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The Dodgers will host a special Veterans Day batting practice session on Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the club announced today. From the Dodgers:
Approximately 80 members of the military, including representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard, will be treated to a batting practice event at Dodger Stadium on Veteran’s Day.
The group will hit on the field at Dodger Stadium, throw in the Dodger bullpen, hit in the indoor batting cages and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Dodger clubhouse. Two representatives from each branch will participate in a home run hitting contest to conclude the event and the winner will receive four tickets to Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants on April 1.
The Dodgers also announced that among the Dodger alumni to appear at the event will be Tommy Lasorda, Don Newcombe, Ned Colletti, Steve Yeager, Roy Gleason, Ken Landreaux, and Bobby Castillo.
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In other news, Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times caught up with Dodger manager Don Mattingly last week in Arizona:
His penchant for details may make him more of hands-on manager than Torre, who had his coaches warm up the team while he entertained reporters and guests.
Mattingly makes his way around the field in the hours leading up to a game, throwing batting practice, watching bullpen sessions and talking to players, all things he wants to continue during the regular season.