Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 1 / Home Game 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.

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 Chicago White Sox (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)

LHP Jose Quintana (0-0) vs. LHP Erik Bedard (0-0)

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch – Glendale

TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

(Dodger lineup, via ESPN reporter Mark Saxon on twitter)

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(Puig, pic via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEY, NEIGHBOR!: The Dodgers open up Cactus League play and their seventh season at Camelback Ranch – Glendale today against the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles will play 31 exhibition games this spring, including 15 games at Camelback Ranch and 26 total Cactus League contests, in addition to two games against the Rangers in San Antonio and the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels.

• The Dodgers have gone 2-5 in their Cactus League openers since re-locating Spring Training to the desert in 2009, including dropping both split-squad contests in 2011.

HEY, NEW GUY: Since the end of the 2014 season, the Dodgers have added 19 new players to the 40-man roster, including  Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Heisey, who will make their debuts with the club this afternoon. Of the pitchers expected to throw in today’s contest, only Carlos Frias has previously pitched for the Dodgers.

• Rollins is batting in his familiar leadoff spot today and ranks fourth on the all-time list with 46 career leadoff home runs, behind only Rickey Henderson (81), Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Rollins also ranks among active players in career hits (2,306, 7th) and stolen bases (453, 4th).

ON THE MOUND: Non-roster left-hander Erik Bedard will make his Dodger debut today after spending the 2014 season in the Tampa Bay organization, going 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) with the Rays and making one start with Triple-A Durham. Bedard has averaged 8.60 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and has posted a 2.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 241 career big league games (230 games) over 11 seasons with Baltimore (2005-07), Seattle (2008-09, ’11), Boston (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Houston (2013) and Tampa Bay (2014).

• RHP Carlos Frias is expected to appear in today’s game after seeing his first big league action last year, going 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 15 games (two starts) during two stints with the Dodgers. In his 13 relief appearances in the Majors last year, he limited opponents to a .205 batting average (20-for-98) with 25 strikeouts against only six walks and posted a 1.01 WHIP in 25.2 innings.
• RHP Juan Nicasio will don Dodger blue for the first time in a game today after he was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014 in exchange for minor league outfielder Noel Cuevas. Nicasio, 28, appeared in 33 games for the Rockies last year and saw his first career action out of the bullpen, where he went 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA (8 ER/20.2 IP) and tossed scoreless relief in 14 of his 19 appearances.
• RHP Sergio Santos, a former first-round pick of the D-backs in 2002, will make his Dodger debut today after spending the last three seasons with the Blue Jays.  Santos, a converted shortstop, will be facing his former White Sox teammates today after making his MLB debut with the club in 2010 and saving a career-high 30 games for Chicago in 2011.
• 27-year-old LHP Adam Liberatore was acquired in a trade with the Rays on Nov. 20, 2014, which also brought RHP Joel Peralta to Los Angeles, and had a career year for Triple-A Durham last year, going 6-1 with four saves and a 1.66 ERA in 54 games. In parts of three seasons at the Triple-A level, Liberatore has gone 12-5 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and an average of 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.
• RHP Josh Ravin, a graduate of Chatsworth High School, is in his second season in the Dodger organization after combining to go 2-1 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque last year. Ravin is entering his 10th professional season and was originally selected by Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.
• The Dodgers have three additional pitchers suiting up today from the minor league side: LHP Jeremy Horst (#97), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (#87) and RHP Blake Smith (#91).

(Getting Puig's signature, pic via LA Times photographer Luis Sinco on twitter)

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2015 Topps Heritage - Some of the Dodger Insert Cards

The second Baseball card set of the 2015 Baseball season has officially been released by Topps.  It is the popular Heritage brand, and it pays homage to the vintage 1966 Topps set by using its design for the base set and some of its insert cards.  Go here to check out a complete checklist.


I've yet to collect images of all of the Dodger base cards, so you'll have to wait a bit for those.  In the meantime, below is a look at the more common inserts that are available.  Of note, there sure are a ton of Sandy Koufax cards.  Of note, one of the cards below features Dee Gordon as a Dodger. 

Baseball Flashbacks

#BF-10 Sandy Koufax

Blog Kiosk: 3/4/2015 - Dodger Links - Today is the First Game of Spring

The first game of the Dodgers spring begins this afternoon at Camelback Ranch.  They'll face off at 12:05 PM PST and it'll air on SportsNet LA.  For a brief history of Dodger spring opening days check out Eric Stephen's post at True Blue LA, "Dodgers spring training history: A history of Camelback Ranch openers."  Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Urias reminds Kershaw of early days with Dodgers."

"They did a really good job with me," said Kershaw. "I was frustrated when they would have me pitch in relief to cut my innings, but the way they did it was perfect. By the time I was ready for a big league season, I was ready for 200 innings."

• Here's a sneak preview pic of the Dodgers coaster set they are giving away to fans on Wednesday, May 27th.  Go here to check out the Dodgers complete promotion schedule.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Mike Adams expects to make team."

“My whole thought process is, ‘I’ll make the club,’" Adams said. “I’m trying to keep as much doubt out of it as possible.” 

• Mark Saxon also writes a bit about Joc Pederson and his problem with strike outs: "Joc Pederson has big upside, but big strikeout total."

“Joc’s aggressive, he’s got power, he swings hard and he’s got a lot of movement in his swing,” Mattingly said. “As he understands his swing more and more and has it under control, I think when he’s swinging the bat well, we’re not going to be that concerned about strikeouts.”

• Here's something you should know if you're a vintage pinback collector.  Check out bpb47's post at baseballpinbackbuttons, "Lithograph Pinback Buttons (And One Unique Contraption)."  It's a fairly detailed look at the development of several different kind of vintage pins.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full – Squad Workout #6

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.

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(Camelback Ranch field, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE: With the sun shining once again, the Dodgers held their sixth and final full-squad workout of the spring today at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The club worked on rundowns and did baserunning drills before taking batting practice on the main fields. Right-handers Brandon McCarthy and Chad Gaudin threw a live BP session on Field 3 while Zack Greinke, J.P. Howell, David Aardsma, Pedro Baez, Dustin McGowan, David Huff, Ryan Buchter, Paco Rodriguez, Chris Reed, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson, Julio Urias and Mike Adams tossed regular bullpens. 

LINE ‘EM UP:  Today, Dodger Manager Don Mattingly announced his lineup for club’s Cactus League opener vs. the White Sox tomorrow afternoon. Jimmy Rollins will leadoff and play short; Carl Crawford bats second in left field; Adrian Gonzalez will play first and hit third; Howie Kendrick makes his Dodger debut in the cleanup spot and plays second; another first-time Dodger, Yasmani Grandal will catch and hit fifth; Andre Ethier hits sixth and is in center field; Juan Uribe bats seventh at third base; Joc Pederson will be the designated hitter, batting eighth and Chris Heisey rounds out the lineup in right field, batting ninth. The pitchers scheduled to throw after starter Erik Bedard are Carlos Frias, Juan Nicasio, Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin.

READ ACROSS AMERICA: This afternoon, the Dodgers celebrated Read Across America day as minor leaguers Alex Verdugo and James Baldwin read to schoolchildren at Villa de Paz Elementary School on 103rd and Camelback.

(All-Star panels on the legends walk, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

EVERYONE IS IN TOWN: In advance of the first game and telecast tomorrow, Dodger broadcasters Rick Monday and Pepe Yniguez arrived in Glendale today as they prepare to call the first Cactus League game tomorrow. Monday is entering his 23rd season as a Dodger broadcaster and this season will be behind the microphone for every AM 570 Los Angeles Sports broadcast as either an analyst or play-by-play man. Yniguez, who enters his 17th season with the Dodgers, will join Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela on SportsNet LA calling the games in Spanish.   


MAKING MEMORIES: Those coming to the ranch this morning, took notice of several new installations around the complex’s grounds. Visible to fans for the first time were a new scoreboard on the Dodger replica field and All-Star panels on the legends walk, which make for tremendous photo opportunities. In addition, fans coming to the stadium for the Cactus League lid-lifter tomorrow will see the retired numbers of Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale in left field. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Dodgers would like to wish Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers pitching coach and former Dodger Scott Radinsky a Happy Birthday. Radinsky graduated from Simi Valley High School and pitched in Los Angeles from 1996-98. The left-handed reliever has been coaching in the organization since 2013, when he started as the pitching coach for Rookie-advanced Ogden. Last year, Radinsky was the pitching coach for Double-A Chattanooga.

(Adrian Gonzalez via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodger Escapades on Twitter - Ping Pong, Kike Hernandez and the McCarthy's

Twitter has become the avenue of choice for ballplayers who want to communicate directly with fans.  For the most part, we find out about special events a player wants to highlight, but sometimes we get more that that.  Sometimes, we get an inside glimpse at what makes them tick.

For Dodger followers, there are a handful of frequent users who ably navigate the twitter wilderness to show us their personality, and this post highlights some recent exchanges I thought worth noting. 

As you know, it has become a spring tradition at Camelback Ranch to host a ping pong tournament, and according to Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider that tradition continues in earnest. 

(Ping Pong bracket, photo via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider)

Yesterday saw the first games played on the table, and I am sad to report that the first doubles pair to walk away disappointed was the pairing of catcher Chris O'Brien and pitching prospect Zach Lee.  They lost out to Scott Van Slyke and pitching prospect Ryan Buchter, and let's just say that Van Slyke was more than happy to gloat on twitter.  Check out the exchange below.

(twitter capture)

It's funny that O'Brien basically blames his ping pong teammate Zach Lee for the loss.

In other news, Kike Hernandez has proven to be a fun Dodger to follow on twitter.  This morning he shared a pic of himself within a strange looking contraption.  As one of the newest Dodgers, who may see some time on the diamond in Los Angeles this season, he spent a moment with @MLBTheShow to photograph his face.

Getting my head scanned so that virtual Kike looks exactly like the real Kike on @MLBTheShow!! pic.twitter.com/xvyD5k5wAD
— Enrique Hernandez (@kikehndez) March 3, 2015

Brandon McCarthy has proven to be a great addition for Dodger followers.  Not just because he has some nice tools that could help the Dodgers in their quest to a championship, but because when paired with his equally loquacious wife has become a must follow on twitter.

In an exchange this morning we see true love in action.

@BMcCarthy32 son of a bitch
— Amanda McCarthy (@Mrs_McCarthy32) March 3, 2015

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Blog Kiosk: 3/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Rollins, League and Some Nomo Memories

As you likely know, tomorrow afternoon is the Dodgers first Spring Training game.  In preparation for the big day, they posted up the anticipated lineup for the game this morning.  Check it out in the photo above tweeted out by ESPN reporter Mark Saxon.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Not that anyone had any doubts, via OC Register reporter Bill Plunkett on twitter:

Clayton Kershaw will be #Dodgers Opening Day starter. Mattingly: "That's our plan. ... We were just waiting for you to ask."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 2, 2015

• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Jimmy Rollins met with Yasiel Puig for two hours."

“I just walked over to him and we just started talking,” Rollins said. “Two hours later it was ‘I gotta go now.’ My wife was probably like ‘where you at? You said you were done. The baby’s crying.’

• JP Hoornstra also wrote about Brandon League at the Daily News, "Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brandon League credits giving up alcohol to boost in energy."

“I was getting enough sleep, eating as well as possible,” League said. “The only other factor I saw was alcohol.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ryu, Peralta feel good after bullpen sessions."  Everything seems fine and on schedule.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Hideo Nomo remembers first day in Dodger uniform, 20 years ago."  Today is the 20th anniversary of the day Nomo first put on a Dodger uniform.

“On the eve prior to the start of Spring Training in March of 1995, I arrived in Dodgertown for the first time,” Nomo said. “As it was dark, all I could see were the baseball fields and lodging facilities. I thought to myself ‘there is nothing to do here except to play baseball.’

• Roberto Baly at Vin Scully is My Homeboy informs us about an interesting upcoming event: "The Baseball Reliquary Presents Turning Back the Clock: Baseball in Los Angeles."
• John Thorn at Our Game, "Diamond Visions: Baseball’s Greatest Photographs."
• I couldn't agree any more with Grant Bisbee of SB Nation's assessment of Juan Pierre's legacy: "Dangit, Juan Pierre, we'll miss you."

He was The Departed of players, not nearly as good or awful as its greatest supporters and detractors claim.

• Paul Post at Sports Collectors Digest writes a fantastic article on former Major Leaguer Jim Abbott: "Player Interview: Jim Abbott Talks No-Hitter, A-D-A-P-T."

“He’s got such great stuff,” Abbott said of Kershaw. “A no-hitter is a countdown of outs. I watched the game . . . and you get caught up in that happening again. You relate to the feelings he’s feeling and the catcher’s feeling, the fielders are feeling and the fans are feeling. It’s nice to have that connection.”

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