True Blue LA - Mar. 23: Dodgers 10, White Sox 4Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-03-23T23:14:23-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/39045912013-03-23T23:14:23-07:002013-03-23T23:14:23-07:00Ryu, Puig fuel rout of White Sox
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>Ryu gave the Dodgers their longest outing of the spring, while the Cuban Missile led an offensive assault.</p> <p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> continued his storybook spring on Saturday night, but the story of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' 10-4 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> at Camelback Ranch was <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span>. The left-hander pitched seven innings, the longest outing by a Dodgers starter this season.</p>
<p>Ryu allowed a run in each of the first two innings, but only on a walk, one hit, and a wild pitch. After a second-inning double, Ryu retired 17 of his final 18 batters faced, including the final 11 in a row. Ryu struck out five on the night.</p>
<p>"He was a little sluggish early it seemed like, but then he just kept getting better and better. He threw 20-something pitches in the first, then ended up with under 100 in seven innings, so that's pretty good," said manager Don Mattingly. "He got efficient, and it seems like his stuff just get better as the game goes."</p>
<p>Ryu even had a hit at the plate, matching his total allowed for the game. It was the first hit for Ryu since high school, eight years ago. But the talk after the game was Ryu's performance on the mound.</p>
<p>"He's just been consistent, really," Mattingly said. "I just think he's been pretty solid every time out. You can't really say that he hasn't pitched good."</p>
<p>Though Mattingly hasn't technically named his starting rotation outside of <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, <span>Zack Greinke</span>, and <span>Josh Beckett</span>, it's clear that the other two spots will be occupied by Ryu and <span>Chad Billingsley</span>. When asked if Ryu was a part of his rotation, Mattingly was equal parts evasive and revealing.</p>
<p>"I don't know if I have to come out and name anybody, but it's hard to say this guy isn't in the rotation with the way he's pitched," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>Ryu's next start will be Thursday night in Anaheim.</p>
<h3>Daily Puig Update</h3>
<p>Puig didn't start Saturday for the Dodgers, but he still managed to impress. He made a sprawling catch down the left field line, he advanced from first to third <i>easily</i> on an errant pickoff attempt, and oh yeah, he had three more hits in his three at-bats.</p>
<p>Puig is now hitting .547/.527/.887 for the spring. He has 10 hits in his last 11 at-bats, 15 hits in his last 19 at-bats, and 18 hits in his last 27 at-bats.</p>
<p>"It's kind of getting goofy now," Mattingly said. "It's almost like Little League."</p>
<p>Whether or not Puig makes the opening day roster is a question that is becoming less and less farfetched by the day, and will basically be asked daily until a decision is made. But Mattingly had two telling answers Saturday.</p>
<p>When asked how could he send a guy like Puig down, Mattingly said, "I haven't sent anybody down. But I usually just tell them."</p>
<p>Mattingly was then asked to imagine how good his team must be if Puig wasn't one of the best 25 players.</p>
<p>"I don't know about that," Mattingly said.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<span>Carl Crawford</span> went 1-for-2 played three innings in left field, his first game in the field since Aug. 19. Mattingly said Crawford will play five innings in left field on Sunday, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in Phoenix.</li>
<li>
<span>Matt Kemp</span> went 1-for-3 with a two-run double and walked twice, and also stole his third base of the spring.</li>
<li>
<span>Andre Ethier</span> went 2-for-4 with a three-run double.<br>
</li>
<li>
<span>Juan Uribe</span> was a late scratch from Saturday's starting lineup with tightness in his right hamstring. He took ground balls before the game to test the hamstring but it still felt tight. He will be reevaluated on Sunday. "He didn't want to mess anything up," Mattingly said.</li>
<li>The pitching rotation has been set for the remainder of the Cactus League. Josh Beckett will start Sunday in Phoenix against the A's, Zack Greinke will start Monday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> in Surprise and <span>Chris Capuano</span> will pitch in a game on the back fields, <span>Aaron Harang</span> starts Tuesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> in Glendale, and on Wednesday in Peoria against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> the start will go to Clayton Kershaw, expected to throw only about three innings, to be followed by <span>Ted Lilly</span>. <br>
</li>
<li>The announced crowd of 13,721 on Saturday night set a new Cactus League attendance record.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>The Dodgers still have one Cactus League park they haven't yet played at this year, but that gets rectified Sunday afternoon with a trip to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to play the A's. Beckett gets the start for the Dodgers, against <span>A.J. Griffin</span> for Oakland.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/23/4140620/hyun-jin-ryu-yasiel-puig-dodgers-white-soxEric Stephen2013-03-23T17:54:15-07:002013-03-23T17:54:15-07:00Ryu, Beckett, Greinke to start Freeway Series
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers will send Hyun-jin Ryu, Josh Beckett, and Zack Greinke to the mound to start their three games against the Angels beginning Thursday night in Anaheim.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have set their pitching rotation for next week's Freeway Series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>, though the starter for the Apr. 2 regular season game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> hasn't been determined, and likely rests on the right index finger of <span>Chad Billingsley</span>.</p>
<p><span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span>, who starts Saturday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> at Camelback Ranch, will start in Anaheim on Thursday, Mar. 28 in the Freeway Series opener. <span>Josh Beckett</span> gets the call on Friday at Dodger Stadium, followed by <span>Zack Greinke</span> pitching Saturday in Anaheim.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h2>Starting Lineups</h2>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#000000" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>White Sox</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>De Aza (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Sanchez</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Keppinger</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Dunn (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Flowers</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Short</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Cruz</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Wise (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Amezaga</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Tolleson</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Peavy</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Ryu</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span>Ryu vs. Peavy in Glendale</span>
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<p>In a minor league game on Saturday, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/23/4139824/chad-billingsley-minor-league-game-finger" target="new">Billingsley threw 92 pitches in 4⅔ innings</a>, but is still unable to throw a curve ball because of a bruised right index finger. He will attempt to throw curves in his bullpen session on Monday, then in his next start on Mar. 28.</p>
<p>"He's going to need to have all his weapons. I'm comfortable from the standpoint that he continues to throw, his velocity's good, and he's able to pitch in games," manager Don Mattingly said. "In some ways, other than not being able to use your breaking ball, it makes you pitch a little bit more, using your change up and locating better because you don't have all of your weapons."</p>
<p>Billingsley's start on Mar. 28 will likely be in Rancho Cucamonga, where the Dodgers face the Quakes, their Class-A affiliate in an exhibition game. But the Dodgers are still awaiting clearance from MLB that the game would not count as a major league game before having Billingsley pitch. The Dodgers might want to place Billingsley on the disabled list to start the season, and can back date the start of that DL stint as far back as Mar. 22, provided he doesn't pitch in any major league games.</p>
<p>"We have decisions to make with Bills, along the lines of will he be able to use his curve ball by then, and does that game count as a major league game," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>Mattingly said that if the game in Rancho Cucamonga is classified as a major league game he will have Billingsley pitch Thursday in a simulated game of some sort to stay on turn. Mattingly said the decision on whether Ryu or Billingsley starts Apr. 2 won't come until after their respective Mar. 28 starts.</p>
<p>The Dodgers don't technically need a fifth starter until Apr. 13, but could use one as early as Apr. 7.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li> <span>Carl Crawford</span> is expected to play three innings in left field on Saturday night, his first game in the field since Aug. 19.</li>
<li> <span>Juan Uribe</span> was originally in Saturday's starting lineup, but was a late scratch with a tight right hamstring. <span>Alfredo Amezaga</span> started in his place.</li>
<li>Saturday's lineup is essentially the opening day lineup, and one Mattingly said he would use for the next four days. The Dodgers have three night games during that span. Mattingly did say he would rotate some players in at third base over the next few days as well.</li>
<li> <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> left the Dodgers complex on Saturday with a cast on his right hand, headed home to Miami, and will rejoin the team in Los Angeles. Mattingly said at some point soon Ramirez will be able to do some footwork exercises to stay active.<br><br>"We feel like he's going to be able to do some stuff. He can continue to do some things we like without being able to throw or hit," Mattingly said. "We'll be able to do some things with Hanley to keep him sharp."</li>
<li>With the split squad games on Mar. 28, Mattingly said it was likely that <span>Yasiel Puig</span> would make the trip to southern California, but wouldn't commit to Puig playing any games past Thursday. "We haven't gotten that far," Mattingly said.</li>
<li>Essentially there could be several roster cuts made after Thursday's split squad games. There are currently 39 players in big league camp.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 7:05 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: KCAL</p>
<p>Radio: KTNQ (Spanish); MLB.com (White Sox broadcast)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_23_chamlb_lanmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/23/4140300/dodgers-freeway-series-pitching-rotation-angelsEric Stephen2013-03-23T16:00:03-07:002013-03-23T16:00:03-07:00Crawford returns to the field vs. White Sox
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<figcaption>USA Today Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Carl Crawford last played in the field on Aug. 19.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> take on their Camelback Ranch co-tenants Saturday night as they battle the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>. <span>Carl Crawford</span> makes his return to the field, playing left field for the first time in a game in 216 days.</p>
<p>Crawford has played four Cactus League games as a designated hitter so far this spring, and has hit .231 (three singles in 13 at-bats) with a walk. He was also successful in his only stolen base attempt.</p>
<p>Here are Saturday night's starting lineups:</p>
<h3>White Sox</h3>
<p><i>Per <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ChiTribRogers/status/315579123869294592">Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune</a>.</i></p>
<p>DeAza CF<br>Keppinger 3B<br>Rios RF<br>Dunn 1B<br>Flowers C<br>Sanchez SS<br>Wise LF<br>Tolleson 2B<br>Peavy P</p>
<h3>Dodgers</h3>
<p>Crawford LF<br>Ellis 2B<br>Kemp CF<br>Gonzalez 1B<br>Ethier RF<br>Cruz SS<br>Uribe 3B<br>Ellis C<br>Ryu P</p>
<p>Mattingly said on Friday that he would start to play his regular lineup more often during the final week of spring, and this looks pretty much like the opening day starting eight, with perhaps third base still up in the air.</p>
<p>Also scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers after Ryu are <span>Brandon League</span>, <span>J.P. Howell</span>, <span>Paco Rodriguez</span>, and <span>Mark Lowe</span>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/23/4139586/dodgers-vs-white-sox-lineups-carl-crawford-left-fieldEric Stephen2013-03-22T13:57:49-07:002013-03-22T13:57:49-07:00Crawford to play LF Saturday
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Crawford last played a game in the field on Aug. 19, 2012, while with the Red Sox.</p> <p><span>Carl Crawford</span> has passed the appropriate thresholds required, and will return to the field on Saturday for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, for the first time since Tommy John surgery last Aug. 23. The move was announced by manager Don Mattingly on Friday, and will come nine days prior to opening day.</p>
<p>Crawford on Friday is the designated hitter against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, his fourth Cactus League game. </p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h2>Starting Lineups</h2>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#ff0000" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Reds</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Heisey</td>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Phillips</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Votto (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Hairston</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Ludwick</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Bruce (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Cruz</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Frazier</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Cozart</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Herrera</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Mesoraco</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Leake</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Amezaga</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span>Kershaw vs. Leake in Glendale</span>
</div>
<p>Beginning Saturday, the Dodgers will have eight more exhibition games remaining, including three Freeway Series games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> in Anaheim and Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Crawford was shut down for a week on Mar. 1 after minor nerve irritation in his left arm, and returned to batting practice on Mar. 7. He began a light throwing program on Mar. 14, and played in his first game as designated hitter on Mar. 17.</p>
<p>Speaking of Crawford, Chad Moriyama <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18510">wrote about Crawford's batting stance for Baseball Prospectus back in October</a>, and asked me to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chadmoriyama.com/2013/03/carl-crawford-confirms-that-i-am-a-genius-or-that-he-just-changed-hitting-mechanics/">check with Crawford to see about some of the changes he made</a>. Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mikesciosciastragicillness.com/2013/03/20/a-visual-study-of-carl-crawfords-problematic-batting-stance/16566">went a step further with screen caps and heat maps</a> to show the trouble Crawford had with outside pitches with a more open stance.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li> <span>Ted Lilly</span> is throwing a minor league game on the back fields at Camelback Ranch as we speak.<br>
</li>
<li> <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> will start Saturday's night game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> in Glendale, while <span>Chad Billingsley</span> will pitch in a minor league game at 1 p.m.</li>
<li> <span>Alfredo Amezaga</span> was originally scheduled to start at second base and bat ninth for the Dodgers, but was scratched due to illness. <span>Elian Herrera</span> moved from right field to second base, and <span>Alex Castellanos</span> got the start in right field instead.</li>
<li>Scheduled to pitch after <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on Friday are <span>Mark Lowe</span>, <span>Josh Wall</span>, <span>Paco Rodriguez</span>, and <span>Peter Moylan</span>.</li>
<li>Scheduled to pitch after <span>Mike Leake</span> for Cincinnati are Aroldis Chapma, <span>Jose Arredondo</span>, <span>J.J. Hoover</span>, <span>Sean Marshall</span>, and <span>Clay Hensley</span>.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 1:05 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: none, but <a href="http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=16646644&c_id=LA&content_id=25646279" target="new">webcast on Dodgers.com</a></p>
<p>Radio: MLB.com (Reds broadcast)</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_22_cinmlb_lanmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/22/4136584/carl-crawford-left-field-dodgersEric Stephen