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

#124 Clayton Kershaw

#163 Chad Billingsley

#206 Rafael Furcal

#208 Matt Kemp

Hunt Auctions: Snider Portrait by Dick Perez

This would look great on anybody's wall. Hunt's current auction has this great painting of Duke Snider by noted sports artist Dick Perez.

(Auction Link)

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)