Day 24 Spring Training Report

Here is todays lineup at Surprise: Furcal SS, Paul RF, Uribe 3B, Kemp CF, Thames LF, Navarro C, Gimenez 1B, Kapler DH, Carroll 2B, Lilly P

Here is the lineup at Scottsdale: Gwynn DH, Blake 3B, Ethier RF, Loney 1B, Gibbons LF, Robinson CF, Barajas C, Castro 2B, Sellers SS, Redding P

Below are Day 24 Spring Training Notes from the Dodgers.

• LET’S PLAY TWO: The Dodgers open a busy weekend stretch with four games in four cities over two days. Today, split squads will depart to face the Giants in Scottsdale and to take on the Royals in Surprise. Following the game, most of the Surprise team will depart for this evening’s flight to Las Vegas, while the remainder of the Dodgers will play the White Sox tomorrow at Camelback Ranch.

• FLASHBACK: Yesterday, the Dodgers lost 9-2 at Oakland for their third consecutive defeat. Aaron Miles put the Dodgers on the board with his second Spring Training home run, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Miles, who spent the 2010 campaign with the Cardinals, is batting .364 with a .773 slugging percentage in 10 spring games. The Dodgers’ second run came courtesy of Matt Kemp’s sixth-inning blast as the center fielder went 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .375 in 10 spring contests.

• A GIANT ARMS RACE: Tim Redding will take a 0.00 ERA into his third start and fourth appearance of the spring season. The right-hander will be facing the Giants for the second time after holding the World Champions scoreless over 2.0 innings in a March 26 start at Scottsdale. Redding will be followed by RHP Jon Huber, RHP Roman Colon and RHP Travis Schlichting. The Giants will counter with LHP Dan Runzler. RHP Sean O’Sullivan will get the start for Kansas City. The Scottsdale squad will be managed by the Dodgers’ Triple-A Manager Lorenzo Bundy.

(Pic Link: TwitPic Tommy Lasorda)

• MOUND ROYALTY: Over in Surprise, Ted Lilly will make his second Spring Training start against the Royals after allowing one run on three hits over 3.1 innings on Monday against the Rockies. The left-hander re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this past offseason and over the last four seasons, he ranks fifth in the National League with 54 wins and is fourth on the circuit with a .234 opponents’ batting average. LHP Ron Mahay, RHP Ramon Troncoso and RHP Oscar Villarreal will follow Lilly this afternoon.

• THE DUKE: Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider will be laid to rest today at a private memorial service after he passed away on Feb. 27 at the age of 84. Numerous former Dodger players are expected to be in attendance along with Dodger Owner & Chairman Frank McCourt, GM Ned Colletti and Hall of Fame Broadcaster Vin Scully.

(Pic Link: HitPix Dodgers)

• A LEGEND: The Dodgers would like to welcome Special Advisor to the Chairman Dr. Frank Jobe to Spring Training. Jobe enters his fourth season in his current role and his 47^th season in the Dodger organization. Jobe changed the game of baseball forever when he performed an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on Tommy John in 1974, extending the pitcher’s career another 14 seasons. Since then, Jobe has performed over 1,000 “Tommy John” surgeries on pitchers of every level, helping to prolong numerous careers.

• BRING A PEN: Tomorrow is autograph day at Camelback Ranch – Glendale with players from the Dodgers and White Sox signing at the ballpark from 11:15-11:30 for CR-G season ticket holders and from 11:30-noon for the general public.

• WHAT HAPPENS HERE, STAYS HERE: The Dodgers have announced a renewed partnership with The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) just in time for tomorrow’s 1:05 p.m. showdown with the Cubs at Cashman Field. Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa will get the start against the Cubbies with projected Opening Day starters Rod Barajas, Rafael Furcal, Jay Gibbons, Matt Kemp and James Loney expected to make the trip. Sunday marks the Dodgers’ second straight season playing a Spring Training game in Las Vegas and sixth overall appearance (2001-03, 2006, 2010) in the city. The Las Vegas 51s were the farm club of the Dodgers for eight seasons from 2001-08. Sunday’s game will be called by Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully as part of a triple-header featuring the Dodgertown Classic on PRIME TICKET and the regular Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch.

(PicLink: Plixi Marty Caswell)

(Tony Gwynn Jr.)

• A CASE OF THE MONDAYS: The Dodgers would like to welcome Rick Monday to Camelback Ranch as he opens his 18^th season as a Dodger broadcaster and 25^th season overall with the organization, including eight as a player. Monday will join Charley Steiner behind the mic for the call of today’s Giants game from Scottsdale on KABC 790. Both of today’s Cactus League contests can be heard back in Los Angeles with the Royals game heard on new Spanish-language broadcaster partner KTNQ 1020.

• GONE CAMPING: Registration for the 2011 Dodgers Youth Baseball Camp presented by Kaiser Permanente is now live at www.dodgers.com/camp. The camp, which is open to boys and girls ages 7-12, will feature daily instruction by members of the Major League coaching staff with special guest appearances by current and former Dodger players. Two separate four-day sessions will be offered (July 5-8 and July 25, 26, 27 and 29) with all proceeds benefitting the Dodgers Dream Foundation.
  

Blog Kiosk: 3/12/2011

• Winner! DodgerBobble, that is. He won an incredible contest from All About Cards that included 8 unopened boxes of cards. I am so envious. He shows some the cards and records a couple of box breaks.
  
• The Los Angeles Dodgers have scheduled a Lakers Tribute with a Purple & Gold LA Cap giveaway on April 14 vs. St. Louis prior to the 7:10 p.m. game. The tribute is scheduled to coincide with the start of the NBA playoffs, as the Lakers’ regular season will end on April 13. See the hat below.
• Wow. This is awesome. (Via Rob Neyer)

  Back to Baseball is dedicated towards providing graphical play by play for major league baseball games, including all World Series, All Star, and playoff games, as well as most regular season games dating back to 1950.

• I gotta admit, this is pretty cool. From Panini's 2011 Americana.
• Zach Hample tells us about the invisible ink on Baseballs.
• This is the coolest thing ever. The New York Times created a "rock-paper-scissors" bot to play with. You gotta check it out.
  
• Holy Moly! Check out this incredibly detailed photo of the sun by Alan Friedman. From Discover Magazine. A bigger version of the pic is here.
• The Appalachian Trail in under 5 minutes

Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.

eBay: Frank Robinson as a Dodger

It's east to forget that Frank Robinson was a Dodger once. For photographic proof check out a couple of press photos on ebay that originally came from the archives of The Sporting News, above and below. He only played one season with the Blue Crew in 1972, during the late stage of his career. He batted just .251, hit 19 home runs and had 59 RBI's.

(eBay Auction Link)

Day 23 Spring Training Report

My thoughts and prayers go out to Takashi Saito, Hiroki Kuroda and other ballplayers as they seek out family and friends in Japan.Here is this afternoons Dodger lineup against the A's: Gwynn LF; Gibbons RF; Ethier DH; Kemp CF; Gimenez 1st; Miles 2nd; DeJesus SS; Ellis C; Sellers 3rd; Billingsley SP.

Below are Day 23 Spr4ing Training notes from the Dodgers:

• A 3-2 BACKDOOR SLIDER: The Dodgers begin a tough weekend stretch with five games in five cities over three days with this afternoon’s contest against the Athletics. Over the three-day weekend, the club will send squads to Phoenix, Surprise, Scottsdale, Glendale and Las Vegas.

• ROSTER ROUNDUP: Today, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Luis Vasquez to minor league camp, reducing the number of players in big league camp to 57 (27 pitchers, 30 position players).

• FLASHBACK: Yesterday, the Dodgers dropped an 8-2 decision to the Padres at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Clayton Kershaw continued to sparkle, allowing an unearned run on four hits over 4.1 innings in his third Spring Training start. Juan Uribe stroked an RBI double in the first inning and Marcus Thames doubled and scored in the second inning to account for the Los Angeles scoring.

• BILLS ON THE HILL: Chad Billingsley takes the mound for his third Spring Training start today. The right-hander has posted a 1.35 ERA (1 ER/6.2 IP) and a .231 opponents’ batting average (6-for-26) with only one walk in 6.2 innings this spring. Billingsley will be followed by the stingy bullpen trio of RHP Blake Hawksworth, RHP Kenley Jansen and RHP Javy Guerra, who have combined to allow just one run in 8.2 innings this spring (1.04 ERA). The Athletics will counter with left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

(Pic Link: Plixi Justin Tetley)

(Broxton looking for the strikeout!)

• START ME UP: Through 14 Cactus League games, Dodger starters have posted a miniscule 0.92 ERA (4 ER/39.0 IP). The Dodgers’ projected front four starters of Clayton Kershaw (0.00 ERA, 11.1 IP), Chad Billingsley (1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP), Ted Lilly (2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP) and Hiroki Kuroda (4.15 ERA, 4.1 IP) have posted solid springs with Kershaw tying for the Cactus League ERA lead. In three appearances (two starts), John Ely has tossed 6.0 scoreless frames and held the opposition to a .095 batting average (2-for-21) with seven punchouts. Non-roster hopeful Tim Redding has made the most of his spring opportunities and has yet to allow a run in 8.0 innings over three games (two starts) this spring.

• WHAT HAPPENS HERE, STAYS HERE: The Dodgers announced a renewed partnership with The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) just in time for Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. showdown with the Cubs at Cashman Field. Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa will get the start against the Cubbies with projected Opening Day starters Rod Barajas, Rafael Furcal, Jay Gibbons, Matt Kemp and James Loney expected to make the trip. Sunday marks the Dodgers’ second straight season playing a Spring Training game in Las Vegas and sixth overall appearance (2001-03, 2006, 2010) in the city. The Las Vegas 51s were the farm club of the Dodgers for eight seasons from 2001-08. Sunday’s game will be called by Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully as part of a triple-header featuring the Dodgertown Classic on PRIME TICKET and the regular Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch.

(Pic Link: TwitPic ChitownStu)

• THE NEWEST DODGER: Congratulations to Juan Castro and his wife Yadira on the birth of their second child last night. The sure-handed infielder has been given the day off and is expected back at Camelback Ranch tomorrow.

• GONE CAMPING: Registration for the 2011 Dodgers Youth Baseball Camp presented by Kaiser Permanente is now live at www.dodgers.com/camp. The camp, which is open to boys and girls ages 7-12, will feature daily instruction by members of the Major League coaching staff with special guest appearances by current and former Dodger players. Two separate four-day sessions will be offered (July 5-8 and July 25, 26, 27 and 29) with all proceeds benefitting the Dodgers Dream Foundation.
  

eBay: Pee Wee Reese Lanes

I so wish I ran into this auction before it closed. To me, this is a great example of the kind of memorabilia I love to chase after. It's oddball and has got to be limited in number. After all, how many of these could have possibly survived the decades. To top that off, it's affordable. This particular item sold for only $10.82 on eBay.

What we see here is a vintage key fob from Pee Wee Reese Lanes in Louisville, Kentucky. On one of the sides is a notation about the 200 Club. Likely, this was a prize if you were to score that high. I've seen many other items from Pee Wee's old business before, but this is the first time I've seen this. There are glass cups celebrating the 230 Club at Pee Wee Reese Lanes, as well as, menus, matchbooks, playing cards and pens.

(eBay Auction Link)

Day 22 Spring Training Report

Here is this afternoon's lineup for the Dodgers against the Padres: Furcal SS; Blake 3rd; Ethier RF; Uribe 2nd; Loney 1st; Thames LF; Navarro C; Barajas DH; Robinson CF.

Yesterday's best tweet came from Bill Shaikin of the LA Times.

Below are Day 22 Spring Training notes from the Dodgers.

• THE FRIARS: The Dodgers and Padres will square off this afternoon for the first of two Cactus League matchups with Los Angeles making a return trip to Peoria on March 26. San Diego narrowly won the 2010 season series, edging the Dodgers with 10 wins in 18 matchups, and will host Los Angeles on April 8 at PETCO Park for the first of their 18 regular season contests. San Diego left-hander Wade LeBlanc will get the start today and has gone just 1-4 with a 5.06 ERA in six career starts against Los Angeles.

• KERSH-AWESOME: Clayton Kershaw takes a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA into his third Spring Training start today against the Padres. The left-hander has allowed only one unearned run and has limited opposing hitters to a .136 batting average (3-for-22) with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings this spring. Kershaw will look continue his success against the Friars from 2010, when he went 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA (4 ER/21.1 IP) and limited San Diego hitters to a .205 batting average in three starts. Following Kershaw to the hill today will be RHP Jonathan Broxton, RHP Matt Guerrier, RHP Mike MacDougal, RHP Carlos Monasterios and LHP Scott Elbert.

• HOT ROD: Rod Bajaras blasted his second Spring Training home run yesterday and went 2-for-2 on the day to raise his Cactus League batting average to .400 (6-for-15). The Ontario, CA native and lifelong Dodger fan hit .297 with five home runs in just 64 at-bats after he was claimed off waivers from the Mets on Aug. 22, 2010.
  

(Pic Link: TwitPic Tommy Lasorda)

(Pitching is an art & the art of pitching is control. That's what I'm teaching these young Dodgers)

• TRON: LEGACY: Ramon Troncoso fired 1.1 scoreless innings of relief yesterday and has not allowed a run in 4.2 innings over four appearances this spring. The right-hander has limited opponents to a .188 batting average (3-for-16) with four strikeouts this spring after an up-and-down 2010. In other bullpen news, All-Star left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo made his spring debut yesterday, allowing a solo home run to Seattle’s Jack Wilson in 1.0 inning of relief.

• START ME UP: Through 13 Cactus League games, Dodger starters have posted a miniscule 1.04 ERA (4 ER/34.2 IP). The Dodgers’ established four starters of Clayton Kershaw (0.00 ERA, 7.0 IP), Chad Billingsley (1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP), Ted Lilly (2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP) and Hiroki Kuroda (4.15 ERA, 4.1 IP) have posted solid springs. John Ely has also made the most of his three appearances (two starts), tossing 6.0 scoreless frames and holding the opposition to a .095 batting average (2-for-21) with seven punchouts. Non-roster hopeful Tim Redding has made the most of his spring opportunities and has yet to allow a run in 8.0 innings over three games (two starts) this spring.

• A THORN IN MY SIDE: Dodger right-hander Jon Garland was removed from yesterday’s game after 1.2 innings with what was diagnosed to be a left oblique strain. Garland had an MRI yesterday afternoon and will be shut down for the next 4-5 days. In other injury news, James Loney returned to action yesterday after missing four games due to a non-painful swollen knee. Loney played four innings in the field yesterday and is back in the starting lineup today.
• TANJOUBI OMEDETOU: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to the club’s Executive Director, Asian Operations Acey Kohrogi, who is entering his 17^th season with the organization. Today is also Ticketing Manager Aaron Dubner’s special day.

(Pic Link: Plixi LosAngelesDodgers)

(A mariachi band provided by Andre Ethier and Juan Castro entertains during batting practice yesterday)

• RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: The Los Angeles Marathon is just 10 days away and yesterday fundraising became a little bit more fun. ThinkCure! has launched the “Sprint Challenge” in which the first eight runners in either the Marathon or the LA5K to raise $1,000 on their fundraising page will have the opportunity to take the field with the Dodgers on Saturday, June 25 vs. the Angels. To set up your personal fundraising page, go to crowdrise.com or thinkcure.org and get ready to take the field with the Boys in Blue.

• PRIMETIME: This afternoon’s game will be broadcast live on PRIME TICKET by the hosts of KABC’s “Dodgertalk,” Joe Block and Josh Suchon. This season will be Block’s first with KABC and Suchon is entering his fourth year as the co-host of “Dodgertalk.” Following the game, you can call the dynamic duo at 1-800-222-KABC to talk all things Dodgers. The show will air tonight from 6:30-7 p.m. PT.