Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #2

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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(Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ROLL IT BACK: The Dodgers held their second full-squad workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Brandon Beachy and Alex Wood threw their first live bullpen sessions of the spring today on the minor league side. Tomorrow, live BP will be fully incorporated into the workout with a plethora of Dodger pitchers throwing to big league hitters on Fields 1, 2 and 3.
• Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias, Ian Thomas, Chris Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jamey Wright, Lisalverto Bonilla and Jose De Leon all threw regular bullpens.

  

  (Koufax and Kenta, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

ROSTER UPDATE: Today, the Dodgers released non-roster right-handed pitcher Brooks Brown.

DODGER ROYALTY: Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax stopped by Camelback Ranch today, greeting Dodger players and staff during a brief visit to camp. Koufax wasn’t the only Cy Young Award winner in camp today, joining Special Advisor Greg Maddux (four-time winner, 1992-95) and guest coach Eric Gagné (2003), who are both expected to be regulars in Glendale throughout the spring.

• 1956 Cy Young Award winner and Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe is expected in camp towards the end of March.
• In addition to Gagné, Shawn Green, Ron Cey and Eric Karros will spend time at Camelback Ranch as guest coaches this spring.

THE WORLDWIDE LEADERS: The Dodgers were featured throughout the day today on ESPN’s SportsCenter with Tim Kurkjian, Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone anchoring coverage from Camelback Ranch. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez kicked off the coverage with a live hit on SportsCenter this morning, while Dave Roberts invited Kurkjian inside his office for a chat and Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Justin Turner taped features for the network. Clayton Kershaw was featured on SportsCenter last night.

(Agon doing SportsCenter, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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A Rookie Checklist of Kenta Maeda Cards

With Kenta Maeda's recent arrival to the Dodgers spring camp in Glendale I thought it would be fun to take a look at some Baseball cards from the eight-year veteran of the Japanese Central League.  As you know, he began his professional career in 2008, after being drafted the year prior by the Hiroshima Carp.  Since that time collectors have been awash in cardboard gold.

Featured below is a checklist of his rookie cards from 2007 - the year he was drafted.  I have also included American issued cards of the Japanese ace.  Before doing so, though, I want to do a shout out to Japanese Baseball Cards, Beckett and the Trading Card DB for their previous work on this matter.

Kenta Maeda Rookie Cards

This is Maeda's very first professional Baseball card, and as you can see it features him celebrating having been drafted by the Carp.  A "Gold Signature" autographed card exist and is numbered to only 200 copies.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find a pic of one.

2007 BBM Rookie Edition #76

Blog Kiosk: 2/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Helicopters and Vin Scully Avenue

Rise and shine, Dodger Fans!

It's Friday!

Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• WTF!  Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Why “Vin Scully Avenue” might not be official in time for the Dodgers’ home opener."

The spokesperson for Cedillo’s office, Arturo Chavez, said in an e-mail that the process is moving on schedule. He described the first week of April as a “best case scenario.” Realistically, however, the name change will take place “most likely the first week of May.” The Dodgers’ home opener is April 12 against the San Francisco Giants.

Chavez added that the BOE has received “mixed pro and con” responses so far from residents. We’ll find out what the exact objections are soon enough, once the BOE prepares its report.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "MLB rule revisions tweak slides, neighborhood play."  The changes seem reasonable enough.  Of course, the devil is going to be in its use going forward. 
• Video: Alanna Rizzo catches up with Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who became part of the Dodgers front office this season as an adviser. (Link Here)
• Video: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw discusses his performance in last year’s postseason, this year’s changes in the rotation and more. (Link Here)
• So what's the deal with Dodger players and helicopters?  If you'll recall, a couple of years ago Zack Greinke considered getting a helicopter to get to games (link here), and now Puig is on the verge of getting one (link here).  Via TMZ, "Yasiel Puig: Yes, He's Buying A Helicopter ... Says Car Customizing Guru."
• Uh-Oh!  Yasiel Puig missed the teams first full-squad workout.  No worries, though.  He had oral surgery to have his wisdom teeth removed, so he's expected to return on Friday (today), via an AP report at Yahoo Sports.
• Via Michael Rothstein at ESPN, "Clayton Kershaw says Lions QB Matthew Stafford has a better arm than him."

“I think Matthew’s probably got the better arm,” Kershaw said on SportsCenter. “Put it this way, he can definitely throw a baseball better than I can throw a football. I’ll probably give him the edge.”

• This is definitely off-topic, but well worth your time.  Check out some vintage photographs of Native Americans from 1904 to 1924 via Alex Q. Arbuckle at Mashable,
• If you are heading to Arizona then you should check this out.  Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "D-Backs Owner Ken Kendrick’s Collection on Exhibit."

Phoenix Art Museum will showcase 41 cards, including some of the rarest and most important cards ever made beginning March 9 through April 24.

Kendrick, a loBabe Ruth 1916 Sporting News 101-5 rookie card PSA 8ngtime collector, is managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and owns one of the hobby’s most valuable collections of important baseball cards.

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