I asked Jon if he planned to do one of these this year and he said no. On the theory that some of us might want to play, I just set up a group. Pick your bracket this afternoon when the selections are announced!
Group name: Elysian Fields
Password: hershiser59
And Carl Crawford expects to play.
The Dodgers play the Rangers today in Surprise (yes, that’s the name of the town). Kershaw is starting and has a pitch limit of 90. Here’s today’s lineup:
Alfredo Amezaga CF
Nick Punto 3B
Jerry Hairston 1B
Yasiel Puig RF
Skip Schumaker 2B
Alex Castellanos LF
Matt Wallach C
Dee Gordon SS
Clayton Kershaw P
Here’s a nice message board with photos, discussions, and memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Ebbets Field.
via The Left Field Pavilion at Facebook.
An injection of platelet-rich plasma was the preferred treatment.
Greinke missed a bullpen session 10 days ago because of discomfort in the back of the elbow, missed a start five days ago because of the flu, then threw an impressive bullpen session Friday without issues.
But the discomfort in the back of his elbow returned when he played catch Sunday. The club said the decision to send Greinke for an exam was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
He returned to LA and was examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who diagnosed inflammation but no structural problems.
Hyun-Jin Ryu took his place in the lineup today and gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings while striking out three and walking two. The Dodgers lost to the Brewers 3 – 2. Yasiel Puig continued his hot hitting, going 2 for 2 to get his average up to .452 for the spring (14 for 31)
Old friend Russell Martin pulled out of the World Baseball Classic when Team Canada decided he’d catch rather than play shortstop as he preferred.
Say what? Martin hasn’t played shortstop since 2002, his first pro season in the minors, and that was just one game.
This hasn’t endeared him to Canadian fans, nor has it done him any favors with Justin Morneau of the Twins, who’s playing for Team Canada.
But the desire to play a new position is kind of what has everybody wondering what the decision-making process was behind that. When we get there, we’ll be there with everybody who wants to be there and with somebody who’s capable of playing shortstop.”
You know, as badly as Martin’s skills have fallen off and as weird as this reasoning is, I think it’s just as well we let him go to the Yankees a couple of years ago.
Update: Another old friend, Rafael Furcal, is going to have Tommy John surgery and will be out for the season.
That’s a shame. When he was healthy Raffy was a great shortstop for the Dodgers.
Update: Tonight’s (March 8) game is available via webcast. Capuano is on the mound to start.
Update: Video of Kershaw’s two-hit one-run outing today in Scottsdale, which the Dodgers won 6 – 1. Juan Uribe (!) had a three-run home run.
Colletti on Twitter yesterday:
Love that Netherlands named their team after me. #honkbal #NED twitter.com/DodgersGM/stat…
— DodgersGM (@DodgersGM) March 3, 2013
Beckett started this morning’s game. Kemp is the DH.
Update: Live webcast of the game here.
Update: Dodgers win 5 – 1 on a three-run home run from youngster Yasiel Puig. Next webcast will be on Wednesday, March 6.
Who among you guys and gals has paid out your $110 bucks for MLB.TV on the computer in the past? I posted this on Facebook the other day, and I’m wondering how it’s worked for others.
So I’m thinking of subscribing to MLB.TV to watch games on the desktop this season until I look at the blackout restrictions for my zip code (and state, for that matter):
The below-listed Club(s) is within the searched home television territory, and MLB.TV is subject to blackout for all regular season live games for these Club(s):
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles DodgersCool. I can watch all the games for all the teams I have no interest in whatsoever, but anything on the West Coast is verboten. Keep your $109.99, MLB.TV.
What a load of BS. Like I’m gonna hop a plane and fly over to watch the game so I can’t be given access to it on TV lest I hurt the paid gate.
As you can see, I’m annoyed by this. Has anyone tried it?
Update: Jon SooHoo has posted a number of great pictures from today’s activities at Camelback Ranch on his official Dodgers Photo Blog.
Update: Dodgers – Angels Gameday.
“Juan Uribe had the first hit for the Dodgers, a line single, and Andre Ethier the first extra-base hit, a triple off left-hander Leyson Septimo.”
Well might you ask “what the hell is Juan Uribe doing in the lineup at all?” A question, unfortunately, that I can’t answer.
Kershaw started, gave up two runs in two innings, and came out for Belisario. He too gave up two runs in the Dodgers’ eventual 9 – 0 loss to the White Sox.
Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu make their Dodgers exhibition debut Sunday against the White Sox at noon PT on Gameday Audio.
Update: Ownership in the form of Mark Walter and Stan Kasten was present for the game, and had some thoughts for Barry Bloom of MLB.com:
Expectations are high now for the Dodgers, and criticism could follow if they don’t win.
“I suppose people will say we were foolish or something and maybe they’ll even be right, if that’s the case,” Walter said. “I know Stan is going to do everything possible for the long term. We know that you can’t be a perennial strong team, strong franchise, without a farm system and player development. Stan is going to build that.
“I feel that especially in L.A., where there’s been a down period we’ll say, we needed to do something to tell the fans we cared and wanted to be back. Whether that results in a World Series ring right away or not, there’s really no guarantee of that. But it does tell people we care a lot.”
From Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.
Talking of Kershaw and Greinke:
“I’m thinking, ‘Why me?’ This is awesome,” said Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis. “I get to catch two of the elite pitchers in all of baseball. Two former Cy Young winners. Guys who are probably going to win more Cy Youngs in their future. I’m more than excited.”