Below are the Day 15 Spring Training Notes provided by the Dodgers.
- GOODYEAR REDUX: After dropping a game to the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark on Tuesday, the Dodgers will get after it again tonight in Goodyear, but this time facing the Cincinnati Reds. Tonight’s contest is the club’s first night game of the 2011 spring schedule and the first of two against the Reds, who will come to Camelback Ranch on Saturday afternoon. Last season, the Reds went 5-4 against the Dodgers and the two squads will meet for the first time in the 2011 regular season on June 3 at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park.
- OUR HIRO: Dodger right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will make his second Spring Training start after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings on Feb. 26 in Tempe. Kuroda will be followed to the mound by RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Javy Guerra, RHP Blake Hawksworth, RHP Mike MacDougal and RHP Kenley Jansen. The Reds will send left-hander Travis Wood to the hill.
- STARTERS STREAKING: The Dodgers lost to the Royals, 11-5, yesterday, despite a three-run homer from infielder Juan Castro and two hits from first baseman James Loney. On the mound, right-hander Tim Redding continued the Dodgers’ stretch of impressive starting pitching with 3.0 scoreless frames. In six games, Dodger starters Redding, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, John Ely, and Hiroki Kuroda have yet to allow an earned run (one unearned) over 14.0 innings.
“B” BALL: The Dodgers and White Sox played a “B” game this morning on Chicago’s side of the campus. Dodger left-hander Ted Lilly, who had been under the weather the last two days, threw 2.0 innings and fanned one over 27 pitches. Lilly is now back on schedule and will make his next start on March 7 at Talking Stick.
HOLA SEŇORS: The Dodgers would like to welcome Spanish language broadcasters Jaime Jarrín and Pepe Yňiguez to Camelback Ranch. The duo will be joined by Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela tomorrow night for their first broadcast of 2011. Jarrín, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998, is set to begin his 53rd season in the Dodger radio booth while Yňiguez begins his 13th full season and 14th overall. Valenzuela joined the team in 2003 and the trio has now been together for nine seasons.
DR. SEUSS AND MR. ELLIS: This afternoon, Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis read two books to about 20 local kids at the Glendale Public Library as part of a celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and to promote literacy. Ellis, who was joined by White Sox pitcher Chris Sale at the event, had the kids in stiches during his dramatic read of “Green Eggs and Ham.” After the reading, Ellis signed autographs for each youngster while handing out Dodger hats, pencils and notepads. Local Phoenix-area television covered the event along with Glendale-11 and the Glendale Star Newspaper.
DODGER IDOL: This afternoon, the Dodgers held a “Dodger Idol” competition featuring the players that are participating in their first Major league camp. This year’s singers included Rubby De La Rosa, John Ely, Dee Gordon, Jerry Sands, Justin Sellers and Luis Vasquez. Jamey Carroll played the role of Ryan Seacrest, while the judges were comprised of Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and team physical therapist Nancy Patterson. Vasquez and De la Rosa stole the show as a unique duet with Vasquez demonstrating a gift for magic tricks.
YOU NEVER KNOW: Today the Dodgers held their annual open tryout in which any ballplayer can come to the fields and attempt to earn a minor league contract. Out of the 110 or so players that showed up, one walked away with a job as the Dodgers signed left-handed pitcher Randy Keisler, who has pitched in 55 big league games for the Yankees (2000-01), Padres (2003), Reds (2005), A’s (2006) and Cardinals (2007). The Dodgers signed two players out of the tryout in both 2009 and 2010, including right-handed pitcher Tim Corcoran, who is still in the organization.
(Pic Link: HitPix MLB)(George Brett & Robin Yount at B.A.T. fundraiser)
HALL OF FAME HAPPENING: On March 3, 1997, Special Advisor to the Chairman, Tommy Lasorda, received a call in Vero Beach, FL from Teddy Ballgame, Ted Williams, letting him know he was to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Lasorda is now enshrined in 17 Halls of Fame.
PAYING RESPECTS: A private memorial service for Hall of Famer Edwin “Duke” Snider will be held on March 12. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Fallbrook Union High School Baseball Program c/o Fallbrook Baseball ASB, 2234 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028.
A LITTLE SHIFTY: Former Dodger second baseman Steve Sax will be at Camelback Ranch-Glendale this weekend to promote his new book, SHIFT: Change Your Mindset And You Change Your World. Tomorrow night, the All-Star infielder will throw out the first pitch on “Fireworks Night,” prior to the Dodgers’ 7:05 p.m. home game against the Giants. Saturday, Sax will be signing copies of SHIFT outside the Team Store in the Center Field Courtyard from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sax won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1982, the Silver Slugger in 1986 and was a five-time All Star for the Dodgers (1982-83, ’86) and Yankees (1989-90).
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