The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their spring training season yesterday with split squad games versus the Angels and the Giants. Both of the Dodgers squads lost, 4-1 to the Angels and 8-3 to the Giants.
In the game with the Angels, the only Dodgers regulars to see action were outfielders Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and catcher Dioner Navarro. I see Navarro as more the back up to Rod Barajas, maybe even in a platoon type situation due to the fact that he is a switch hitter, more so than I see AJ Ellis winning the back up job. Navarro also has a little more pop in his bat than does Ellis.
Dodgers prospects Jerry Sands and Jake Lemmerman got some at bats against the Angels but the only run driven in was a sacrifice fly by Russ Mitchell. I really don't see him making the team out of spring training either.
On the mound, 2010 organization pitcher of the year Rubby De La Rosa got roughed up a little bit and Scott Elbert also got in a couple of innings of work. Elbert has a chance to make the team out of spring training as a left-handed reliever but he has always had control issues and that may be his downfall. I had a chance to see Elbert pitch about a year or two after the Dodgers drafted him when the Savannah Sand Gnats were the Dodgers low Class A farm team and they played the Asheville Tourists. He was a starter at that time, threw in the low 90's, and worked quickly and effectively. His ticket to the majors seems to be as a reliever.
Most of the Dodgers regulars faced the Giants and prospects Trayvon Robinson, Dee Gordon, and Ivan DeJesus Jr. got in some work against the Giants. I think that DeJesus's window of opportunity closed when he broke his leg a couple of spring trainings ago and his best bet to get to the majors is as a trade throw in at the trade deadline at the end of July. Pitcher Carlos Monasterios got lit up in this game and the Dodgers will probably send him down for more work because they do not have to keep him on the major league roster this season.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Spring Training
I love Spring Training. Even the worst teams in baseball have hope as some young phenom tears up Spring Training pitching with Hall of Fame like averages or some young arm posts Cy Young like ERA's.
The Dodgers seem to be flying a little bit under the radar this Spring Training. With defending World Series champion and pitching rich San Francisco Giants and a talented Colorado Rockies team in the National League West, not much attention is being paid to the Dodgers.
New manager Don Mattingly seems to be trying to set a new tone for the Dodgers this spring training. Dodgers.com has reported that he has even stepped into the batter's box during bullpen sessions to give the pitcher's a batter to face, something I have never heard of any manager or coach doing.
First base coach Dave Lopes was brought in to emphasize base running basics and I am impressed by the reports I am reading off the internet about the work he is doing. Too many times last year the Dodgers ran themselves out of innings and games by making bad decisions or got careless on the base paths. I hope he turns Matt Kemp into a special project because he has the potential to steal 40 to 50 bases a year. Young minor leaguer Dee Gordon is also in camp and he could use some work to hone his baserunning skills.
I have to be honest, I did not think much of the Dodgers choice of Don Mattingly as manager when it was announced. It seems like he is making all of the right moves and doing things a little differently. That is a departure from the old regime of Joe Torre. It will be interesting to see what happens once the games begin.
The Dodgers seem to be flying a little bit under the radar this Spring Training. With defending World Series champion and pitching rich San Francisco Giants and a talented Colorado Rockies team in the National League West, not much attention is being paid to the Dodgers.
New manager Don Mattingly seems to be trying to set a new tone for the Dodgers this spring training. Dodgers.com has reported that he has even stepped into the batter's box during bullpen sessions to give the pitcher's a batter to face, something I have never heard of any manager or coach doing.
First base coach Dave Lopes was brought in to emphasize base running basics and I am impressed by the reports I am reading off the internet about the work he is doing. Too many times last year the Dodgers ran themselves out of innings and games by making bad decisions or got careless on the base paths. I hope he turns Matt Kemp into a special project because he has the potential to steal 40 to 50 bases a year. Young minor leaguer Dee Gordon is also in camp and he could use some work to hone his baserunning skills.
I have to be honest, I did not think much of the Dodgers choice of Don Mattingly as manager when it was announced. It seems like he is making all of the right moves and doing things a little differently. That is a departure from the old regime of Joe Torre. It will be interesting to see what happens once the games begin.
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