Dodgers Close Out the 2009 Camelback Ranch Experience
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 10:22 AM PDT
in Game Threads
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Athletics (14-17-1) at Dodgers (14-17), 1:05pm
The Dodgers close out their first season at Camelback Ranch with a game today against the A's, the Dodgers' 17th game at their brand new facility (two were White Sox "home" games). They have lost their last four games here, including the last three with yours truly in attendance (more on that to follow), but then again, these games don't count.
Clayton Kershaw will start for the Dodgers. If the last few starts for the rotation stalwarts are any indication, the Dodgers will want Kershaw to stretch himself out to 80 pitches or more. Hiroki Kuroda threw 85 pitches Friday, including many after losing his command in what seemed to be an effort to stretch him out, and Randy Wolf was expected to throw 100 pitches Saturday (sadly, I didn't track his pitches as I did for Kuroda). In 20.2 innings this spring, Kershaw has been impressive, striking out as many -- 20 -- as he allowed to reach base. He has even hit as many home runs as he as allowed (1). Kershaw, who was profiled by the LA Times Sunday, will be relied on heavily this season. Jeff Weaver was also expected to throw two innings for the Dodgers, but according to Tony Jackson, Weaver, expected to make the club, will throw three innings in a minor league game instead.
Brett Anderson, rated by Baseball America as the A's top prospect, and the seventh best in all of baseball, will start for Oakland today. Anderson, along with fellow 21-year old top prospect Trevor Cahill, has a strong chance of making the A's starting rotation out of spring training. During my Arizona trip, I had a chance to see a Padres-A's game in Phoenix, which included a home run by old friend Nomar Garciaparra.
The Dodgers will again use their projected opening day lineup, except for Russell Martin, who was scratched with the flu. Per Ken Gurnick:
Furcal SS
Hudson 2B
Manny LF
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Ausmus C
Kershaw P
Today's game at Camelback will be streamed online for free. Click here to watch. The next Dodger game available for viewing is Thursday night from Dodger Stadium against the Angels, to be televised on KCAL.
Also, remember to get your Elite 8 votes in for the 2009 Dodger prediction bracket contest. Voting for this round runs through Wednesday night.
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Kershaw vs. Anderson
is a peek into the future of baseball. Anderson may not have Price’s ceiling or Bumgarner’s fastball, but this is the most polished LHP prospect to come along in a while. Should be a great duel between the 21-year-old Texans.
Gameday Audio = Deal Sealer
That’s $10 I will easily spend.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Update above
Jeff Weaver will pitch in a minor league game rather than follow Kershaw, so Weaver can stretch out to at least 3 innings.
Roster
It looks like the roster is just about done, with only a few minor decisions.
Catchers (2): Martin, Ausmus
Infielders (7): Loney, Hudson, Furcal, Blake, Loretta, Mientkiewicz, Castro or DeWitt
Outfielders (4): Ethier, Kemp, Manny, Pierre
Starters (5): Kuroda, Wolf, Billingsley, Kershaw, McDonald
Relievers (7): Broxton, Kuo, Mota, Wade, Vargas, Weaver, Threets or Ohman
DeWitt will make the roster if they can get him enough starts in place of Blake, Furcal, and Hudson (perhaps 5 every two weeks?). Otherwise they want him playing everyday in AAA, and Castro will make the club.
The 2nd lefty reliever is essentially down to whether or not they sign Ohman or not.
We will have at least three, and perhaps four 40-man roster moves to make to accommodate the NRIs joining the club. My guesses for the corresponding moves are:
1) Schmidt 60-day DL
2) Ardoin DFA
(I’m fairly confident of these two)
3) Schlichting DFA
4) Leach DFA
Disagree on the last two
Because they protected Schlichting (whom they are high on) and Leach for the Rule 5, they have little chance of being let go.
My guesses:
1) agreed (although Schmidt will probably not like it)
2) agreed
3) Vargas DFA. Troncoso would be the better bet.
4) Stults or Repko DFA. Both need a change of scenery.
by silverwidow on Mar 30, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Vargas will make the team
I’m not saying what I would do, but the reality is Vargas will make the team. Check the Tony Jackson link above.
I was thinking about Repko too but since Delwyn Young will eventually get traded or DFA’d I doubt they would limit their OF depth to Paul and Hoffmann.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Conflicting info
Gurnick is sticking with the Vargas to DL line. Personally, I think it’s just a smokescreen and he’ll get the boot next week.
by silverwidow on Mar 30, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
I will bet you
There is 0% chance Vargas gets removed from the 40-man. If he’s not on the DL (weird that Jackson and Gurnick reported two different things despite I’m sure standing in the same area next to Torre), Vargas will be in the bullpen.
Also, Jackson’s report seemed more complete since he also got data from Stan Conte rather than just Torre.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
re:
1. Agreed
2. Agreed
3. No way
4. Doubtful – Greg Miller will probably be gone before Leach
Repko is gone even if he has options. The league is full of outfield depth this year. Lots of players getting DFA’d and Repko isn’t close to being as good as they are.
With everyone looking for pitching help, I think they would trade Stults for a non – 40 man prospect before they would just DFA him. I think position players are more at risk then pitching right now.
Weaver not only has to prove he can help in the bullpen he has to prove he’d be worth dropping a player from the 40 man roster. I don’t think he’s on the roster yet.
by meercatjohn on Mar 30, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Torre disagrees on Weaver
Weaver is making the club. Believe it:
``He has been pretty consistent for me, without telling you he is on the club,‘’ Joe Torre said this morning. ``I think doing what we’re doing today (is telling). Normally, you want to see somebody pitch against big-league clubs, but this is more of a physical thing. I would like to see him stretch it out.’’
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
BHSportsGuy and I
sat around on Saturday trying to anticipate the 40-man moves since it is fairly clear that 3 or 4 moves at least will need to be made.
What about A.J. Ellis? That’s another possibility, leaving the Dodgers with Lucas May as the only other catcher on the 40-man.
If Delwyn Young wasn’t hurt, he would definitely be one of the 40-man casualties.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I doubt they would DFA two catchers.
They wouldn’t trust May as the only backup in case of an injury to Martin or Ausmus.
by Brendan Scolari on Mar 30, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
With Ardoin, and perhaps Ellis
It is likely neither would be claimed so they would just go to the minors. If they have to be called up, that’s a 40-man problem to deal with later.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
That's right.
I didn’t really think about that, but Ardoin wouldn’t be claimed. I’m not so sure about Ellis, but it’s obviously not that big of a deal if he gets claimed anyways.
by Brendan Scolari on Mar 30, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think you'll see too many sad faces
around here if Vargas is dropped. But it all comes down to what Colletti and Torre think.
by Brendan Scolari on Mar 30, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Right
they would only have to pay him 45-days termination pay ($100k) if he’s cut before next Monday.
But from an inventory standpoint, Vargas will still make the team. With a guy like Troncoso, you can just stick him in Albuquerque and call him up when needed, or even try stretching him into a starter if you so desire. The club would rather try Vargas out first, then if needed go to a Troncoso-type than cut Vargas and have less backup options if Troncoso fails.
Again, I’m not saying it’s what I would do, but it is what the club will do.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
RBI by Cabrera
Raja Davis had a leadoff triple then Cabrera hit a single to left field and manny wasn’t testing the hammy
Nope
3 runs. Ellis had a bases-loaded single.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Turning on the speed
Loney with a SB. Great jump by “Fast Game” James.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I dig the music and fan shots during SB
A lot better than the short commercials during the regular season
Not smooth by Manny
dropped fly ball off the bat of Cust. Hit plus an error, 7-3 Oakland.
Rick Monday noted Kershaw has been backing up bases exceptionally well.
Maybe Nomar
will do the opposite of Renteria and rake again now that he’s back in the AL.
If we do make the three DL moves that Gurnick says we are going to do (Vargas, Schmidt, Young) that leaves only one 40 man roster move? Correct?
Only 60-day DL moves free a roster spot
It sounds like Vargas and DY’s injuries aren’t as long term as Schmidt.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Pure speculation
but he pretty much has to I think.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't get the fascination
with “Grinders”/“Baseball Players”
Why is this an attribute that we need? How does this win world championships?
Sometimes it's best to not analyze every quote
Just accept it as a cliche
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Hopefully
Clay K will bounce back during his final exhibition start this Sat at the Stadium. I’m’a try to get tickets.
It's scary
that they might have to carry Sturtze simply because of Troncoso’s failures. Yet another roster move that needs to be made. Unless, they cancel it out by carrying, say, Hu over Castro.
From what I gathered in AZ
Hu will probably be sent down to AAA.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 30, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
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