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Dodgers Drop Opener in Taiwan

The Dodgers dropped their opener in Taiwan, losing 5-2 to the Chinese Professional Baseball League All-Stars.  Some notes from the game:

Here are a few photos from baseball clinic for 100 little leaguers, led by Chin-lung Hu  and Hong-Chi Kuo at Taipei Municipal Tienmu Stadium in Taipei on Friday night:

Taiwan_clinic_1_medium

Taiwan_clinic_2_medium
Credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers

Before the game, the Dodgers toured Tapei 101, the world's second largest building.  Dodger Vice President of Communications Josh Rawitch described traversing the world's fastest elevator:

It was insanely high and just shooting up 89 floors in about 30 seconds made our ears pop. Joining the group at that point was James Loney, Prentice Redman and Kenley Jansen and while we were there, we found out that Manny Ramirez was having lunch at a restaurant just 14 floors below.

From the fastest moving elevator to the world's slowest moving reliever: Ned Colletti yesterday addressed the reports that Ronald Belisario missed three appointments at the U.S. Embassy to acquire his work visa.  Tony Jackson of ESPN L.A. has the details:

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he has been given no indication of when Belisario might show up or why he has missed the appointments.

"You would think that when you have the opportunity to make a living throwing a baseball, and the opportunity presents itself to pitch in the big leagues, support your family and build a career, that would be something you would pursue to the fullest,'' Colletti said.

"I can't worry about things that I have zero control over or people I have zero control over,'' Colletti said. "If he shows, he shows. If he doesn't, he doesn't.''

Belisario's agent didn't have an update from his client yesterday.  Per the Associated Press:

Paul Kinzer, Belisario’s agent, said Thursday that he didn’t have an update on his client’s status.

“I’m waiting to hear from him today,” Kinzer said. “He’s supposed to be at the consulate now.”

Belisario has lost any benefit of the doubt in this situation.  The Dodgers are mad, and rightfully so.

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Prime Ticket, noon RT @ctrent: #Reds pitchers for 3.12 v. Dodgers: Arroyo, Chapman, Cordero, Fisher, Geronimo, Owings, Smith, Valiquette

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 7:43 AM PST via mobile reply actions  

RT @ctrent: #Reds lineup for 3.12: Stubbs 8 Cabrera 6 Votto DH Phillips 4 Rolen 5 Bruce RF Gomes LF Hernandez C Frazier 1B Arroyo P

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 7:45 AM PST via mobile reply actions  

All I know is that if I was Belisario's agent

I’d have been in Venezuela two weeks ago to either help out or kick his ass into gear. I guess the commission on minimum just isn’t worth the effort.

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 8:11 AM PST reply actions  

Plus, how is he helping his client by saying, “don’t blame me, I tried to call him. I don’t even know where he is.”

Very helpful. Way to have your clients back.

by Michael White on Mar 12, 2010 8:13 AM PST up reply actions  

Loved the Photo

of Kuo surrounded by the sea of kids.

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 8:11 AM PST reply actions  

Stults

continues to sit on the top of the podium. Can anyone unseat him?

Ramon Ortiz doing his best to push Weaver out or take Belisario’s job.

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 8:13 AM PST reply actions  

The next player profile (Jamey Carroll) should be up at 8:30

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:18 AM PST reply actions  

Here is the box score, if anyone is interested

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:27 AM PST reply actions  

If Choi, Castillo and Alvarez

are the pitchers who got beat last night, and Stults pitched well, then I’m not concerned about a loss. Plus I can’t imagine the team isnt still a bit jet lagged. Hope Paul’s 0fer with 2ks doesn’t get him judged too harshly by management.

Btw, when does Garrett A make his debut? Or has he already?

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on Mar 12, 2010 8:31 AM PST up reply actions  

He hasn’t played yet. Maybe we will see him at 1B today or this weekend. I haven’t yet seen the Dodger lineup.

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:33 AM PST up reply actions  

Speak of the devil, no GA

Furcal 6 Ausmus 2 Ethier 9 Kemp 8 Blake 5 Mientkiewicz 3 Ellis DH Repko 7 DeJesus 4 Kershaw LHP

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:33 AM PST up reply actions  

Thanks

I’m still rooting for Minky. At least he can actually play 1B. Though I know since GA can theoretically play the OF (accent on theoretically) then if he can also play 1st that’s a bonus, assuming he can also still hit! Still a lot TBD with GA.

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on Mar 12, 2010 8:35 AM PST up reply actions  

I'm rooting for GA

One armed ballplayers don’t belong in the real league. We don’t need someone who can only play 1st base, Blake or Belliard can do that.

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 8:39 AM PST up reply actions  

Jim Abbott disapproves this message.

by Ivdown on Mar 12, 2010 10:01 AM PST up reply actions  

Jim Abbot could throw

Minky can’t. So could Pete Gray
Bats: Left, Throws: Left , Fields Left as well

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 11:17 AM PST up reply actions  

There are some notes on the Taiwan game

in the Dodger Thoughts comments from a commenter watching in Taiwan.

He has Torre saying this post-game, which should come as no surprise:

Hu’s talented. His future’s bright. Unfortunately for him, we already have Furcal. I think Hu should be playing everyday.
Sounds like the early indicators are that if Carroll can’t cut it as a backup SS, Nick Green is possibly the favorite to make the club as a backup SS.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 12, 2010 8:37 AM PST reply actions  

If DeWitt wins the 2nd base job

can we really carry Carroll, Belliard, and someone like Nick Green?

by meercatjohn on Mar 12, 2010 8:40 AM PST up reply actions  

All four won’t be on the roster IMO. If they decide Carroll can’t cut it at SS, and DeWitt makes the team, it might be at the expense of Belliard (depending on his weight of course). I don’t think that is likely though.

The most likely scenario is DeWitt at 2B, Belliard/Carroll on the bench, and Green in ABQ

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:43 AM PST up reply actions  

I agree, although last year, having only Loretta and Castro as the backup IFs must have felt a bit thin to the coaching staff. With Torre needing a 12-man pitching staff, I imagine their preference is what Eric calls the most likely scenario. A Belliard/Carroll bench is an upgrade from Loretta/Castro (didn’t she co-star in some movies with Rita Moreno?), except that Castro is the best glove man of the bunch.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 12, 2010 8:48 AM PST up reply actions  

One other interesting thing said by commenter Wen_JK:

Stults is overpowering everyone so far. They are blown away by his 88mph fastball. 4 Ks through 2.
I guess it’s probably hard to read too much into these games.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 12, 2010 8:43 AM PST up reply actions  

Sounds like they are used to “crafty” pitcher types. From Ramona Shelburne:

James Loney said the Taiwanese pitchers were throwing mid-to-high 80s and mixed pitches well. Loney hit very well in all three of his ABs

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:44 AM PST up reply actions  

It would be kind of awesome if Stults was able to harness any kind of confidence from his outing into a strong start of the year.

by Eric Stephen on Mar 12, 2010 8:45 AM PST up reply actions  

The Taiwan unis

Look like something the Oregon Ducks would wear, except the white part is too plain.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 12, 2010 8:38 AM PST reply actions  

Hu remains an unknown quantity

Better to start him daily at SS in ABQ knowing he can play 2b too.
In a year or two, he’s got to have utility middle infielder potential atleast, no?

It bothers me thinking we’ve lost belief in him without his ever getting an opportunity…Belliard, Carrol, Loretta…always vets

by megaballs on Mar 12, 2010 9:15 AM PST reply actions  

He had a chance in 2008 when Furcal was injured

And was terrible. Maybe that had to do with his eye issues, but he was given a chance.

by Michael White on Mar 12, 2010 9:18 AM PST up reply actions  

Also, Hu is already 26

If he doesn’t see much of the majors this year, he enters next spring at 27, which sounds more like an AAAA player to me. How much more is he likely to improve? His career AAA numbers (at Las Vegas and Albuquerque!) are .300 / .331 / .417 / .749 in over 900 PA, and not improving. His impressive 2007 season is now three seasons ago; an AA/AAA combined line of .325 / .364 / .507 / .871.

According to minorleaguesplits.com, the major league equivalent for Hu’s 2009 at Albuquerque is .226 / .256 / .297 / .553. For the Dodgers in 2009, that’s a low 40s OPS+.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 12, 2010 9:50 AM PST up reply actions  

Isn't it obvious to everyone else that

Bellisario is just trying to get his head through the neckhole in his sweater? Who hasn’t missed appointments because of that? Puh-lease.

Who is Karim Garcia? Who is he to challenge me?

by Who Is Karim Garcia? on Mar 12, 2010 10:09 AM PST reply actions   1 recs

sounds like a moral victory in Taiwan

Manny hit two fly balls to the warning track, Stults pitched great, Loney got a hit. That’s about all you can ask for as far as the “real” team is concerned.

Well, that and a win, perhaps.

by sarcastro9 on Mar 12, 2010 12:15 PM PST reply actions  

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NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
San Diego 76 59 .562 0 Lost 10
San Francisco 76 61 .554 1 Won 2
Colorado 72 64 .529 4.5 Won 3
Los Angeles 69 68 .503 8 Lost 2
Arizona 56 81 .408 21 Lost 2

(updated 9.5.2010 at 7:48 PM PDT)

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 28 Barajas $117,486
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B  13 Theriot $909,290
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF  21 Podsednik $640,710
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

SS/2B/3B 14 Carroll $1,475,000
OF 5 Johnson $850,000
2B/3B/1B 3 Belliard $825,000
OF/1B 31 Gibbons $155,738
C 12 Ausmus $850,000
C 17 Ellis $332,241

SP 22 Kershaw $440,000
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP  29 Lilly $1,696,721
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000

CL 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 51 Broxton $4,000,000
RHP  26 Dotel $636,612
RHP 74
Jansen $159,563
RHP 54 Belisario $297,541
RHP 38 Troncoso $297,792
RHP 36 Weaver $800,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
RHP 37 Monasterios $460,000

DL 59 Schlichting $185,792
DL 55 Martin $5,050,000

Manny $7,267,760


Pierre $4,000,000


Andruw $3,600,000


Schmidt $2,000,000


Wolf $2,000,000


Hudson $1,440,000


Nomar $1,250,000
Anderson $409,699
Ra.Ortiz $349,727
AAA 45 Miller $292,623
DeWitt $266,612


Ohman $200,000
AAA 49 Haeger $195,393
AAA 47 Wade $194,514
AAA  48 Ely $161,749
AAA 30 Paul $131,147


Repko $122,951
DFA 33 Castro $118,033
Green $96,175
Ru.Ortiz $63,934
AAA 50 Link $48,087
DFA 35
Taschner $39,344


Zerpa $35,000
McDonald $28,771
AAA 60 Hu $13,148
AAA 57 Elbert $6,557
AAA
Hoffmann ($25,000)


Stults ($400,000)

Totals
$99,109,950
 
For more detailed information, click here.

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