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Dodgers Spring Training Report: March 28, 2009

by Miguel Salcido on March 29, 2009 in Spring Training

Well another uneventful offensive display by the Dodgers today losing 6-1 to the White Sox. And another day where Manny out shined the rest of the lineup going 2 for 3 with a walk and two more singles. Furcal also had two hits. Casey Blake was again absent tending to the birth of his third child.

Once again, the pitching performance from our starter Randy Wolf was unspectacular. But he got his work in going five and a third innings and allowing four runs on on six hits and two walks.

I noticed the Dodgers being very aggresive on the bases. It seemed as though they all had green lights. Unfortunately A.J. Pierzynski was on his “A” game and threw out two runners on the day. Gavin Floyd looked great for the Sox and seemed ready to start the season. There were a few called strikes too, the first to end the first inning.

I saw Mark Loretta working out before the game with trainers in left field. He looked good and I couldn’t tell that anything was wrong with him. He did sprints at about 60% it looked like. He was in a great mood and joking with the fans in left field about his “speed.” Looks like the Manny humor is rubbing off on the team, making fun of your weaknesses.

Speaking of Manny, he looks ready to, batting .533 this spring. That’s one homer and seven singles. He jokes, “I’m Dave Roberts….. without the speed.” But seriously, he is swinging free and smooth and tracking the ball well. Torre has praised his talent and approach and definitely feels that Manny is ready for the season, at the plate anyways and that is apparently good enough for him!

On the family note, today was much better as we have figured out how to use the stadium. We found seating on the grass in left center under a small tree so we had some level of shade and protection. Plus there is more of a breeze out there than down the left field foul line grass.

We toured the entire grounds, got a balloon animal from a clown on stilts walking around the park, found the garlic fries stand from Gordon Biersch, and found the fans that spray cool water on you. Again, beautiful facilities and the shade will come with time as the tress grow and they maybe add more coverings per fan feedback, or at least more of those misting fans.

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Dodgers Spring Training Day 1

by Miguel Salcido on March 27, 2009 in Spring Training

It was a cold and blistery morning, no seriously, it was F#%!ing COLD this morning! It has been super windy in AZ the past few days and was supposed to stop today, which it did after noon. Of course we brought nothing but shorts and tank tops expecting blistering heat and froze our butts off. The complex at Camelback Ranch opens at 8am to the public and they let you in to the park at 9am.

We waited where the Dodgers players come out to the fields to warm up and lined up with the other fans, about 30-35 people, to try and solicit autographs. We had no success. The only person who stopped to sign was Don Mattingly but he was on the other side of the walkway from us. There were zero White Sox fans at the complex, which seemed really odd to me. Also, the White Sox side has absolutely no access to the players while the Dodgers side does.

It is a nice complex, not quite finished, but finished enough to get the first spring training in. We went home, dropped the wife off to get nails done (Dodger Blue of course), and had lunch to regroup and head back for the 1pm game agains the Kansas City Royals.

So you have to pay $5 for parking each time you enter which sucks. We paid $10 in parking today in total and that is just robbery for spring training. The main field was BEAUTIFUL though. We had grass seats and sat down the left field line right where the players walk by and where Manny roams.

The fans were great, especially the ones with kids themselves. It was blazing sunshine with just enough of a cool breeze. But he field is sunken down and so there is virtually no breeze once you sit down. Manny was having a good time with the fans in left field who were giving him quite the ribbing for taking so long to sign this off season. I think he gave more than one person a virtual heart attack this off season.

Now to the game.

Camelback Ranch Glendale

Pretty uneventful as Gil Meche the opening day starting pitcher for the Royals  had our number today, except for Manny. Manny had a nice smooth stroke and just seemed like he was trying to line singles in front of the outfielders, which is exactly what he did 3 times. Manny had 3 of the Dodgers 5 hits all day, if that tells you anything about the excitement level of the game.

Kuroda looked OK, stretching out to five and two-thirds of an inning. He gave up four runs on eight hits. More importantly, he got his work in and looks on track to be our opening day starter.

My kids started getting heat rashes (they get sensitive skin from their mother) so we bailed out a little early. Once we were out of the seating areas it was nice and cool though because it brings you up and out of the sunken pit that the field and seats are in. I can see how that design was a good idea though because of the crazy winds that can kick up with dust, rocks, and dirt here in Arizona!

I overheard someone saying that a game was actually called because of wind in Scottsdale yesterday. So the winds are finally gone and it should be even hotter tomorrow, mid 80s. The wife and kids may not make it out to the ballpark, or if they do it will only be for a few innings. What I have come to realize is that you cannot really enjoy a game when you have to watch your kids. I am a baseball junkie so I hang on every pitch. Oh well, its just nice to be here and spend time with the famdamily! I’ll have to plan a boys trip for next year. ;-)

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Ethier Finally Coming Around

by Miguel Salcido on March 26, 2009 in Spring Training

So the bags are packed, the kids loaded up, dvd playing, and we are on our way to Glendale Arizona for our first Spring Training ever! I am in the back of the party bus (aka minivan) with my laptop and trusty Sprint wireless card. The excitement level is super high and the best part about it is that I am not sure who is more excited, my wife, my 4yr old, or me!

Back to the Dodgers. The boys in blue lost 12-8 to the Brewers. But Ethier’s bat finally came around in yesterday’s game with three hits for three RBIs. He laced a double with the bases loaded scoring three runs. But what I find most interesting about this is that he did it after Manny Ramirez struck out with the bases loaded right before him.

This reinforces the idea that Ethier should be hitting in the 4 hole right behind Ramirez. He really is a good hitter with decent discipline and some power to go with the high average. Of course an even crazier, and less likely, lineup would have Ethier batting 2nd behind Furcal and before Manny. He’ll see alot of fastballs in that position and hit ton last year batting in front of Ramirez.

Now the bad news, pitching. Stults was hammered for 5 runs on three hits and three walks to start the first 2 and a third innings. Claudio Vargas followed with 4 runs on 4 hits, including 2 homers, in 1 inning of work! Despicable!

Then came 21 yr old rookie sensation Josh Lindblom with 3 great innings of work. He had 2 strikeouts, and only 1 walk which was his first of the spring, throwing 44 pitches to stretch it out a bit.

Torre seems really high on this kid but he will most likely be sent to AA to start the season and start games. Then he will called up to replace a failing veteran for the 5th spot in the rotation, ala Clayton Kershaw last season.

My guess is that James McDonald will earn the 5th rotation spot out of camp and that Jason Schmidt will build up in AAA and eventually come up to take that spot, moving McDonald into long relief.

I will be attempting to take as many pictures as I can and do some great blogging about my experiences at Camelback Ranch. Wish us luck!

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