Roger Arrieta
DOING IT BIG: The Dodgers play host to the Texas Rangers this afternoon in the first of two meetings this spring. The other matchup comes tomorrow, when Los Angeles will send a split squad to Surprise at 1:05 p.m. The two clubs last met in the regular season in 2009 and the Dodgers are 11-9 all-time against the Rangers.
In just 13 days (Wow!), the Dodgers play Team Australia in an exhibition game at the Sydney Cricket Ground followed by two games against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series, March 22-23. Opening Day is just 15 days away!
HONORING A LEGEND: Yesterday, the Dodgers were saddened to announce the passing of Special Advisor to the Chairman Dr.Frank Jobe, who was 88 years old. Jobe is survived by his wife, Beverly, four sons—Christopher, Meredith, Cameron and Blair—their spouses and eight grandchildren. Jobe, who began his association with the Dodgers in 1964, made medical history in 1974 when he performed what is now termed “Tommy John surgery.” Jobe took over the full-time care of the Dodgers in 1968 and was named a Special Advisor to the Chairman in 2008. Said John: “Baseball lost a great man and Tommy John lost a great friend. There are a lot of pitchers in baseball who should celebrate his life and what he did for the game of baseball.” Today at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers will honor Dr. Jobe with a moment of silence.
NICE WORK, JOHN PRATT: Yesterday, the Dodgers had their first taste of the new instant replay system and it was a success as far as results are concerned. Angels’ outfielder Mike Trout tripled to center field in the first inning and was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch a triple into a home run on a great relay from Yasiel Puig to Hanley Ramirez to A.J. Ellis. After looking at the play on a television feed, crew chief Gerry Davis upheld his initial “out” call and history was made. The replay system will be utilized this season for the first time and is being tested in Cactus League play during various Dodger games, including March 11 at Kansas City, March 12 vs. Arizona, March 15 vs. Chicago-AL and March 16 vs. Colorado.
Dodger video coordinator John Pratt will be assisting with the replay process during Spring Training from the visiting clubhouse. Pratt is in his third season as the club’s video coordinator after joining the organization in 2011 as the Triple-A Albuquerque video coordinator.
THE GENERAL: Dodger right-hander Zach Lee will make his first appearance of the spring today against the Rangers. Lee, who has been slowed by a lat strain the last few weeks, went 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) for Double-A Chattanooga last season. The Texas native was the Dodgers’ first-round draft selection (No. 28 overall) in 2010.
Dodger reliever and newly-minted knuckleballer Brian Wilson will make his third spring appearance today after firing scoreless innings on Feb. 27 and March 4. Last year, Wilson joined the Dodger bullpen in late August and went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA (1 ER/13.2 IP) in 18 appearances. For good measure, he tacked on 6.0 scoreless frames and a victory in the 2013 postseason as well.
The rest of the Dodger pitchers will feature a “who’s who” of the big league bullpen as closer Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez and Brandon League are all scheduled to throw.
Zack Greinke felt good again today and, according to Dodger skipper Don Mattingly, will face live minor league hitters tomorrow. Greinke suffered a right calf strain in his first Cactus League appearance Thursday, Feb. 27.
TIE ONE ON: The Dodgers held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth yesterday, but came out of Tempe with a 4-4 tie, their second deadlock of the spring season. Scott Van Slyke provided the Dodger offense with a sixth-inning grand slam, the club’s second in two days. On the mound, starter Dan Haren was terrific, firing 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out three.
FOX SPORTS 1 ON 1: Today, Fox Sports 1 visited Dodger camp and conducted interviews with several players for their season preview. The Dodgers will make several nationally-televised Saturday appearances on Fox and Fox Sports 1 early in the season, including April 5 against the Giants (FS1), April 19 vs. the D-backs (FS1), May 10 vs. the Giants (FS1) andMay 31 vs. Pittsburgh (FOX).
The Nine Network from Australia, which will televise the Opening Series against the Diamondbacks in Australia, was onsite this morning, talking to Clayton Kershaw and Brian Wilson.
SOME MINOR ADDITIONS: The Dodgers will have five minor leaguers suiting up for today’s game vs. the Rangers: LHP Fu-Te Ni (#83), LHP Tom Windle (#94), infielder Darnell Sweeney (#87), infielder Jacob Scavuzzo ($90) and outfielder Jon Garcia (#91).
Windle, the Dodgers’ second-round selection in last year’s draft, will make his first appearance with the big leaguers. The 6-foot-4 left-hander pitched for the University of Minnesota from 2011-13 and last season went 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the Single-A Great Lakes Loons.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Date/Time Opponent Location Probables TV/RADIO
March 8 / 1:05 p.m. at TEX (ss) Surprise LHP Paul Maholm vs. RHP Tanner Scheppers KLAC
7:05 p.m. vs. SEA (ss) Glendale RHP Josh Beckett vs. RHP Erasmo Ramirez SNLA/KTNQ
March 9 / 1:05 p.m. vs. SF Glendale LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. LHP Edwin Escobar SNLA/KLAC/KTNQ
via Los Angeles Dodgers
