Dodgers Blue Heaven

Monday, March 14, 2011

Day 26 Spring Training Report

Here is todays Dodger lineup lineup in Surprise: Velez 2B, Carroll SS, Paul LF, Thames DH, Sands RF, Gimenez 1B, Kapler CF, Ellis C, Sellers 3B, Ely P.

Below are Day 26 Spring Training notes from the Dodgers.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: The Dodgers make their second and final trip to Surprise this afternoon, this time to play the American League champion Texas Rangers. The Dodgers and Rangers will also hook up for the final time this spring tomorrow at Camelback Ranch. Previously, Los Angeles lost at Surprise Stadium to the Royals on Saturday. The Rangers and Dodgers played a three-game regular season series in Texas in 2009, but the Rangers have not visited Dodger Stadium since 2001.
SPEAKING OF 2001...: When the Dodgers and Rangers last met in 2001 at Dodger Stadium, the starting center fielder for Texas was 25-year-old Hollywood native Gabe Kapler. Kapler, now a 35-year-old elder statesman, is in his first camp with the Dodgers, which are his seventh big league organization, following stints with the Tigers (1998-99), Rangers (2000-02), Rockies (2002-03), Red Sox (2003-06), Brewers (2008) and Rays (2009-10). The 12-year veteran is batting seventh and playing center field this afternoon at Surprise Stadium.

(PicLink: Yfrog Dodgers)

A HELPING HAND: NBC LA is sponsoring a “drive-through” relief drive at Dodger Stadium tomorrow to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Members of the NBC LA news team and the Dodger Alumni Association will be taking donations from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Dodger Stadium Parking Lot 1. Cash donations will be accepted along with checks made out the American Red Cross with “Japan Tsunami Fund” in the memo line.
MOVING ON OVER: The Dodgers optioned RHP Carlos Monasterios and reassigned LHP Wilkin De La Rosa to minor league camp. Both pitchers each threw 2.0 innings yesterday in Las Vegas against the Cubs. There are now 54 players in camp (24 pitchers, 30 position players).
MEDICAL MINUTE: Dodger third baseman Casey Blake will undergo an MRI this afternoon in Phoenix on his sore right side. Blake is listed as day-to-day and last played in Saturday’s contest in Scottsdale.

(PicLink: Yfrog MDGonzales)

DOUBLE DOSE: The Dodgers dropped two contests yesterday, one at Camelback Ranch to the White Sox and another at Cashman Field in Las Vegas against the Cubs. The club has now lost seven consecutive Cactus League contests. Despite the record, several Dodgers are among the Cactus League leaders, including Tony Gwynn Jr., whose six stolen bases rank second. Elsewhere, Marcus Thames’ four doubles are tied for third in the Cactus League. On the mound, today’s starting pitcher John Ely will be searching for his third Cactus League victory. To date, no pitcher has won more than two games.
THE BOOK OF ELY: Right-hander John Ely will make his third start and fourth appearance of the spring this afternoon. Ely is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, after throwing 6.0 scoreless innings. The Illinois native has yielded just two hits while fanning seven batters in his four outings. Last season, Ely made 18 starts for Los Angeles in his rookie campaign. Following Ely to the mound for the Dodgers will be RHP Blake Hawksworth, RHP Lance Cormier and RHP Kenley Jansen. Right-hander Neftali Feliz will make the start for the Rangers.

(PicLink: Plixi Los Angeles Dodgers)

(Clayton Kershaw signing at Autograph Day)

JJ FAD: Tomorrow afternoon, “Dodgertalk” hosts Joe Block and Josh Suchon will have the call of the Dodgers-Rangers game on PRIME TICKET. The pair will welcome fellow KABC personality Peter Tilden to Camelback Ranch on Thursday. Tilden will broadcast live at the ballpark from 3-6 p.m. and be joined by numerous Dodger guests throughout the afternoon.
MORE RADIO FUN: Tomorrow afternoon, the boys from Sirius-XM’s MLB Network Radio will be onsite when their 30 in 30 tour hits Camelback Ranch. Former Dodger minor league manager Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette will be live from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. with Dodger guests dropping in throughout the day. In addition to the radio guys, MLB Network’s Peter Gammons will be at Camelback Ranch to interview both Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw.

(PicLink: Plixi Los Angeles Dodgers)

(Ted Lilly signs at Autograph Day)

DON’T LOOK FOR THE NAME: The Dodgers called up three minor leaguers for today’s game in Surprise including infielder -outfielder Elian Herrera, who has logged 4.0 innings at second base and 4.0 at third this spring. Herrera will wear No. 87 while infielders Travis Denker and Jaime Pedroza will wear No.’s 92 and 89, respectively. Denker has yet to appear in a Cactus League game this spring, while Pedroza has played 7.0 innings at second base.

2011 Topps Triple Threads Sneak Peek

Topps has just released some early previews for their upcoming Triple Threads Baseball set that comes out in June. Go to Beckett for a full report. What I liked seeing are two Dodger rarities.

Who ever pull these cards out are lucky indeed. I love the Koufax below.

eBay: Old Ebbets Field Snapshots

(eBay Auction Link)

Here are a couple of great vintage fan snapshots from the field box seats at Ebbets Field, 1949. I think its great that the old Schaefer Beer sign is prominent in the outfield.

(eBay Auction Link)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Day 25 Spring Training Report

Todays lineup vs. Sox in AZ: Gwynn CF, Carroll 2B, Ethier DH, Thames LF, Navarro C, DeJesus SS, Kapler RF, Closser 1B, Baez 3B, Kuroda P.

Todays lineup vs. Cubs in Vegas: Furcal SS, Paul RF, Loney 1B, Kemp DH, Uribe 2B, Gibbons LF, Robinson CF, Barajas C, Miles 3B, De La Rosa P

Here are todays Spring Training Notes from the Dodgers:

THE BEST OF THE WINDY CITY: The Dodgers continue their busy weekend of split squads and take on both Chicago teams in Cactus League play this afternoon. Los Angeles will take on the White Sox at Camelback Ranch – Glendale and will battle the Cubs at Las Vegas’ Cashman Field. The team will go back to the traditional “one game per day” format for the next two days with a home-and-home series with the Rangers before an off-day on Wednesday.
A HELPING HAND: NBC LA is sponsoring a “drive-through” relief drive at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, March 15th to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Members of the NBC LA news team and the Dodger Alumni Association will be taking donations from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Dodger Stadium Parking Lot 1. Cash donations will be accepted along with checks made out the American Red Cross with “Japan Tsunami Fund” in the memo line.
SELECTION SUNDAY: The Dodgers reassigned right-hander Jon Huber to minor league camp yesterday, trimming the number of players in camp to 56 (26 pitchers, 30 position players).

(PicLink: Plixi LA Dodgers)

INJURY UPDATE: Casey Blake remains day-to-day after leaving yesterday’s game at San Francisco following his first plate appearance. After being examined by Dr. Watkins Jr. today, it was determined that the injury is more toward the back of his ribs, as opposed to his lower back.
FLASHBACK: Yesterday, Los Angeles dropped both of its contests, losing 8-7 at San Francisco and falling 19-7 at the hands of the Royals in Surprise. In Scottsdale, Tony Gwynn Jr. went 3-for-3 to raise his Spring Training batting average to .360 and his on-base percentage to .429. Gwynn remained perfect on the bases, swiping his sixth base of the spring, which ranks second in the Cactus League. Andre Ethier went 2-for-4 with a three-run triple in the seventh as the Dodgers took a lead into the ninth inning against the Giants. Matt Kemp (.370) remained hot yesterday as he combined with Juan Uribe for back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning against the Royals. Trent Oeltjen provided some late-inning power in Surprise with a three-run blast into the party deck during a 2-for-2 afternoon.
SOUTH SIDE: Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will make his third start of the spring against the White Sox. Kuroda struck out six and allowed three runs over 4.1 innings in a “B” game on Tuesday against the Mariners in his last outing. The 36-year-old leads all Japanese-born starters with a 3.60 career ERA in 83 games (82 starts) during his three years in the Majors. RHP Jonathan Broxton, RHP Matt Guerrier, RHP Mike MacDougal and LHP Scott Elbert are slated to pitch in relief this afternoon for Acting Manager Lorenzo Bundy. Left-hander John Danks will make the start for the White Sox.

(Pic Link: TwitPic jvervain)

(Mattingly being interviewed by MLB Network for 30 Clubs in 30 Days)

RUBBY SLIPPERS: In Las Vegas, the Dodgers’ reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year Rubby De La Rosa will make his first start of the spring season today against the Cubs in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old went a combined 7-2 with six saves last season, posting a 2.37 ERA and a .219 opponents’ batting average in 22 games (13 starts) with Double-A Chattanooga and Single-A Great Lakes. The right-hander last pitched on March 3 at Cincinnati, striking out three in 2.0 scoreless innings. De La Rosa will be followed by LHP Wilkin De La Rosa and RHP Carlos Monasterios. The Cubs will counter with RHP Carlos Zambrano.
IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will kick off his 62^nd season with the Dodgers with the call of today’s game against the Cubs in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast live as a part of a tripleheader on PRIME TICKET and will be followed by Josh Suchon and Joe Block’s tape-delayed call of the Dodgers vs. White Sox game from Camelback Ranch and Dodgertown Classic contest between USC and UCLA. Scully will also call next Saturday’s Cactus League contest against the Brewers from Camelback Ranch.

(Pic Link: TwitPic thetylervaughn)

(entry into the Dodgers spring training facility is sick )

HIGH NUMBERS: The Dodgers called up ten minor leaguers for today’s game including starting third baseman Pedro Baez (#94), who has been selected to consecutive XM All-Star Futures Games. Dodger fans can also get a sneak peak at 2010 third-rounder Leon Landry (#91), who is rated as the club’s 11^th-best prospect by Baseball America. The 21-year-old ranked among the Rookie-advanced Pioneer League leaders in batting average (.349, 5th), hits (87, T-7th), doubles (20, T-3rd) and slugging percentage (.510, T-6th) in 57 games with Ogden to earn an Honorable Mention selection on the league’s All-Star team.

(Pic Link: TwitPic Tommy Lasorda)

(Tommy and Jaime Jarrin)

2011 Topps Opening Day: Dodgers Base Cards

Topps second Baseball set of the year has just been released. It is called Opening Day. It's a small set (only 220 cards), uses the same design as the regular card set and has only 5 Dodgers in the base set. The Ethier and Kershaw use the exact same photo pose as the regular set released several weeks ago with the major difference being the "Opening Day" logo on the bottom left. See them below:

#112 Andre Ethier