Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Freeway Series, Game 32

(pic via LA Observed cartoonist Steve Greenberg)

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 (14-13-4) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (17-11-2)

Monday, April 2, 2012 – 7:05 p.m., Angel Stadium

RHP Jamey Wright vs. RHP Dan Haren

Spring Game 32/Road Game 17

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Gordon SS, Ellis 2B, Kemp CF, Ethier RF, Rivera LF, Loney 1B, Uribe 3B, Ellis C, Kennedy DH
Angels: Aybar 6, Kendrick 4, Pujols 3, Morales dh, Hunter 9, Wells 7, Trumbo 3, Iannetta 2, Bourjos 8, haren.

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(piv via twitter @Dodgers)

• FREEWAY OF LOVE: The Dodgers take off south on the I-5 and head to Anaheim for a night game against the Angels this evening. The two clubs met twice during Cactus League action with the Dodgers winning big in Tempe on March 12 and the squads tying, 1-1 on March 18 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Following this three-game Freeway Series, the Dodgers and Angels will meet six times during the regular season, beginning June 11 at Dodger Stadium.

  The Dodgers have not beaten the Angels during their Freeway Series exhibition games since 2009, having dropped both contests in 2010 and 2011. This year will mark the first three-game Freeway Series since the Angels took two of three from the Dodgers in 2007. That year was also the last time the Fresco Thompson and Lefty Phillips Awards were handed out. These awards honor the MVP and most outstanding pitcher of the Freeway Series, respectively. In 2007, Orlando Cabrera took home the Fresco Thompson Award and Chad Billingsley won the Lefty Phillips Award.

• BULLPEN DAY: RHP Jamey Wright will get the start tonight and is expected to pitch 2.0 innings. Wright is 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA (6 ER/10.1 IP) this spring and his appearance tonight will tie him for the team lead with 10 games pitched. Following Wright to the mound will be several relievers, including Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, Todd Coffey and Mike MacDougal.

(On 4/15 fans will get Jackie Robinson Sweatbands, via twitter @Dodgers)

• SEE YOU IN 2013!: Yesterday, the Dodgers played their final game of 2012 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale and lost to the Diamondbacks, 6-2. This year, 121,769 fans showed up to watch Dodger baseball, including the two largest crowds in Cactus League history on March 17 vs. the Giants (13,655) and March 18 vs. the Angels (13,648). The total numbers of fans at Camelback Ranch this season represents a more than fifteen percent increase over 2011.

  During the game, most of the regulars left early to get a jump on their travel plans, but James Loney’s RBI double and Tim Federowicz’s run-scoring single gave Los Angeles its runs. Loney is hitting .294 with five doubles this spring. The first baseman’s nine RBI are tied with Justin Sellers for fourth on the team.

  With Saturday’s win, the Dodgers clinched their first winning Cactus League campaign since joining the league in 2009. At 14-13 with three exhibition games left, the club is seeking its first winning Spring Training since going 17-16-1 in 2007.

• THE BIG WINNER: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 67^th birthday to the winningest pitcher in franchise history, Don Sutton. Sutton won 230 games with Los Angeles from 1966-80 and added on three more in 1988. The native of Alabama won his 300^th career game in 1986 as a member of the California Angels and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. That same year, the Dodgers retired his No. 20 on Aug. 14. The right-hander also leads the franchise in games pitched (550), innings pitched (3,814), strikeouts (2,696) and shutouts (52).

• ROSTER UPDATE: Following Saturday’s game, the Dodgers optioned OF Trent Oeltjen to minor league camp. Thirty-six players remain in Major League camp, including RHP Blake Hawksworth and RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who will start the season on the disabled list.

(Camelback Ranch, pic via twitter @DesertDoyer)

• FOLLOW THE LEADERS: Dee Gordon and Andre Ethier have been two of Los Angeles’ hottest hitters this spring as Gordon ranks among the NL leaders in batting average (.390, 3^rd), steals (11, 2^nd), runs (16, 1^st) and on-base percentage (.463, 5^th), while Ethier is tied for second in the league with 43 total bases and 16 RBI and is tied for first with nine doubles. Ethier’s .896 slugging percentage leads the club.

• AND THE MULVEY GOES TO…: Congratulations to Nathan Eovaldi on winning the Dodgers’ 2012 Jim and Dearie Mulvey Award as the top rookie at Spring Training. Eovaldi was selected as the winner in balloting by the club’s coaches and will receive a plaque in recognition of his accomplishment. The 22-year-old went 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA (3 ER/15.2 IP) in five games (four starts) in Cactus League play, while limiting opposing hitters to a .233 batting average. Eovaldi will make his final start of the exhibition season against the Angels on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. A full list of past Mulvey Award winners, including last year’s winners Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa, can be found on page 368 of the 2012 Dodgers Guide.

Collection: Maury Wills 2001 Fleer Greats

Here is my 2001 Fleer "Greats of the Game" autographed card of Maury Wills from my collection. I've already shared numerous other Wills auto'd cards so I haven't much to add about his legacy as a Dodger.

I will note, though, that there is a Maury Wills Museum. It is located in Fargo, North Dakota at the home field (Newman Outdoor Field) of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Baseball team. The RedHawks are an Independent League Baseball team in the American Association. It was opened in 2001.

I am sure you're wondering what's his connection with North Dakota?

Well, Maury Wills was a coach and instructor on the team from 1996 to 1997, and worked as a radio color commentator for the RedHawks for many years. I had not realized before today that Maury Wills was on the radio.

Blog Kiosk: 4/2/2012

Topps unveiled a uncut sheet of some of their mini cards (fashioned after the 1987 Topps set) that will be in Series 2 Topps Baseball packs on Twitter. Check out the great looking Sandy Koufax card at the bottom right.

• When LA Icons Converge: Magic Johnson Reaches Out to Vin Scully, via Steve Dilbeck at LA Times.

  “It was interesting,” Scully said. “When the phone rang and I picked it up, I recognized that voice. And as I told him, 'If it’s possible, I can hear your smile.' ”

• Mike Petriello wrote a piece for Rotographs predicting a huge season for Andre Ethier. Time to add him to your roto team.
  
• I don't think I had seen this before. Here is a October 2011 GQ article about Vin Scully as he looks back at his greatest calls, via Daniel Riley. (Hat Tip: Eephus League)
  

  1953 World Series, Game 1 September 30, 1953

  The Call: At age 25, Scully becomes the youngest ever to call a World Series.

  "There was a labor disagreement: Red (Barber) felt that he had done a lot of World Series games and they were still paying—believe it or not—just $200 a game. So Red appealed, and they said, 'No that's what you're gonna get.' So he said, 'I'm not gonna do it.' Well out of the blue I got a phone call saying, 'We want you to do the World Series.' I thought, 'Well, whoa whoa whoa.' So I call Red and I said, 'Look, I've been doing this four years, I don't wanna do a World Series over your labor negotiation.' He said, 'Vinny, what's going on with me, it's not gonna change, and if you don't do it, they'll get somebody else to do it. So I'm giving you my blessing. Do it.'

• The Biz of Baseball explores the Dodgers sale.

  How Does Gueggenheim Partners Fit In?
  This is one of the most important, and least talked about aspects of the sale. Walter is the CEO of Gueggenheim Partners, a privately held, diversified financial services firm. The firm is where the bulk of the money is coming from. With more than $125 billion under management, the Dodgers will become part corporate, part privately owned.

• @Si_Vault on Twitter has a copy of an old scouting report on Nomar Garciaparra.
  
• The Legacy of Al Campanis, via William Weinbaum of ESPN.
  
• Eovaldi wins Mulvey Award for top rookie in Spring Training, via Ken Gurnick.
  
• Zach Hample was in Tokyo for the start of the Baseball season and has pictures to prove it.
• FanGraphs shares the "Important Graph" with its readers. This graph states that a baseball enthusiast’s ability to care for most everything declines considerably as the official start of the season approaches. That sounds about right.
  

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Game 31

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

Arizona Diamondbacks (11-17-2) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (14-12-4)

Sunday, April 1, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Chad Billingsley vs. RHP Daniel Hudson

Spring Game 31/Home Game 15

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, M Ellis 2B, @jamesloney_7 1B, Hairston CF, Gwynn RF, Fields 3B, Cruz LF, @AJEllis17 C, Billingsley RHP
Diamondbacks: Hudson 1, Hill 4, Upton 9, Kubel 7, Young 8, Goldschmidt 3, Roberts 5, Budde 2, Bloomquist 6

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(via Twitter @TheRealMattKemp)

• D-BACKS-TO-BACK: The Dodgers and Diamondbacks meet for the second consecutive day as Los Angeles plays its Cactus League finale today at Camelback Ranch. The National League West rivals will meet 18 times during the regular season, starting with a two-game series on May 14 and 15 at Dodger Stadium. Last year, the NL-West champion Diamondbacks won the season series with the Dodgers, 10-8.

  The Dodgers would like to thank all the fans in the Valley of the Sun for a great fourth season in the Cactus League and extend the team’s gratitude to all the Camelback Ranch staff for their hospitality this spring as the club plays its final home game of 2012 in Glendale. Through 14 home games, the Dodgers have averaged 8,000 fans at CR-G, including the two largest crowds in Cactus League history.

• HURLERS: RHP Chad Billingsley will make his sixth spring start today in his final tuneup before his regular season debut on Friday at San Diego. Each of Billingsley’s Cactus League starts have been at Camelback Ranch this spring with the 27-year-old allowing three runs in 5.2 innings in his previous outing on Monday against the White Sox. He will be followed to the hill by:

  ● RHP Matt Guerrier will make his fourth appearance of the spring after allowing a run in his inning of relief on Friday against the Brewers. Prior to that, Guerrier’s last appearance came on March 11 with the 33-year-old missing time due to a back injury.

  ● Four of the Dodgers’ top minor league arms will suit up for today’s game with RHP Allen Webster, RHP Shawn Tolleson, RHP Logan Bawcom and LHP Eric Eadington. Tolleson, the Dodgers’ 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, last pitched with the big league club on Friday against the Brewers and has limited opposing hitters to a .143 batting average (1-for-7) in three appearances with the Dodgers this spring. Bawcom, who led all Dodger minor leaguers with 27 combined saves with Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes last season, has appeared in three big league games this spring, including an inning of relief on Friday against the Cubs. Webster enters 2012 ranked as the club’s No. 2 by Baseball America and allowed two runs (one earned) in 1.0 inning on March 23 against the White Sox in Tucson. Eadington, a 24-year-old out of Harvard, posted a 0.83 ERA (2 ER/21.2 IP) last season in 18 relief appearances with the AZL Dodgers and Ogden.

('@AJEllis17 got his. Get your own Dodger Stadium Replica pres. by State Farm on 4/14! via Twitter @Dodgers)

• AND THE MULVEY GOES TO…: Congratulations to Nathan Eovaldi on winning the Dodgers’ 2012 Jim and Dearie Mulvey Award as the top rookie at Spring Training. Eovaldi was selected as the winner in balloting by the club’s coaches and will receive a plaque in recognition of his accomplishment. The 22-year-old went 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA (3 ER/15.2 IP) in five games (four starts) in Cactus League play, while limiting opposing hitters to a .233 batting average. Eovaldi will make his final start of the exhibition season against the Angels on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. A full list of past Mulvey Award winners, including last year’s winners Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa, can be found on page 368 of the 2012 Dodgers Guide.

• RACE TO THE FINISH: Clayton Kershaw made his final spring start, allowing three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings, and the Dodgers scored six late runs to down the D-backs, 9-3, yesterday at Salt River Fields. Dee Gordon went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and his 11^th steal of the exhibition season and Matt Angle slugged his first home run of the spring with a two-run shot in the eighth. The Dodger bullpen combined for 5.1 scoreless innings in relief of Kershaw, including 1.2 innings by Scott Rice and 1.1 innings from Ronald Belisario (2-0), who picked up the win.

  With yesterday’s win, the Dodgers clinched their first winning Cactus League campaign since joining the league in 2009. Additionally, at 14-12 with four exhibition games left, the club is seeking its first winning Spring Training since going 17-16-1 in 2007.

(Pic Via Twitter Jon SooHoo @Dodgers)

• ROSTER UPDATE: Following yesterday’s game, the Dodgers optioned OF Trent Oeltjen to minor league camp. Thirty-six players remain in Major League camp, including RHP Blake Hawksworth and RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who will start the season on the disabled list.

• FOLLOW THE LEADERS: Dee Gordon and Andre Ethier have been two of Los Angeles’ hottest hitters this spring as Gordon ranks among the NL leaders in batting average (.397, T-4^th), steals (11, 2^nd), runs (16, 1^st) and on-base percentage (.470, 3^rd), while Ethier leads the league with 43 total bases, is tied for the league lead with 16 RBI, nine doubles and three triples and leads the Dodgers in slugging percentage (.896).

• LEAVE THE LIGHT ON: The Dodgers will pack up and leave Arizona for Southern California following today’s game against the Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The Freeway Series against the Angels gets underway tomorrow night in Anaheim (7:05 p.m.) with games on Tuesday night (7:10 p.m.) and Wednesday afternoon (12:10 p.m.) at Dodger Stadium. Fans can get their first in-person look at the 2012 Dodgers by visiting Dodgers.com or calling 866-DODGERS.

Magic Sure Loves Cake

Check out Magic and his Dodger cakes.

Here, Magic shows off a gift from ESPN on Twitter.

(Pic Via Twitter @MagicJohnson)

AEG, Staples Center & the Lakers went all out with this cake.

(Pic Via WhoSay)

This got me wondering, so I search the 'nets for some Dodger cake and came up with this nice collage.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Game 30

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 (13-12-4) at Arizona Diamondbacks (11-16-2)

Saturday, March 31, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Talking Stick

LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Ian Kennedy

Spring Game 30/Road Game 16

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, Hairston 2B, @TheRealMattKemp CF, Ethier RF, Rivera LF, @jamesloney_7 1B, Uribe 3B, @AJEllis17 C, Kershaw P
Diamondbacks: Roberts 3B Bloomquist SS Upton RF Kubel LF Young CF Montero C Goldschmidt 1B Harbin 2BKennedy P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(pic via twitter @SteveLyons12)

• WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?: The Dodgers and Diamondbacks meet for the first time this spring in the penultimate Cactus League contest for Los Angeles. Tomorrow, the two squads will tangle again at Camelback Ranch – Glendale in the Dodgers’ Cactus League finale. The National League West rivals will meet 18 times during the regular season, starting with a two-game series on May 14 and 15 at Dodger Stadium. Last year, the NL-West champion Diamondbacks won the season series with the Dodgers, 10-8.

• HURLERS: LHP Clayton Kershaw will make his fifth and final Cactus League start this afternoon. The 2011 Cy Young Award winner is 2-2 with a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) and a .203 opponents’ average against this spring. The southpaw’s next start will be Thursday, April 5 in San Diego’s PETCO Park, otherwise known as Opening Day, 2012. The start will be Kershaw’s second consecutive Opening Day assignment. He will be followed to the hill by:

  ● RHP Ronald Belisario will make his seventh appearance this spring. The native of Venezuela has allowed five runs in 7.0 innings this March, including a scoreless frame on Thursday against the White Sox.
  

  ● RHP Josh Lindblom will make his team-leading 10th appearance of the Cactus League season today. Thus far, Lindblom has a 4.50 ERA (5 ER/10.0 IP) this month and has struck out seven batters without a walk. The right-hander out of Purdue went 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA (9 ER/29.2 IP) in 27 appearances for the Dodgers last year.

  ● LHP Scott Rice gave up a run on Thursday vs. the White Sox and now has a 4.70 ERA (4 ER/7.2 IP) to go along with eight strikeouts and just two walks. The 30-year-old non-roster invitee is looking to make the Major Leagues for the first time in his 14-year professional career.

(Oh ya!! @Dodgers !!!! 1000s still in line to audition!!!, via twitter @MannyStreetz)

• RACE TO THE FINISH: With just two games left, the Dodgers are looking to clinch their first winning Cactus League campaign since joining the league in 2009. Additionally, at 13-12 with five exhibition games left, the club is seeking its first winning Spring Training since going 17-16-1 in 2007. Yesterday, the Dodgers lost their fourth consecutive game, falling 9-4 to Milwaukee. Minutes later, the streak was snapped as the other split-squad put the finishing touches on a 6-3 victory over the Cubs in Mesa. Andre Ethier, James Loney, Luis Cruz and Matt Angle all had multi-hit games yesterday and LHP Chris Capuano looked spectacular on the hill, allowing just two hits and one run over 6.0 innings against the Brewers.

• FOLLOW THE LEADERS: Dee Gordon went 1-for-3 with a triple yesterday, while Andre Ethier belted his third homer of the spring and drove in four runs. The duo have been two of Los Angeles’ hottest hitters this spring as Gordon ranks among the NL leaders in batting average (.382, 5^th), steals (10, 2^nd), runs (15, 1^st) and on-base percentage (.460, 4^th). Ethier leads the league with 42 total bases, is tied for the league lead with 16 RBI, nine doubles and three triples and leads the Dodgers in average (.400) and slugging percentage (.933).

• 

(Los Angeles Dodgers Matt Kemp with Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun Friday, March 30, 2012 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix, Arizona © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2012)

• WHO’S READY!: The 2012 regular season kicks off for the Dodgers in just five days in San Diego and the Dodger Stadium 50^th anniversary season begins in 10 days. The Dodgers’ home opener against the Pirates has sold out, but a limited number of seats for the big day are available through the purchase of Full Season, 25-game Pick ‘Em and 15-game Mini Plan packages.

• SING FOR THE FENCES: Today in Los Angeles, the Dodgers are holding the first Red, White and Dodger Blue National Anthem Auditions at Dodger Stadium. The goal is to select performers to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at home games this season. Singing hopefuls were lining up outside the stadium before 5:00 a.m. and hundreds of potential idols have turned out to let the judges hear their pipes. One participant will be selected to sing the national anthem at the Dodgers’ first home game in Los Angeles, as they take on the Angels next Tuesday, April 3.

(Auditions to sing before a @Dodgers game have begun, via twitter @Dodgers)