Pregame – Page 32 – Dodger Thoughts

March 12 pregame: Zack is back

On March 12, 2014

In Health/injuries, Minor leagues, Pregame

By Jon Weisman

Zack Greinke makes his first exhibition game appearance since his four-pitch outing about two weeks ago. (Has it only been two weeks?)

Greinke is expected to pitch two innings.

Almost simultaneous to today’s game, Matt Kemp was playing in a minor-league intrasquad game at Camelback, including his first action in center field of the year.

First AB for @TheRealMattKemp during today’s intra squad game at @camelbackranch. Kemp making progress. pic.twitter.com/oTaM95F3dE

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 12, 2014

Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Chone Figgins, 3B
AJ Ellis, C
Dee Gordon, 2B
Zack Greinke, P

Scheduled to follow Greinke today on the mound are Zach Lee, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Chris Perez and Chris Withrow.
Adrian Gonzalez told Dylan Hernandez of the Times that he’s looking to take more walks in 2014.

“I’ve done a decent job of it so far this spring,” he said. “I’ve walked three or four times and a lot of at-bats have gone deep into counts. There have been at-bats where I got frustrated because I walk and I’ll say, ‘I want to hit now,’ but then I’m like, ‘Stay with it.’ “
Chris St. John of Beyond the Box Score compiled a consensus ranking of the Dodgers’ top 65 prospects.

March 11 pregame: A Sandy Koufax-Roger Maris trade?

By Jon Weisman

On March 11, 2014

In History, Pregame

Dodgers vs. Royals, 1:05 p.m.
Chone Figgins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Justin Turner, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sydney …

The Dodger press notes helpfully point out that the team record for Spring Training ties is five, achieved in 2006.
Scheduled to follow Dan Haren on the mound today are Jose Dominguez, Javy Guerra, Paco Rodriguez, Chris Withrow and Jamey Wright.
Red Patterson was reassigned to minor-league camp today.
Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier will rest today, then be scheduled to play the next five days in a row before the team leaves for Australia, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Times.
Maury Wills, 27 when he became a Dodger regular, talked to Kevin Baxter of the Times about 25-year-old Dee Gordon.
Mark Saxon has a couple of pieces at ESPN Los Angeles looking ahead to Australia, including this interview with Australian former Dodger infielder Craig Shipley.
Sandy Koufax gets the Union Oil 1961 Family Booklet treatment (via Blue Heaven), with this tidbit: “Allegations persist that the Dodgers twice declined to swap Koufax to Kansas City for Roger Maris.” Maris was the American League MVP in 1960, remember, while Koufax was 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA.

March 10 pregame: Autograph much?

By Jon Weisman

On March 10, 2014

In Defense, Pregame

A’s vs. Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Andre Ethier, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Tim Federowicz, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

Welcome to the final week of Cactus League play for the Dodgers.

Scheduled to follow Hyun-Jun Ryu on the mound today are Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, Chris Perez, J.P. Howell and Brandon League.
An interesting, color-coded chart on Dodger fielding (using Inside Edge data from Fangraphs) is provided by Cody Stump at Feelin’ Kinda Blue.
Here’s Frank Howard, 1961 Union Oil booklet style, at Blue Heaven. Again, these are great primary source documents on figures from our Dodger past.
Dancing Tommy Lasorda.
Sunday in Jon SooHoo.
Here is newly elected Japanese Hall of Fame pitcher Hideo Nomo visiting Vero Beach’s Historic Dodgertown, where he is now a partner with Peter O’Malley, Terry O’Malley Seidler and Chan Ho Park.
“I wish for this to be a place where people can come back to see both what it was and also what it is now,” Nomo said. “To preserve the history of a place that was home to Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax is special, and I hope kids can feel the nostalgia while also creating new memories for themselves.”

March 9 pregame: Kershaw and Opening Day, together again

By Jon Weisman

On March 9, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Spring Training

Giants vs. Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Chone Figgins, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Mike Baxter, LF
Alex Guerrero, 2B
Miguel Rojas, SS
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

It’s official: Clayton Kershaw has been named the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter in Australia on March 22, where he will be followed in the second game by Hyun-Jin Ryu.

“Kershaw will be the first Dodgers pitcher to make four consecutive Opening Day starts since Ramon Martinez from 1995-98,” writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. “Don Sutton has the Los Angeles record with seven (1972-78).”

Kershaw and Ryu are scheduled to face Patrick Corbin and Trevor Cahill.

In addition, though Matt Kemp isn’t expected to make the trip to Australia, Mattingly has said that the outfielder is close to making it into Spring Training action.

“We’re seeing him take fly balls, getting jumps,” said Mattingly (via Gurnick). “He’s swinging the bat good. It won’t be long before he’s in a game.”

A few other notes:

Kershaw today will be the first Dodger starter to bat for himself in a game this year.
Prized infield prospect Corey Seager is suiting with the big club for a Cactus League game for the first time today.
Among those scheduled to follow Kershaw on the mound today are Javy Guerra and Red Patterson, each of whom working on shutout streaks of at least four innings in Spring Training.
At this morning’s L.A. Marathon, which began at Dodger Stadium, J.P. Howell’s wife Heather ran to raise support and awareness to counter human trafficking. From the Dodger press notes: “Howell is affiliated with ‘Run for Hope’ at the marathon and is running for two shelters located in Southern California: one is a 72-hour rescue center, and the other a long-term rehabilitation and restoration program that provides for intense counseling, medical, and legal needs of victims, as well as GED and job search.”

March 8 pregame: Split-squad day

By Jon Weisman

On March 8, 2014

In Pregame

Dodgers vs. Rangers, 12:05 p.m.
Chone Figgins, 2B
Joc Pederson, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Miguel Olivo, DH
Justin Turner, SS
Mike Baxter, LF
Brendan Harris, 3B
(Paul Maholm, P)

By Jon Weisman

Paul Maholm starts the first of two Dodger games today, with the other partition of the team taking on Seattle at Camelback this evening.

According to the Dodger press notes, six players are pulling double-duty today and are scheduled to appear in both games: Mike Baxter, Joc Pederson (starting both games), Alex Guerrero, Miguel Rojas, Clint Robinson and Brendan Harris.

Today additionally brings what I think you might call a highly anticipated appearance from Seth Rosin, who has pitched five innings this spring with no walks and eight strikeouts. Also suiting up is Steve Edlefsen, one of two players the Dodgers signed from their open tryout.

Last pregame press note: “This morning, Zack Greinke threw approximately 35 pitches in a simulated game to Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp, who is also progressing in his rehab. Kemp took some limited-range flyballs today in the outfield to supplement his running program.”

March 7 pregame: Please, Hammer, don’t hurt ’em

By Jon Weisman

On March 7, 2014

In Pregame, Spring Training

[mlbvideo id=”31452429″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

There was a pitch in Thursday’s 4-4 Dodger tie with the Angels that was heading scarily toward the same spot on Hanley Ramirez’s body that turned the 2013 National League Championship Series on its rib.

The good news is that the pitch hit Ramirez’s triceps and that, as predicted by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, he is playing today.

The bad news is that ballplayers and dreams are still too fragile.

In other news …

Read More

March 6 pregame: Replay ball

By Jon Weisman

On March 6, 2014

In History, Pregame

Dodgers vs. Angels, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Andre Ethier, DH
Justin Turner, 2B
Mike Baxter, RF
Chone Figgins, 3B
(Dan Haren, P)

By Jon Weisman

Today’s the first day that the Dodgers will have a chance to test out expanded instant replay with an umpire challenge. Dodger video coordinator John Pratt will be assisting with the replay process.

Also …

Carl Crawford told Kevin Baxter of the Times that he won’t go to Australia if his third child, whose birth could arrive at any time, isn’t born before the trip.
Zack Greinke threw a 25-pitch bullpen session today and could return to game action next week, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
Gurnick also visited with Team France manager Eric Gagne for this feature.
Chris Anderson, the Dodgers’ top draft pick in 2013, will suit up in the Dodger uniform for a game for the first time today.
The Life magazine website presents some great Dodger photos from Spring Training 1948.
There will be baseball at Dodger Stadium three weeks from today.

March 5 pregame: Inside-the-park homerless runs

By Jon Weisman

On March 5, 2014

In Health/injuries, History, Pregame, Spring Training, Uncategorized

[mlbvideo id=”31433525″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers vs. Reds, 6:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, CF
Carl Crawford, DH
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, LF
Alex Guerrero, 2B
Tim Federowicz, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
(Hyun-Jin Ryu, P)

By Jon Weisman

I keep risking a jinx, but 60 innings into the exhibition season, the Dodgers haven’t allowed a home run. They’re the only team that hasn’t been taken yard in 2014.

The shot that Joc Pederson flagged down in the video above wouldn’t have been a home run, but it’s about as far as anyone has hit one against Los Angeles so far. Let’s see what happens in the Dodgers’ first night game.

Scheduled to follow Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound today are Jose Dominguez, Javy Guerra, Matt Magill, Paco Rodriguez and Carlos Frias.
Ross Stripling had to have arthroscopic surgery today before he can have his Tommy John surgery on a future date. Ken Gurnick has details at MLB.com.
Zack Greinke threw off a mound today for the first time since injuring his calf February 27, Gurnick reports.
And to complete a Gurnick hat trick, a nice feature providing some welcome background on Dodger pitching prospect Red Patterson. Check it out.
Spring Training stats: All-glove, no-hit Miguel Rojas is batting .444 and fielding .895.
Former Dodger Trent Oeltjen will play for Team Australia in the March 20 exhibition against the Dodgers in Sydney, notes Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale are pictured during their 1966 holdout with David Janssen on the set of the movie “Warning Shot” in a post by Scott Harrison at Framework.
Peter Gammons has a long piece on the 2014 Dodgers at Gammons Daily.
Eric Gagne is managing the Team France baseball team that began a five-game Cactus League tour with an exhibition game today against Dodger minor leaguers.
Today in 1961 primary source material on the Dodgers at Ernest Reyes’ Blue Heaven: Gil Hodges.

Brian Wilson told @alannarizzo “he thinks he’s going to be in the bigs throwing a knuckleball successfully about the age of 50.” #Dodgers

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 5, 2014

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2014

In Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Mariners vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Andre Ethier, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Juan Uribe, 3B
Clint Robinson, 1B
Justin Turner, SS
Chone Figgins, 2B
(Brian Wilson, P)

By Jon Weisman

The first round of springtime reassignments took place this morning. Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Stephen Fife, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin were optioned to minor-league camp, while Sam Demel, Griff Erickson, Daniel Moskos, Chris O’Brien and Chris Reed were reassigned to minor-league camp.

It all amounts to the same thing; the difference has to do with being on the 40-man roster vs. being a non-roster invitee.

As previously announced, today is a bullpen day while the Australia unbound Zack Greinke gets his calf back on track. Scheduled to follow Brian Wilson are Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Jamey Wright and Chris Withrow.

Carl Crawford returns to the defensive end of things today, in left field.

Item from the Dodger press notes: “Scott Van Slyke’s father, Andy, will be in uniform for Seattle this afternoon as he enters his first season as the Mariners’ first base coach.”

And in other news this morning, Ted Lilly, who threw his last Major League pitch for the Dodgers on June 4, has been hired by the Cubs as a special assistant in the front office, writes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

March 3 pregame: Figgins of our imagination

By Jon Weisman

On March 3, 2014

In Pregame

Dodgers vs. A’s, 12:05 p.m.
Chone Figgins, 3B
Andre Ethier, CF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Nick Buss, RF
Miguel Olivo, DH
Dee Gordon, 2B
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier takes a turn at center field, while the wheel of Chone Figgins lands on third base. At this point, I won’t be satisfied unless Figgins plays at least eight positions this spring.

Scheduled to follow Clayton Kershaw on the mound today are Brandon League, Seth Rosin (he of the five strikeouts in two innings Wednesday), Pedro Baez, Carlos Frias and Jarret Martin.

By the way, with Zack Greinke missing his scheduled start Tuesday, that game against the Mariners will become a full bullpen day for the Dodgers, with Brian Wilson scheduled to be the first pitcher. Ken Gurnick has more on Greinke and other less-than-100-percent Dodgers at MLB.com.

One more link for the morning: Matt Kemp just needs those wheels unleashed, because his swing is back, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com.

Mark McGwire joined the Dodgers as hitting coach more than a year after Matt Kemp nearly won the Most Valuable Player Award in 2011, and the swing McGwire saw last year was very different from the powerful and unusually high finish McGwire recalled from the past.

McGwire explains it this way: A right-handed hitter drives with his left arm — his lead arm – and steers with his right. When Kemp was at his best, he had been able to lift and drive the ball to right-center field. But last year, Kemp still seemed to be recovering from the shoulder surgery he had in the fall of 2012, and McGwire never really saw that classic Kemp finish. Rather, his front arm was noticeably lower in his follow-through, and, instead of lifting the ball, he tended to hit looping liners without much carry, a lingering sign that his repaired shoulder was not yet operating at 100 percent.

On Friday morning, before the Dodgers’ exhibition against the White Sox, McGwire saw that old swing again. …

March 2 pregame: Who plays center in Kemp’s absence?

By Jon Weisman

On March 2, 2014

In Defense, Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Padres vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, LF
Tim Federowicz, C
Alex Guerrero, 2B
Justin Turner, DH
(Josh Beckett, P)

By Jon Weisman

One of the intriguing questions for the Dodgers this spring, with Matt Kemp likely to start the season on the disabled list, is which of the remaining outfielders will play center field. Today, Yasiel Puig is the middleman, with Andre Ethier lining up in right. Come March 22, we’ll see.

Joc Pederson (pictured above), who would be a center-field candidate should the Dodgers have the unfortunate event of multiple outfield injuries, is in left field today.

Puig is also batting leadoff for the first time in 2014 Cactus League play. After Josh Beckett makes his spring debut on the mound, Paul Maholm, Stephen Fife, Sam Demel and Daniel Moskos are scheduled to follow.

In other pregame news:

Justin Sellers, who was designated for assignment February 22 after Erisbel Arruebarruena was signed, has been traded to Cleveland for cash considerations.
Nothing definitive has been announced on Zack Greinke, but the Dodgers’ cautious approach to his right calf issue is decreasing his chances of going to Australia, as Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. writes.
Ross Stripling is meeting with doctors this afternoon to go over the results of his MRI, the Dodgers said.
Chad Billingsley had what is being termed “normal” soreness after throwing breaking balls for the first time in nearly 11 months, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Billingsley plans to include cutters in his next bullpen session Tuesday.
Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Jose Dominguez, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Javy Guerra, Matt Magill, Jarrett Martin, Paco Rodriguez, Seth Rosin, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Skyke and Chris Withrow have signed their 2014 contracts, the Dodgers announced.
A GIF-filled review of Alex Guerrero’s initial efforts on defense is provided by Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest.
Former Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota has reportedly retired, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star (via MLB Trade Rumors). In two separate stints with the Dodgers, Mota had a 2.79 ERA with a 1.126 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 in 294 innings.

March 1 pregame: Modest good news for Matt Kemp

By Jon Weisman

On March 1, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers vs. Brewers, 12:05 p.m.

Carl Crawford, DH
Chone Figgins, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Brendan Harris, SS
Mike Baxter, LF
Dee Gordon, 2B
(Dan Haren, P)

By Jon Weisman

Matt Kemp will be able to take a step forward in his attempt to return to action, though there’s still a ways to go. Ken Gurnick has details at MLB.com:

… Kemp will increase his baseball activity after favorable results from an MRI of his healing left ankle, but there still is no timetable for his return to game action.

Kemp will step up agility work on the field, manager Don Mattingly said, and progressively ease into jogging.

“The main thing is, he’s got to speak up,” Mattingly said. “We expect some soreness, but it can’t be the wrong soreness. He’s at Step 5 of a seven-step progression.” …

Matt Kemp ran today, said he never thought running would be so fun.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) March 1, 2014

Gurnick also has the latest on Zack Greinke here.

Rain is threatening play today, but if the game gets underway, Carl Crawford will return to the lineup (as designated hitter), while Chone Figgins will start at his third position in four games. Dan Haren is hoping to make his first Cactus League start of 2014.

February 28 pregame: Ross Stripling sidelined, will have MRI

By Jon Weisman

On February 28, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers

Two fans at Camelback Ranch on Thursday.

White Sox vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.

Chone Figgins, LF
Andre Ethier, CF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, DH
Alex Guerrero, 2B
(Hyun-Jin Ryu, P)

By Jon Weisman

Today’s health-and-well-being blotter from Ken Gurnick at MLB.com includes updates on Matt Kemp, Zack Greinke, Carl Crawford, Brandon League, Chad Billingsley, Scott Elbert and a new name, Ross Stripling.

Stripling will undergo a contrast MRI on his right elbow, which came up sore nearly a week ago. And as Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. notes, Stripling made the rookie mistake of not telling someone right away, and pitched two innings Wednesday after the soreness materialized.

“We didn’t hear a thing about it. He didn’t tell a trainer, and didn’t tell a coach. It’s one thing we talk about with young guys, it happens every spring,” Mattingly said. “You ask them to let somebody know, but they don’t want to tell anybody because they want to compete.

As for the others, Gurnick said that Greinke might play catch as soon as today, that Kemp had his MRI (that might or might not clear him to begin running) on Thursday but results haven’t been announced and that Crawford is expected to play Saturday.

Gurnick also added via Twitter that League (lat strain) is throwing a simulated inning against Kemp and that Billingsley said he will begin throwing breaking balls on Saturday. In addition, Gurnick reported that Scott Elbert threw off a mound today for the first time since his January appendectomy.

J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News has more on Billingsley.

Crawford, Ellis resting as play opens at Camelback

By Jon Weisman

On February 27, 2014

In Pregame

Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.

Dee Gordon, 2B
Andre Ethier, CF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Mike Baxter, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Tim Federowicz, C
Alex Guerrero, DH
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis are being held out of action today by the Dodgers.

Crawford has a tight right hamstring, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, while Ellis was suffering from the flu.

It was Crawford’s left hamstring that put him on the disabled list in 2013.

“We don’t feel like this is anything that’s going to linger, but it is part of the process with Carl,” Don Mattingly said, per Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles. “With only X amount of games, we know we’ve got to kind of be careful.”

According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News, Ellis came in to work today but was sent home.

“He didn’t look great,” Mattingly said.

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Category: Pregame (Page 32 of 32)

March 12 pregame: Zack is back

March 11 pregame: A Sandy Koufax-Roger Maris trade?

March 10 pregame: Autograph much?

March 9 pregame: Kershaw and Opening Day, together again

March 8 pregame: Split-squad day

March 7 pregame: Please, Hammer, don’t hurt ’em

March 6 pregame: Replay ball

March 5 pregame: Inside-the-park homerless runs

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

March 3 pregame: Figgins of our imagination

March 2 pregame: Who plays center in Kemp’s absence?

March 1 pregame: Modest good news for Matt Kemp

February 28 pregame: Ross Stripling sidelined, will have MRI

Crawford, Ellis resting as play opens at Camelback

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