Dodgers Set Starting Rotation To Open Spring
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 10:08 AM PST
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PrintToday, Joe Torre announced his starting rotation order...for spring training:
- Vicente Padilla starts the Cactus League opener, a "road" game at Camelback Ranch on March 5 against the White Sox
- Eric Stults will start Saturday, March 6 against the White Sox, the first Dodger home game of the spring, which will be televised on Prime Ticket
- Clayton Kershaw gets the call for game 3, at Mesa against the Cubs on March 7
- Chad Billingsley starts game four, in Scottsdale against the Giants on March 8
- Hiroki Kuroda will start March 9 against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch, also on Prime Ticket (and MLB Network)
Torre also said the team will "probably have six or seven guys on a starters program in addition to the four we have in the rotation." He also said he isn't sure Scott Elbert would be a starter, but they want to build up his innings this spring just in case.
In other news, Ronnie Belliard says he is at 210-211 pounds, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times. It sounds like he is a lock to get down to the target weight of 209 pounds needed to guarantee his $825,000 contract.
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How much should we read into Stults being named a starting pitcher?
Does it confirm what many of us have been thinking, that this is Stults’ job to lose?
I think that’s the case, although I’m sure a bunch of others will be considered too. For the first part of the spring anyway, the starters usually only pitch a few innings, because they need to stretch out. I would imagine for a little while there will be tag teams…i.e. Stults / Lindblom one day, Kershaw / Ortiz another, etc.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
I think so
Despite his past neglect, I think that the team would be fine with giving him the number 5 spot at least for a month or so. I would at least hope that they give a little time to work through any struggles instead of banishing him at the first sight of trouble.
JT: wuzzon?
AJ: nuttin. u?
JT: stults #2 sp lol
AJ: classic.
JT: i told dewitt he had a shot at a starting job
AJ: rofl. stop. ron w’s talking right now
JT: ill hit u back later
AJ: peace
JT: in the middle east, mfer
by kinbote on Feb 25, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
For those out of the LA Market (mostly)
Dodgers will have 7 games on MLB Network this spring, but 6 of those are already on Prime Ticket:
Mar 6: White Sox
Mar 9: Rockies
Mar 10: D-Backs
Mar 17: White Sox
Mar 26: Royals
Apr 3: Angels (at Dodger Stadium)
The one extra game is at the Rockies, on March 30.
Apparently Jason Heyward is causing quite a stir in Braves’ camp with today’s batting practice. From David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Heyward BP carnage update: B. Cox said Braves plan to hang netting to protect cars after repeated Jason Heyward projectiles to exec. lot
Cox said Heyward not only busted sun room of asst. GM Bruce Manno’s car, but bent the frame around it. $3,400 repair, $2,500 deductible
The MLB Twitter account summed it up thusly:
Hey @JasonHeyward take it easy on #Braves execs’ vehicles beyond RF fence at Spring Training (nice start to a legend btw)
More on Padilla, from Ken Gurnick:
Padilla has recovered from an accidental gunshot wound and has thrown bullpen sessions performed fielding drills without limitation
From last thread
for Ray G:
Here is the link to today’s Tony Jackson chat on ESPN LA.
This will be his fourth chat since joining ESPN. Full archive here.
Per Tony Jackson, in response to silverwidow’s question about Ely:
John Ely is actually in big-league camp, but I haven’t watched him throw or discussed him with Torre or Honeycutt as of yet. He sounds like a guy who has a legitimate shot of making it down the road, but I think the plan this spring is just to get a good look at him for future reference.
News to me. I wonder if it’s because minor league camp hasn’t technically started yet (or has it?)
I guess early minor league camp started today.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 12:14 PM PST up reply actions
Great question by Dave
regarding Furcal’s health and the backup SS. Tony Jackson replied:
The backup SS will be Jamey Carroll is the backup SS, with Casey Blake able to fill in there on occasion. Joe says if DeWitt is the regular 2B, he’ll play ONLY 2B because Joe doesn’t want him moving around. If somebody gets hurt, they can always bring one of those guys up from the minors when the need arises
I believe the chat software ate some of his answer, but I am guessing it was this:
The backup SS will be Jamey Carroll[, Belliard] is the backup [1B}, with Casey Blake able to fill in there on occasion
This is a little late for the new Blake nickname discussion, but as long as he keeps the clean shaven look, I’m going with The Erstwhile Beard.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 25, 2010 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
He is about to answer your follow up (I sent one too). That would be awesome though. :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
To me, this was the most interesting part of the response.
Joe says if DeWitt is the regular 2B, he’ll play ONLY 2B because Joe doesn’t want him moving around. If somebody gets hurt, they can always bring one of those guys up from the minors when the need arisesI suppose is DeWitt is the 2B, Carroll is the primary back up for The Erstwhile Beard, which works out fine.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 25, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
My speculation of chat software error was incorrect. TJ meant to say Blake could fill in at SS on occasion.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
with occasion meaning something like “emergency”.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 25, 2010 12:59 PM PST up reply actions
I sent one “question” in too late, that said I would like to see — just for the oddity of it — a late-inning infield one game of:
3B Martin
SS Blake
2B DeWitt
1B Belliard
That would be awesome. :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
Still
the main part of the answer by Jackson was that Carroll is the backup SS. Whether that is Jackson pontificating, or having inside info (it could be both I suppose), I don’t know. But I like that a lot better than Green, Berroa, or Hu.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
This would set us up to have a pretty decent bench of Carroll, Belliard, Ausmus, Johnson, and Minky/Giles.
I think Tony does also. His reply to a question about DeWitt’s odds of winning the 2B job.
I think DeWitt’s chances of winning that job are at least 50/50. He is going to be given every benefit of the doubt because it makes the roster work better if he’s the guy. If he ISN’T the guy, he goes to ABQ, and Carroll and Belliard split the job. It’s better for the Dodgers to have BOTH of those guys on their bench.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Kyle Russell
Tony said the front office is telling him Russell is a star of the future. They must be in love with his power.
Maybe his K rate is just a smoke screen
He’s actually capable of hitting every pitch that he’s thrown, but the Dodgers don’t want to let that cat out of the bag yet.
Ken Gurnick has an article on the team’s reaction to Manny’s comments. He sums up with a Loney quote, which seems like the bottom line to me:
“You’ve got to know him, I guess,” James Loney said. “People who don’t know him, they’ll listen to what he says and make any kind of judgment. From what he said, you really can’t tell if he really knows or if he’s assuming he won’t be back. We don’t get too excited about anything he tells you guys.”
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I Am Surprised...
… that there hasn’t been more of a reaction here to Torre all but stating that he is not considering Elbert as a fifth starter candidate, saying we will get him innings “as if” he will be a starter. I didn’t like Elbert’s chances to begin with, but to be ruled out by Feb. 25? Didn’t see that coming. Gurnick also claims that Torre said he would “prefer a veteran” for the fifth starter job. Unless Stults and McDonald suddenly have veteran status, that makes it sound like The Flying Ortiz brothers are the two favorites. God help us.
Ortizes
“Flying,” as in projectiles they allow off the bat :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 1:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I just saw that article, which went up less than one hour ago.
Torre says so many things that I have begun to shrug my shoulders at all of them and just wait for his actions to speak louder than his words.
If I had to bet on what Elbert’s fate is, I’d put money on him being in Albuquerque’s rotation to start the year. If he is reasonably effective, he’ll get brought up later if the earlier fifth starters falter, or a another starter goes down.
Maybe McDonald and Stults have sort-of veteran status with Torre now. McDonald’s been through two playoffs for him. He’s seen Stults enough and has to know he’s 30, and not some fuzzy-cheeked college age kid.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I can’t say I love the way it was put, Canuck, but in a way this isn’t any more newsworthy than the Manny announcement earlier this week. This early in the season, the No. 5 spot is just about guaranteed not to go to someone who has remaining options. As long as Elbert is being viewed as a long-term candidate, I can live with that.
On the "Long-Term Candidate" Thing...
There is a problem on that front as well. Throughout the off-season there has seemed to be a disconnect between Torre and Colletti on the subject of Elbert. Colletti has said in a number of interviews that the “organization” — presumably White, Watson, and minor league pitching coaches — sees Elbert as a starter. But during the same period of time, Torre has made comments that suggest that he sees Elbert as a reliever, without any qualifier about Elbert having a different role in the future. If Elbert has to be a Triple A starter this season, okay. But since it is looking like Torre is certain to be returning as manager for 2011, Elbert looks screwed. Or maybe I should say those of us who think Elbert should be starting in the majors are screwed. Disagreement with Torre over Elbert’s role may even be the kind of thing that gets Elbert traded, with Colletti thinking that there is no point trying to force Elbert down Torre’s throat in the role where he would have the most value, and Elbert’s value as a reliever is limited.
by CanuckDodger on Feb 25, 2010 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
Since Torre said today, “We’re going to try to get Elbert as many innings as a starter because we think that’s the best thing to do,” I’m not going to panic yet about him locking Elbert away in the bullpen.
Sure It Is Reading Between The Lines...
…but even that statement by Torre, in context, sounded like he is deferring to what the organization wants. As long as he doesn’t have to use Elbert as a starter in April, what does he care? Anyway, while you are keeping a stiff upper lip, I think I am going to panic.:)
by CanuckDodger on Feb 25, 2010 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
Colletti
Will be on 710 ESPN with Mason & Ireland today at 4pm
by Eric Stephen on Feb 25, 2010 1:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
kensai
has his next profile up: Chris Withrow. Silverwidow is salivating already.
If you’re looking for a power arm, Withrow is your man. […] Withrow easily sat in the 92-95 mph range, and rushing it up there at 97 wasn’t uncommon. The fastball has good natural arm side run, especially when he’s working down, and it’s an explosive swing and miss pitch up in the zone. Scary thing? There’s still projection left.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
New Top Post.
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/2/25/1326748/dodger-daily-news
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
The current rotation
makes me thank the Gods in the Blue sky above that we have a pitcher friendly ball-park, and a supreme center fielder.
No more raining on Bruins Nation's rainy parade, they took their ball and went home.
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