THE CHARGE: Dodger Manager Don Mattingly addressed the full squad of players this morning, laying out his expectations for the 2011 season. One could have heard a pin drop in the clubhouse as all eyes were fixated on the first-year skipper. Although the specifics of the meeting are for the team and its staff, Mattingly did single out the “Dodger Royalty” working in and around camp this Spring including Billy DeLury (61 years with the club), Maury Wills, Manny Mota, Davey Lopes, Steve Yeager and Dave Hansen. In addition former Dodgers Rick Honeycutt, Ken Howell, Tim Wallach, Lenny Harris, Franklin Stubbs, Mark Sweeney, Jody Reed, Aaron Sele and Jose Vizcaino all serve in some capacity on the Dodgers’ 2011 Spring Training coaching staff.
- HE HAS ARRIVED: Dodger infielder Eugenio Velez entered the Camelback Ranch complex just after 3:00 p.m. Arizona Time and he will be in uniform tomorrow. Dodger reliever Ronald Belisario is now the only player who hasn’t yet reported to Spring Training.
YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE: The fields had a different look today as the full squad was working out and a bevy of pitchers threw live batting practice to their teammates. Among those tossing during live B.P. were Jon Link, Scott Elbert, John Ely, Roman Colon, Jon Huber, Oscar Villarreal and Luis Vasquez. Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Lance Cormier, Matt Guerrier, Ron Mahay and Travis Schlichting all threw regular bullpens.
DODGERTOWN U.N.: Today the Dodgers received a visit from MLB International, which was shooting video for its various worldwide programming partners. Andre Ethier, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Rafael Furcal, Kenley Jansen, Trent Oeltjen and Hiroki Kuroda all took turns reading Dodger messages and tag lines throughout the morning and into the afternoon. In addition to the United States, Dodger players currently represent 10 different countries and one commonwealth this Spring Training: Australia, Canada, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Venezuela.
RALLYING THE TROOPS: Tomorrow morning, Dodger Hall of Famer and Special Assistant to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda will speak at the Nellis Air Force Base Prayer Breakfast in Las Vegas. Lasorda has delivered motivational speeches to more than 40 United States military installations around the world.
- GLORY DAYS: Dodger broadcaster Steve Lyons was the hardest working man in showbiz today, filming a one-on-one with Dodger skipper Don Mattingly, a fielding tutorial on the art of the backhand with Jamey Carroll and most jarringly, a catching segment with Rod Barajas in which the former infielder donned the “tools of ignorance.” Lyons actually looked pretty spry blocking baseballs in the dirt while in full gear. The former FOX Baseball Game of the Week analyst is set to begin his seventh season providing color commentary for PRIME TICKET and KCAL 9 on all road games outside of the National League West.
- MAGIC BUS: Tomorrow morning the Baseball Tonight Spring Training Bus Tour rolls through Camelback Ranch – Glendale. ESPN Baseball analysts John Kruk, Tim Kurkjian and Pedro Gomez will be onsite to interview Dodger Manager Don Mattingly and outfielder Andre Ethier.
