Kershaw Ends His Cactus League in Style; Martin Back Tuesday
by Eric Stephen on Mar 28, 2010 3:52 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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PrintClayton Kershaw, who is scheduled to start the home opener on April 13, wrapped up his Cactus League with a solid performance today, as the Dodgers beat the Reds, 2-1 in Goodyear. Kershaw went six innings, allowing just one run on six hits, walking one while striking out seven. In 16 spring innings (not counting the five innings thrown in a minor league game on March 17), Kershaw has a 1.69 ERA with seven walks and 17 strikeouts. Kershaw will likely pitch Friday in Anaheim against the Angels, putting him on track to start the second game of the season on regular rest, on April 7 in Pittsburgh.
Ramon Ortiz, Ramon Troncoso, and Luis Ayala combined to retire the final nine batters on the game, completing the Dodger win. Ortiz had two strikeouts in his inning of work, and now has 21 strikeouts in 15.2 spring innings. On the KABC postgame show with Josh Suchon, Ortiz said he felt good working both sides of the plate, crediting his time working with a much smaller strike zone in Japan. Ortiz also said former Dodger Ramon Martinez was his pitching coach in the Dominican Republic this winter, calling him "a very good teacher." Ortiz, who was pitching in the second of back-to-back games today, seems more and more like a lock for an opening day roster spot, likely out of the bullpen.
Russell Martin caught seven innings in a minor league game against Cleveland, and his comeback plans have now been accelerated. Martin will catch Hiroki Kuroda in a minor league game Monday afternoon at Camelback Ranch, then join the big league club in Tucson on Tuesday against the Rockies. It's hard to blame Martin for wanting to see Hi Corbett Field one last time, since the spring training scenes for Major League were filmed there, and the Rockies are moving to a new spring home next year.
In other news, Doug Mientkiewicz is mad that the Dodgers haven't granted his release even though they aren't contractually obligated to do so until Friday. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has the details:
"I understood from the minute they signed Garret [Anderson]. I appreciated the chance and walked away quietly, figuring it was a no-brainer that I'd get my release. They found somebody better. When Joe told me, I assumed I was released. Next thing I know, my agent calls and says the club is calling me unprofessional for leaving. So I'm not bitter or pouting, but I feel like the Shawshank Redemption. Let me go. No place I'd rather be than with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But I'm not one of the 25. I'm OK with that. I get it. Then, why hold onto me?"
The Dodgers return to Goodyear tomorrow night, this time to play the Indians. Chad Billingsley will start, and be followed by Jeff Weaver, Jonathan Broxton, and George Sherrill.
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"let my people gooooooo!"
Give the man his release. Let him try to get on elsewhere. I am pumped for opening day. I can’t wait. I’m even more pumped for may 1.
by Skunkburner on Mar 28, 2010 5:06 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I don't know the exact details
of Ramon Ortiz’s contract. But, might pitching him out of the pen be an attempt to save money from his bonus? I don’t really see why he wouldn’t be the favorite for the 5 starter. Since they don’t have a problem with Heager out of the pen. Assuming everyone else is out of the mix.
Nah, I want Haeger chosen as the 5th starter
Haven’t seen a great knuckleballer since Phil Niekro and Hoyt Wilhelm.
I agree
Just speculating why Joe/Ned might be leaning toward Haeger.
Ortiz might have shown them something as far as stamina
Haeger seems to have more of it, probably expends less energy per pitch/per inning than Ortiz? I don’t know, just a hunch. i really see him as a potential innings eater. Ortiz seems to work effectively enough in shorter stints.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Keep an eye on Sherrill....
he was working with Honey and Ausmus on the slider. They were talking about him flying open and seemed to be tinkering with his foot placement on the rubber. I saw them doing the same thing with Kuroda’s placement after his game in Peoria, but before his last start, and there was a big difference in his performance. I’m not saying we can expect similar results, but i did see the slider getting better as they worked….he did hang a couple too. we’ll see tomorrow.
In other news, Russ Martin was taking advantage of the pitchers throwing their pens. he stood in and watched about 25-30 pitches today from where the batter’s box would be. He’ll be ready for opening day; I feel bad for AJ. One odd thing is that he took a few pitches from the left handed batter’s box too. i’ve saw him hit lefty in the cages last spring, so maybe he a frustrated switch hitter.
On first blush the Cain deal doesn’t seem that good a deal. It looks like all the 3-year deal accomplished was to buyout hist first year of free agency for $16.5m. I don’t see any savings there. Although I need to look at the escalators in his previous deal that could perhaps have made the deal worthwhile for SF.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 29, 2010 12:26 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
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