Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 9 / Road Game 5


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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Los Angeles Dodgers(4-1-3) vs. Chicago Cubs (0-6-1)
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Sloan Park

RHP Zack Greinke (0-0) vs. LHP Jon Lester (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: None


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(Ryu, Guerrero & Uribe, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEATING UP: The Dodgers enter today’s contest in Mesa unbeaten in their last seven games (4-0-3), playing to a 2-2 tie yesterday against Colorado, and take on the Cubs in the first of two Cactus League games between the clubs. Los Angeles won the season series over Chicago last year, 4-3, and will play six regular-season games against the Cubs, June 22-24 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 28-30 at Dodger Stadium.

(Ferrell & Jeong, via Jon SooHoo)
WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY: Tomorrow, actor and comedian Will Ferrell will be suiting up for 10 MLB teams throughout the day – including the Dodgers – to benefit cancer charities. Ferrell is honoring the 50th anniversary of Bert Campaneris playing all nine positions in one game, in 1965, and will play all nine positions (and DH) during the course of the day in the following Cactus League games tomorrow: Mariners at Athletics, noon; Cubs at Angels, 1:10 p.m.; Reds at D-backs, 2:10 p.m.; Giants at White Sox, 4:05 p.m.; Dodgers at Padres, 6:15 p.m. Ferrell’s efforts are part of a special for HBO airing later this year in collaboration with MLB Media and the production team at Funny Or Die. HBO is donating proceeds to Cancer for College, and MLB is raising additional money for that cause in addition to Stand Up To Cancer through the auction of game-used, autographed gear and equipment featured throughout this one-of-a-kind project. Ferrell will be pitching for the Dodgers, playing the outfield for the Padres and umpiring during tomorrow night’s contest, which will air on SportsNet LA and MLB Network.
(Clayton Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

A NICE SELECTION OF TIES: The Dodgers played to a 2-2 tie with the Rockies yesterday, with Clayton Kershaw allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings in his second start of the spring and Joe Wieland (2.0 IP), David Aardsma (1.0 IP), Paco Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 3 K) and Pedro Baez (1.0 IP) all tossing scoreless relief. Scott Schebler blasted a game-tying solo homer in the eighth inning, his fourth extra-base hit of the spring, and has posted a .429/.429/.857 slashline in six Cactus League games. 
  • The Dodgers have committed just three errors through their first eight Cactus League contests.
  • Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.38 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .205 batting average this spring, striking out 60 and walking only 17 in 72.0 innings.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Zack Greinke, who was given a lubricating injection in his right elbow on Feb. 19, will make his first start of the spring today. The 2014 Gold Glover and All-Star posted a career-high 17 wins last year, ranking among the NL leaders in wins (17-8, T-5th), innings pitched (202.1, T-11th) and strikeouts (205, T-5th) in 32 starts.
  • LHP David Huff is expected to make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in a start against the Mariners last Friday. The UCLA product combined to go 4-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 46 relief appearances with the Yankees and Giants in 2014.
  • 18-year-old LHP Julio Urias will make his second appearance of the spring today after striking out two in 1.2 innings of work in Friday’s win over the Brewers. In 2014, Urias was selected to the World Team for the XM All-Star Futures Game, becoming the youngest-ever player to participate in the contest at the age of 17.
  • LHP Chris Reed is also expected to see action today after giving up one run on two hits in 2.0 innings of work on Friday. The Dodgers’ top pick in the 2011 draft has limited opposing hitters to a .247 batting average during the course of his minor league career, including a .220 mark against left-handers.
  • RHP Chris Anderson is expected to appear in today’s game after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in his first action of the spring on Friday against the Mariners. Anderson led the Single-A-California League with 146 strikeouts in 134.1 innings in 27 games (25 starts) in 2014 with Rancho Cucamonga.
  • RHP Zach Lee will make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings and recording the win in last Friday’s game against the Brewers. The former first-round draft pick has a 32-25 record and a 4.16 ERA in 105 career games (101 starts) in four minor league seasons in the Dodger Organization.

ON THE DOTTED LINE: Yesterday, the Dodgers reached agreements with all their players with 0-2 years of service time: Pedro Baez, Austin Barnes, Mike Bolsinger, Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kiké Hernandez, Zach Lee, Adam Liberatore, Joc Pederson, Chris Reed, Paco Rodriguez, Scott Schebler, Scott Van Slyke and Chris Withrow.
(Tommy Lasorda signing, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Lasorda Book Signing at Camelback Ranch

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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This notice is for fans who will be in Arizona this weekend.  Fans will have the opportunity to meet Tommy Lasorda at a pair of book signings at Camelback Ranch.  He will be joined by author Colin Gunderson in signing the new authorized biography "Tommy Lasorda: My Way."  Check out the flyers below.

WHEN: Friday, March 13 – 6:00-8:00 PM

&

WHEN: Saturday, March 14 – 12:00-2:00 PM

More information on Tommy Lasorda: My Way:
www.triumphbooks.com/TommyLasorda
www.facebook.com/tommylasordamyway?_rdr
www.tommylasordamyway.com/
twitter.com/ColinGunderson
Center Field Courtyard at Camelback Ranch
10712 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ

Here's a description of the book from the publisher:

Tommy Lasorda believed that winning wasn't about being the best, but about believing you are the best and that philosophy runs throughout Tommy Lasorda: My Way. Author Colin Gunderson takes readers through Lasorda's days as a player and the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, including their two World Series Championships in 1981 and 1988. It also provides fans with a peek at what makes Lasorda tick: his relationship with his father, Sabatino, whom he emulated; his childhood growing up in Norristown , Pennsylvania , working odd jobs; and his unfailing work ethic. That work ethic helped him become one of baseball's most successful managers as he won the World Series twice, won four National League pennants and eight division titles with the Dodgers. In this book, fans will recall some of their favorite Lasorda anecdotes, and will also be privy to new information and rich background on this national baseball treasure, including memories from an All-Star roster of Dodgers stars.

About the Author:

Colin Gunderson worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 13 years, 12 of which as press coordinator and assistant to Tommy Lasorda. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
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Blog Kiosk: 3/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Grandal, Guerrero and the Kids


You've got to love what the kids are doing in camp. Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Corey Seager, Scott Schebler, O'Koyea Dickson lead first-week youth movement for Dodgers."
"It's been interesting for us in this camp because we've got a lot of our own prospects that have been climbing the ladder that all of a sudden seem to be right here knocking on the door," manager Don Mattingly said on Tuesday. "We've also made some trades for some guys that have come from other organizations who have been fun to watch.
Photo above of Scott Schebler from yesterday's game is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon from yesterday here.  Below are some more links to check out:
  • Baseball prognosticator Peter Gammons declared that the Dodgers are his 2015 off-season winner.  Check out what he had to say here.
We get all of them. But, for me, there was one clear winner. The Dodgers. No media-driven hype signings and acquisitions. No Miami Heat-type player introductions at a FanFest. No exercises in usage of the first person singular.

Just a restructuring and reorganization to what might be called the 21st Century Branch Rickey model. So non-Hollywood.
  • My biggest worry about Yasmani Grandal is slowly coming into focus.  He may pitch-frame well, but he has to learn to recognize which pitches are worth trying to frame for a strike and which pitches require him to catch and block at all cost.  BTW, his lack of mobility due to knee issues is a worrying factory, and may mean that he is just not physically able to stop pitches in the dirt.  Sure, he can hit, but how much are you willing to give up when it comes to pitching?  That's a questions that will get answered as the season goes on.  Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest has a rundown on some of these defensive issues, "Yasmani Grandal May Want To Put the ‘Catch’ In Catcher."
  • Reddit user u/kittysparkles shares some fantastic photos taken during the first two games of Spring Training at Camelback Ranch.  Check them out here.
  • Watch out for this event during tomorrow's spring Dodger game.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Will Ferrell has a wacky plan to play all nine baseball positions in one day."
  • Pedro Guerrero cracks me up.  Via his twitter:


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
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