Dodger Thoughts

For more photos from today, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

On the first official day of Spring Training, there’s enough material for two batches of ICYMI — thanks in part to the dual, shirt-dazzling presence of Andrew Friedman and Don Mattingly. Let the bullet points begin …

• New Dodger starting pitcher Brett Anderson has tested his surgically repaired lower back through several bullpen sessions and so far, so good, reports MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, who adds that “Anderson said he might be on a slightly modified workload early in camp, but his goal is to train at the same pace as the other starting pitchers.”
• Per Gurnick, “Hyun Jin-Ryu said on Thursday that he’s in better shape to throw than he was his first two springs with the Dodgers, having already thrown more bullpen sessions in an attempt to avoid the shoulder problems that plagued him last year.”
• Clayton Kershaw juxtaposed his regular-season success with his postseason disappointment, reports Gurnick.
• More on Kershaw comes from Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, including this note on fatherhood.
  

  … “I feel like I’m a decent dad at this point. It was tough to leave them, obviously, but Ellen’s a champ. She can handle it,” Kershaw said. “I’ve definitely changed some diapers and I’ve gotten up. I mean, there’s only so much you can do, but I’ve offered some moral support.” …

• Saxon also quotes Friedman on the bullpen situation:
  

  … “Right now, the guys we’ve had some trade discussions about, the guys that are freely available, we’re going to continue to try to sift through it and figure out what actually makes sense as opposed to a reactionary move that may look good in the moment,” Friedman said. …

• A.J. Ellis told J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News that he worked with a coach during the offseason on trying to improve his pitch framing, which he takes seriously.
  

  … “It’s definitely real,” Ellis said. “I think it’s something that people are giving a lot more credence to. People are looking at it. Catching is such a hard position to evaluate because there’s so many intangibles that you can’t put a measurement on.

  “People love lists, and this is one way you can see a list of rankings and make judgments on who belongs where. There’s no stat right now for a catcher’s value in calling a game.” …

• This quote from Chris Hatcher is part of Eric Stephen’s notebook at True Blue L.A.:
  

  …”First and foremost, I just want to make the team. Second of all, just to be ready when they call my name,” Hatcher said. “They haven’t really expressed anything to me, and I’m not expecting [to close]. I’m just preparing to be ready to take the ball.”‘ …

• Longtime Dodger fans remember Ron Cey’s incomparable single, “Third Base Bag.” Cey talks to Dan Epstein about it at Fox Sports’ Just a Bit Outside.