better than a strikeout per inning, with 186 Ks in 177.1 innings pitched.
(Coleman and Anderson, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

  • Joining Coleman in throwing their first official bullpens of the spring today were Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Joe Blanton, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan, Yimi Garcia, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Matt West, Zach Lee and Chase De Jong.

KING OF THE VALLEY: Congratulations to Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier on having his Arizona State No. 14 jersey retired and joining the Wall of Honor last night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Ethier and his former teammate, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, were both honored prior to ASU Baseball’s home-opener against Xavier. In two years at ASU, Ethier posted a .371 batting average with 14 home runs and 118 RBI and was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection.
(Andre Ethier, pic pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

HITTING FOR THE “OURCYCLE”: Earlier today, the Dodgers’ community relations team played host to “OurCycle LA” at Dodger Stadium. The one-day event, part of the program launched by Mayor Eric Garcetti, provided 200 first-time Internet subscribers the opportunity to participate in computer literacy training and a free refurbished computer.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 2/20/2016 - Dodgers Links - Emirates, SportsNet LA and Andre Ethier


Fast Friends!

Both Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenta Maeda reported to Camelback Ranch for "Catchers and Pitchers Day" in Glendale.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016 on @Dodgers twitterGo here to check out more photos taken by Jon from the day.

BTW, Ryu's rehab appears to be on track.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA:
"It was coming out easy. The effort was low intensity. I asked how he felt today and he was pretty optimistic," (Dave) Roberts said. "Just a normal soreness kind of thing but pain free.

"We don’t want to put a timeline on anything. We just want him to continue to progress and pass the markers which he is doing."
Below are more links to check out:
  • Eric Stephen at True Blue LA puts together a great report on the recently released Spring televised game schedule for the Dodgers, and concludes that things are greatly reduced.
SportsNet LA covered nearly every spring game in their first two years televising Dodgers games, missing out only on the occasional split squad games. But this year, only 13 will be televised by the network, including one game every Saturday and Sunday during the Cactus League schedule.
BTW, below is the schedule of televised Spring games, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:
  • For Opening Day against the Padres in San Diego on April 4th the Dodgers will face starter Tyson Ross, via Bernie Wilson (AP) on Yahoo Sports.  James Shields and Andrew Cashner will follow.
''Tyson is ready and eager to take that ball on Day One, and we're excited to have him as our ace,'' new manager Andy Green said Friday. ''It's definitely an affirmation of who Tyson is and a belief in him and where he's headed. I think it's just the right choice as an organization.''
  • The Dodgers join such illustrious sports clubs and organizations like Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Rugby World Cup, US Open (tennis), Rogers Cup, and the Formula One Group to be sponsored by Emirates airlines.  Via Jon Wesiman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers’ global profile underscored by new deal with Emirates."
“Over the last year, we have become the most heavily attended sports venue in the world,” Kasten said. “But another important part of our history is the outreach we have had globally and internationally, and at a time when globalization is such an important thing for baseball.”

Dodger owner Peter Guber tied a nice bow around the new, multiyear partnership.

“The Dodgers provide emotional transportation for (their) fans, and of course Emirates provides physical transportation,” Guber said.
Included in the arrangement for Emirates will be sponsorship behind home plate and on the Dodger Stadium foul poles. In addition, Emirates will also appear on the stadium scoreboard to commemorate every Dodger home run.

  • The Arizona Sun Devils Opening Day was last night.  As a part of the festivities they retired the number of alumnus Andre Ethier, #14.  They also gave out the below poster to fans in attendance, via @ASU_Baseball on twitter.  BTW, they also retired the number of Dustin Pedroia, #2.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *