Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 15

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

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (1-1) vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (4-2)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Phoenix Municipal Stadium

RHP Aaron Harang vs. RHP Tyson Ross

Spring Game 3/Road Game 2

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Hairston SS, Gwynn CF, Sands RF, Loney 1B, Mitchell 3B, Kennedy 2B, AJ Ellis C, De Jesus DH, Cory Sullivan LF
A's: Crisp CF, Sogard 3B, Suzuki C, Manny DH, Allen 1B, Pennington SS, Taylor RF, Moss LF, Timmons 2B

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Andre Ethier swinging at Camelback, via twitter Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• TAKING THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD: The Dodgers leave the friendly confines of Camelback Ranch – Glendale for the first time this spring as they travel to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to take on the Athletics. The two clubs will play again tomorrow in Glendale and 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.
• A DOWNER: The Dodgers suffered their first defeat of the spring season yesterday as the Giants jumped on Ted Lilly early and beat Los Angeles 8-4 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Andre Ethier continued his hot start with a solo home run off Barry Zito to lead off the second inning and has two extra-base hits through his first four Cactus League at-bats. Jerry Hairston Jr. made his Dodger debut yesterday with a hit and an RBI and Juan Uribe reached base in both of his plate appearances in his first spring contest.

(Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• AARON IT OUT: Aaron Harang makes his Dodger debut this afternoon and is coming off one of the best seasons of his 10-year big league career after leading the Padres with 14 wins and posting a career-low 3.64 ERA in 28 starts last season. Since 2004, Harang ranks among the National League leaders in wins (85, 7th), strikeouts (1,223, 3rd), innings pitched (1,467.2, 4th) and complete games (13, T-7^th). Harang will be followed to the hill today by RHP Chris Withrow, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Scott Elbert and RHP Javy Guerra.
• NON-ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: Outfielder Cory Sullivan makes his first start of the Cactus League campaign today in left field and joins the Dodgers after spending the 2011 season with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, PA. The 32-year-old has appeared at all three outfield positions over the course of his big league career, posting a .994 fielding percentage, and has not committed an error at any level since 2008. Sullivan has a .271 career batting average with 10 homers and 97 RBI in 476 games in five Major League seasons with Colorado (2005-08), New York-NL (2009) and Houston (2010).

(Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• HIGH NUMBERS: The Dodger roster will be augmented today with a pair of right-handers from minor league camp with Francisco Felix (#87) and Shawn Tolleson (#92) making the trip to Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Tolleson was the organization’s Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season, going a combined 7-2 with 25 saves and a 1.17 ERA in 57 relief appearances with Single-A Great Lakes, Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga. The 24-year-old averaged 13.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings across all levels in 2011 (105 SO/69.0 IP) and held opposing hitters to a .206 batting average.
• HE’S ATHLETIC: The one Dodger most familiar with the Athletics, Mark Ellis, is getting a scheduled off day after starting the club’s first two spring contests at second base. The 34-year-old played for the A’s from 2002-11 before a midseason trade to Colorado last year and is Oakland’s all-time leader in games played (1,021) and home runs (84) as a second baseman. Ellis also holds the second-best all-time fielding percentage as a second baseman (min. 750 games) with a .991 mark in 1,085 games at the position and has posted a fielding percentage of .990 or better in seven consecutive seasons.
• FATHER’S DAY: The Dodgers have seven players in big league camp whose fathers played in the Majors with three cracking the starting lineup today. Jerry Hairston Jr. will start at shortstop, Tony Gwynn Jr. in center field and Ivan De Jesus will serve as the designated hitter. Also making the trip to Phoenix and hoping to see action this afternoon will be Justin Sellers, whose father Jeff pitched for the Red Sox, Scott Van Slyke, son of three-time All-Star Andy, and Matt Wallach, the son of Dodger Third Base Coach Tim. Dee Gordon, son of Tom “Flash” Gordon, will remain in Glendale this afternoon after starting both of the Dodgers’ first two Cactus League contests at shortstop.

Hake's: Some Negro League Rarities

Following up my post from Monday, I want to take a second look at Hake's current auction by focusing on a handful of great Negro League collectibles within it. As I mentioned previously, Hake's has been an exclusive consignor of Negro League paraphernalia that resided within the collection of Richard Merkin.

Merkin was a American painter and illustrator who taught his craft for over 40 years at the Rhode Island School of Design. His own works reside in the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Institution. He also wrote for Vanity Fair and illustrated the book "Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Leagues." BTW, pop culture enthusiast might find it interesting to know that Merkin appeared on the cover of the Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album (back row, right of center).

Anyway, he clearly was fascinated with the Negro League Baseball and when matched with his penchant for collecting vintage photography went on to build one of the more impressive collections ever assembled. Check out just few available in this auction that stuck out to me.

Although slightly faded the below photo doesn't disappoint. It is from 1937 and features five ballplayers from the Cuidad Trujillo ballclub in the Dominican Baseball League. If memory serves correctly, this was a team that was put together by then dictator Rafael Trujillo who wanted to make sure his team won. So, he raided the Negro Leagues and signed a whole bunch of their stars. Of course, since he stacked his team they did win. Various stories exist about this time period with most Negro League players indicating that they were glad to leave the country. Imagine the pressure for a player when you have a guy who might kill you and the entire team if you didn't win. Anyway, featured below are Hall of Famers Cool Papa Bell (on the far left) and Josh Gibson (second on the right).

(Auction Link)

Here is a 1934 team photo of the Concordia Eagles of Venezuela. It features Hall of Famers Martin Dihigo (back row, third from left) and Josh Gibson (back row, far right). Furthermore, Luis Apricio Sr. (father of the Hall of Famer) is also there. Additionally, this is thought to be the only photo with both Gibson and Dihigo together.

(Auction Link)

Below is a 1934 team photo of the Bismark Churchills, and if features the great Satchel Paige (top row, at center). This was a semi-pro team that was not a member of any organized league due to its roster of mixed race players. Nevertheless, they won the National Semi-Pro Baseball Tournament in Wichita, Kansas in 1935 with "Satch" on the mound. In fact, Paige thought very highly of this team.

"That Was The Best Team I Ever Saw; The Best Players I Ever Played With. But Who Ever Heard Of Them."

BTW, this team was owned by Neal Churchill who was a local Chrysler car dealer in North Dakota.

(Auction Link)

This is a team photo of the 1930 Homestead Grays. It has four future Hall of Famers in it: Judy Johnson (top, second from right), Oscar Charleston (bottom row far right), Smokey Joe Williams (top, fourth from right), and Cumberland Posey (top row far right). This club won the Eastern Championship that season.

(Auction Link)

eBay: "Zim" Then and Now Bobblehead

In light of the recent screams of joy for a recently unveiled promotional game give-away called the "Zimmer Bear" in Tampa Bay, I thought it would be appropriate to show a recent eBay auction I ran into over the weekend. Here is another Tampa Bay game give-away, but this time it is a bobblehead doll of Don Zimmer. I do not know what year it was produced, but I think it deserves to sit on the shelf of any hardcore Dodger bobblehead collector. As you can see it is titled "Zim" Now and Then, and features Don Zimmer in his Rays coaching uniform and his Brooklyn Dodgers threads from way back when. I think this is pretty awesome.

(Auction Link)

Collection: Don Sutton- "Greats of the Game"

Here is my 2001 Fleer "Greats of the Game" autographed card of Hall of Famer Don Sutton.

I was going to write a short bio on Sutton and his accomplishments on the field, but thought better it. After all, there really isn't anything I could add that hasn't already been said. So, instead I will pull out a quote from Sutton that I found in a old 1982 Sports Illustrated feature.

"The best thing that could have happened to me was to join a team with Drysdale and Koufax [who retired after the 1966 season]," says Sutton. "They were obviously helpful to me as a pitcher. They offered me nothing but encouragement, and Don gave me my first scouting report on Hank Aaron. 'High and inside,' he'd say, 'then the slider.' 'What if you don't have a slider?' I asked him. 'Then,' he said, 'I wouldn't go out there at all.' They were both so unselfish. When I began breaking their Dodger records, they'd never fail to call or wire. I have their records, but I wouldn't ask anyone to compare me with them."

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 14

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

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (1-2) vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (1-0)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch – Glendale

LHP Barry Zito vs. LHP Ted Lilly

Spring Game 2/Home Game 1

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Dee Gordon SS, Ellis 2B, Matt Kemp CF, Rivera LF, Ethier RF, Sands 1B, Uribe 3B, Treanor C, Hairston DH

Giants: Cabrera CF, Burriss LF, Schierholtz RF, Pill 1B, HSanchez DH, Fontenot 2B, Gillaspie 3B, Crawford SS, Whiteside C

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Rockin' out with Loney, Sands and Guerra, via twitter @Dodgers)

• CITY BY THE BAY: The Dodgers meet the Giants this afternoon, for the first of three matchups this spring with San Francisco making a return trip to Camelback Ranch – Glendale on St. Patrick’s Day for a 7:05 p.m. start and Los Angeles heading to Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, March 28. During the regular season, the Giants and Dodgers clash 18 times, with the first series coming from May 7-9 at Dodger Stadium. The clubs meet six times in September, including the final three games at Chavez Ravine from Oct. 1-3.

• ONE DOWN, 195 TO GO: The Dodgers opened up their 31-game Cactus League slate yesterday with a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Right-hander Chad Billingsley fired 2.0 scoreless innings and Angel Guzman (1-0) picked up the win after firing 1.1 scoreless frames. At the plate, Scott Van Slyke homered and drove in two while Josh Fields went 2-for-2 with a double. In the sixth inning, four sons of former Major Leaguers hit for the cycle as Van Slyke’s home run, Ivan De Jesus’ triple, Justin Sellers’ double and Tony Gwynn Jr.’s single completed the feat and made their dads proud. In addition to those four, the Dodgers also have three other sons of former big leaguers in camp this year in Dee Gordon, Matt Wallach and Jerry Hairston Jr.

(Maury Wills with his bobblehead, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• RIGHT SAID TED: Ted Lilly will make his first start of the spring this afternoon as he gets set to start his 17^th professional season and 14^th as a big leaguer. Since 2007, Lilly has made 99 quality starts, which is tied with Cole Hamels and Bronson Arroyo for third in the National League over that time, trialing just the Giants’ Matt Cain (114) and Tim Lincecum (113). Lilly was very good over the final two months of the season in 2011, winning five of his last six starts and posting a 2.09 ERA (16 ER/69.0 IP) over his last 11 outings from Aug. 3-Sept. 28. Lilly will be followed to the hill today by RHP Jamey Wright, LHP Michael Antonini, RHP Ramon Troncoso and RHP Josh Lindblom. The Giants will counter with left-hander Barry Zito.

• TRAVELING BAND: The first five players in the Dodger batting order remain the same as yesterday, but today will mark the 2012 spring debuts for third baseman Juan Uribe, first baseman Jerry Sands, catcher Matt Treanor and designated hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. Treanor and Hairston will make their Dodger debuts today and both players are fairly well traveled. Treanor was drafted by the Kansas City Royals (1994), traded to Florida (1997), signed by Detroit (2008), moved over to Milwaukee (2009), was dealt to Texas (2010), reacquired by Kansas City (2011) and then skipped back to Texas (2011), before signing with the Dodgers. Hairston was drafted by the Orioles (1997), traded to the Cubs (2005), dealt to the Rangers (2006), signed by the Reds (2008), acquired by the Yankees where he won a World Series (2009) and then signed by the Nationals (2010), before being dealt to the Brewers (2011). If you’re keeping track, that’s 13 teams, eight trades, 10 free-agent signings and 24 seasons.

(Chad Billingsley warming before his start yesterday, via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• DESERT PENGUIN: The Dodgers would like to welcome Ron Cey to Camelback Ranch – Glendale! Cey will be visiting with Dodger players and team sponsors during his stay in Phoenix this week and will be featured on a bobblehead with the rest of “The Infield” on May 29 against the Brewers. Single-game tickets are on sale now or fans can purchase the Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series mini plan to ensure seats to all 10 bobblehead nights this season by visiting Dodgers.com/miniplans
• BEST WISHES SWEEN: Yesterday, the Dodgers announced that Special Assistant, Baseball Operations, Mark Sweeney will leave the organization to pursue an opportunity in his hometown of San Diego. Sweeney spent three seasons in the Dodgers’ front office after finishing out his playing career with the club in 2008.

• TROLLEY DODGERS: New for 2012, fans can ride a free trolley from the Westgate City Center to all Dodgers and White Sox games at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The trolley stop is located on Westgate Boulevard right across from Yard House and drops off outside the ballpark. The trolley runs every 40 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. with continuous service throughout and after the game.

Blog Kiosk: 3/6/2012

Here is the cover shot of Dodgers Magazine current issue, via twitter @Dodgers.

• This past Sunday was the 100th Anniversary of the groundbreaking of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Check out Chris Jaffe's story about it.

  One hundred years ago today was a big day in the history of the Dodgers. On that day, they took their first step toward getting their first real stadium. On March 4, 1912, they had a groundbreaking ceremony in Brooklyn for Ebbets Field.

• Per Eric Stephens at True Blue LA we find out that Mattingly is extremely high on the future of Nathan Eovaldi. Per his twitter, here and here.
• Dee Gordon took a bad hop on the lips and got stitches, pic via twitter @skinnyswag9.
• Check out a bunch of YouTube Videos of Dodgers signing autographs at Camelback Ranch. Juan Uribe; Matt Kemp; and Davey Lopes.
  
• Jackie Robinson movie will begin filming in Chattanooga in May and will be casting for extras, via Nooga.com. (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts twitter)
• Here's Matt Kemp signing autographs last night at the Oakley Store in Scottsdale, via twitter @aaainslie. Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy has a fans story of the evening.