It has begun.
Spring is officially upon us as the first games of the preseason started in earnest this weekend. Before you know it, it'll be Opening Day.
Pic above via Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019. Check out pics by Jon SooHoo and others on Dodger Insider from Friday (here), Saturday (here) and Sunday (here). Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 2002 84-year old broadcaster Ernie Harwell announced that this season would be his last as the Tiger's play-by-play man. As you may know, Harwell is the only announcer to have been traded for a ballplayer. Branch Rickey, in 1948, needed a substitute for an ailing Red Barber, so he traded catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association for his services. Ernie would broadcast in Brooklyn for two years.
- Happy Birthday, Al Hollingsworth, Andy Pafko, Cesar Cedeno & Xavier Paul!
- Spring Training Notes: There are now 60 ballplayers at the Dodgers spring camp, and 39 of 40 players on their 40-man roster are there (mission only Andrew Toles). This afternoons spring training game against the Cubs will be webcast at Dodgers.com starting at 12:05 PM PST.
- Audio: David Vassegh caught up with Cody Bellinger to talk about what it is going to be like playing in right field, Spring Training, and addresses his latest comments on Dodger Talk (Audio Link).
- Frankly, I'm getting sick of this Bryce Harper stuff. Per Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors; "Dodgers Met With Bryce Harper On Sunday." Ya know... What if Dave Roberts and staff were just in Vegas to have some fun and unwind.
- I wish I could be so optimistic, but history tells me that this should be concerning. Nevertheless, I'll stay positive too. BTW, Ken Gurnick on twitter indicated yesterday that Kershaw will throw today. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider; "Kershaw given a breather; newly retired Utley to assist at camp."
Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s back, which has put him on the disabled list in each of the last three seasons, was not the issue and that it was his arm.“I’m pretty good with reading players, reading Clayton and listening to the training staff. No one’s alarmed or worried about it,” Roberts said.
- Yeah... This is stupid, but you gotta understand collectors. We will buy just about anything... Seriously! Per Eric He at Yahoo Sports; "Topps is selling the tablecloth as relic baseball card from Manny Machado's introductory press conference."
- Everyone loves Rick. Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider; "After back surgery, Honeycutt quickly returns to bring wisdom to camp."
“He’s the best. He really is,” said starting pitcher Rich Hill. “Having spent the last three years around him and being around his ability to communicate with the pitchers and just his ease of communication and his understanding of situations because of his experience … it’s something all of us are really fortunate to have Rick on our side.”
- This is fun. Per Clint Evans at Dodgers Nation; "Max Muncy's Dodgers Legend Grows with a Mural."
- Oh, my! Per Evan Grant at SportsDay; "MLB Players Association's unusual collective meeting with Rangers, Dodgers, White Sox sends unified message to owners."
Instead of meeting individually with all clubs, as is the spring training norm, the MLB Players Association will meet with the Rangers, Dodgers and White Sox collectively. The change was made only in the last week. Union reps, headed by executive director Tony Clark, had been scheduled to meet with the Rangers alone Sunday morning. It's the first time anybody around these parts recalls teams getting together for these annual meetings.It's not hard to understand the symbolism: Players are prepared to show unity.
"There is a sense of urgency for the young guys to get to know the situation," Rangers shortstop and players rep Elvis Andrus said Saturday. "We want everybody to have knowledge of what is going on. We have a lot more unity."
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