True Blue LA - Mar. 25: Royals 8, Dodgers 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-03-25T22:01:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/39106852013-03-25T22:01:00-07:002013-03-25T22:01:00-07:00Puig goes 1 for 2 in loss to Royals
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<figcaption>Eric Stephen | True Blue LA</figcaption>
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<p>The Cuban outfielder has 11 hits in his last 15 at-bats, and a whopping 30 hits in 56 at-bats in Cactus League play.</p> <p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> had one hit in his two at-bats on Monday in the Dodgers' 8-2 loss to the Royals in Surprise, which caused his batting average to <i>decrease</i> from .527 to .526. The outfielder also struck out, his 11th against no walks in 59 plate appearances this spring. But the strikeouts have become more and more rare.</p>
<p>Puig hadn't struck out since Mar. 12, when he punched out twice against <span>Mat Latos</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> at Goodyear Ball Park. He want 23 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout before the ninth inning Monday against twice former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> draftee <span>Luke Hochevar</span>.</p>
<p>For the spring, Puig is hitting .526/.508/.842.</p>
<p>Puig's strikeout in the ninth inning came on a check swing, one that home plate umpire Anthony Johnson didn't feel the need to call for a check swing at first base. It was the same scenario as <span>Matt Kemp</span>, who struck out on a check swing to end the seventh inning. Manager Don Mattingly came out to argue.</p>
<p>"I really wasn't even mad. It wasn't so obvious that you don't even check," Mattingly said. "He told me I was arguing balls and strikes, and I said, 'What are you going to do, eject me from a (f***ing) spring training game?'"</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://mlb.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=25866613&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" align="middle" width="400" frameborder="0" height="224">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>Mattingly <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=25866613&partnerId=as_mlb_20130326_6645564">was ejected from the game</a>, the first time he has even been tossed as a manager during a spring training game. I brought up to Mattingly that he was ejected last year on both Mothers Day and Fathers Day, and that tonight was Passover.</p>
<p>"You might be stretching it a little bit," Mattingly joked. "What's next, Secretary's Day?"</p>
<p>"Puig Day?" I asked.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Mattingly didn't sound too worried at Zack Greinke's performance, saying that the outing was more to building up arm strength for the regular season. "If it were the regular season or a regular occurrence, maybe. But for his first time out there in a while, this is what we talked about," Mattingly said. "(The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>) have a good young hitting lineup there."</li>
<li>Kemp went 0-for-3 and is hitting .171/.265/.317 during the spring, but Mattingly wasn't worried about him either. <br><br>"I'm okay with Matt. He's got bat speed, you see that. I think he's frustrated now because he wants to get hits all the time. Honestly what I like is that he's starting to want his hits," Mattingly said. "He's feeling good enough now, and that intensity is there. That's what we expect. I'm okay with where he's at. I think mentally he's ready, and physically he has looked ready."</li>
<li>Mattingly sounded encouraged at Chad Billingsley's bullpen session, during which he was able to throw curve balls. "Rick (Honeycutt, pitching coach) saw him throw his breaking ball, and he looked pretty good," Mattingly said. "It sounded encouraging that he was able to throw it well today."<br>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/25/4147772/yasiel-puig-dodgers-spring-trainingEric Stephen2013-03-25T20:33:42-07:002013-03-25T20:33:42-07:00Greinke off, building up for regular season
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>Greinke has one final spring tune up start before his first scheduled regular season start on Apr. 5 against the Giants.</p> <p>The good news for <span>Zack Greinke</span> is that on Monday night he was able to throw 64 pitches without any elbow discomfort whatsoever, in his first time facing big league hitters in 24 days. The bad news for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> is that he was roughed up by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> for five runs in three innings of work.</p>
<p>"A lot needs to be improved upon. The fastball wasn't great and the off speed was below okay," Greinke said. "The changeup was good, so there was one positive."</p>
<p>Greinke faced three batters in the fourth inning, and walked them all. They eventually scored.</p>
<p>"The first inning started too slow. It got better in the second inning and the third. The fourth inning I felt alright, but I was mad about the 3-2 pitch to Hosmer and the 3-2 pitch to Cain. Beside that I felt normal," Greinke said. "But 3-2 you can't make it that bad to where they can't even offer at it. Francoeur had an at-bat you don't expect from him. I was trying to throw close pitches and he was taking."</p>
<p>Greinke's last outing against major league hitters came on Mar. 1, and he noticed the difference in competition.</p>
<p>"I think it's a big difference. Everything is different about major league hitters and in the minors, guys who have been in the majors have a different presence," Greinke said. "My off speed was so bad they didn't even have to worry about it. So you can't even get a judge on how good my fastball was because there was nothing else they had to worry about."</p>
<p>Greinke threw 40 of his 64 pitches for strikes on Monday, and in his final spring tuneup on Saturday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> he will likely have a limit somewhere near 75 pitches. Greinke said he will be ready for Apr. 5, his first scheduled start of the regular season.</p>
<p>"It tells me I have some work to do, to build up my arm strength. I also have to fine tune some off speed stuff. If the arm strength is there, I can make it work. That's the number one most important thing," he said. "We'll see if I can build up some endurance with it, where I can go 100 pitches. That's the goal. I felt good tonight, but need some improvement."</p>
<h3>Up next</h3>
<p>The Dodgers play their final home game on the Cactus League schedule on Tuesday night, a televised night game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> at Camelback Ranch. <span>Aaron Harang</span> gets the start for the Dodgers, likely with several of the same scouts <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/25/4147176/chris-capuano-trade-rumors-dodgers-rangers-mariners-indians-pirates">in attendance to watch Chris Capuano pitch in a minor league game on Monday</a>. Old friend <span>Jon Garland</span>, who signed a major league deal with the Rockies on Sunday, starts for Colorado.</p>
<p>Harang and Garland also faced off in a titanic matchup at Camelback Ranch on Mar. 9, when <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/9/4084112/dodgers-mariners-spring-training-schedule">the Dodgers beat the Mariners 3-2</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/25/4147332/zack-greinke-dodgers-spring-trainingEric Stephen2013-03-25T18:06:03-07:002013-03-25T18:06:03-07:00Billingsley throws curves, hopes for Apr. 2
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Billingsley was able to throw his curve ball without pain on Monday for the first time since injuring his right index finger 10 days ago.</p> <p><span>Chad Billingsley</span> threw curve balls in his bullpen session on Monday afternoon, the first time he has done so since injuring his right finger on Mar. 15 in a bunting drill. How quickly Billingsley is able to effectively throw the curve ball will determine his return to the starting rotation.</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="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#000572" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Royals</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Crawford (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Schumaker (L)<br>
</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Escobar</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Butler</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Moustakas (L)</td>
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<td>RF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Perez</td>
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<td>SS</td>
<td>Cruz</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Hosmer (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Hairston</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Cain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Francoeur</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Greinke</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Getz</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span>Greinke vs. Davis in Surprise</span>
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<p>Billingsley had a bruised right finger that caused him to miss a start on Mar. 19, and he threw a minor league game on Mar. 23. Though the pain in his finger subsided, Billingsley didn't throw any curve balls before Monday for fear of losing his fingernail.</p>
<p>"The only issue is with my curve ball because I spike it with my fingertip, which pushes the nail back into the finger," he said on Saturday.</p>
<p>Billingsley threw the curves in his bullpen session on Monday without pain, but that's only the first part of the plan.</p>
<p>"The fact that he's throwing pain free is one thing. The fact that the pitch is working is another," said manager Don Mattingly. "There are two scenarios: one is getting the pain out of there so he can throw it, and then what does it look like? Has he got command of it? Has he lost the feel for it? Is it going to take a little time?"</p>
<p>The next step for Billingsley is a start on Mar. 28, and if he is able to effectively throw curve balls by then, a start on Apr. 2 in the second game of the regular season against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. But the Dodgers are keeping their options open just in case. They have <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> on the same schedule as Billingsley, and have been using Billingsley on the minor league side in case they need to place him on the disabled list to start the season.</p>
<p>"We're still up in the air with Bills. We've been talking about different scenarios. Again, he and Ryu are both on that day," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>Billingsley was going to start the exhibition game on Thursday in Rancho Cucamonga against the Class-A Quakes, but because the Dodgers are playing and tickets are being sold the game counts as a major league game, not a minor league one, per MLB. Stephen Fife will now likely start Thursday in Rancho Cucamonga with Billingsley throwing a simulated game, perhaps in Anaheim, where the Dodgers open the Freeway Series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>Keeping Billingsley on the minor league side allows the Dodgers to backdate a potential disabled list stint to Mar. 22, with the activation date as early as Apr. 6. Because of a pair of off days early in their schedule, the Dodgers don't technically need a fifth starter until Apr. 13. But the Dodgers could use a fifth starter as early as Apr. 7, one day after <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> makes his second start of the season.</p>
<p>Putting Billingsley temporarily on the disabled list gives the Dodgers some roster flexibility with a potential extra relief pitcher, but Mattingly said the health and effectiveness of Billingsley and his finger nail are the main concerns with any kind of move.</p>
<p>"It's really more about him being ready. Is Bills going to be 100% with his weapons. Is he ready to go. That's where our decision gets made. It's not going to be worrying about a roster spot," Mattingly said. "If he's throwing his curve ball 100%, then we have decisions to make."</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li> <span>Zack Greinke</span> is expected to throw roughly 60 pitches on Monday night, his first Cactus League outing since Mar. 1.</li>
<li>Following Greinke on the mound will be <span>Brandon League</span>, <span>Matt Guerrier</span>, <span>J.P. Howell</span>, and Kenley Jansen. Minor league pitchers to make the trip for the Dodgers were left-hander Mike Thomas (No. 83) and <span>Kyle Cofield</span> (No. 96).</li>
<li>Other minor leaguers in uniform for the Dodgers on Monday are catcher Chris O'Brien (No. 95), infielders <span>Brian Barden</span> (No. 48), <span>Rafael Ynoa</span> (No. 82), and <span>Angelo Songco</span> (No. 88); and outfielder <span>Nick Buss</span> (No. 84).</li>
<li>Scheduled to pitch after <span>Wade Davis</span> for Kansas City on Monday are <span>Luke Hochevar</span>, <span>Aaron Crow</span>, J.C. Gutierrez, and <span>Dan Wheeler</span>.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 6:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: Fox Sports Kansas City, MLB Network</p>
<p>Radio: KLAC 570</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_25_lanmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/25/4146994/chad-billingsley-curve-dodgers-opening-day-rosterEric Stephen2013-03-25T14:00:15-07:002013-03-25T14:00:15-07:00Greinke back on Cactus League mound
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Greinke last pitched in a Cactus League game 24 days ago. In a simulated game on Wednesday, Greinke threw 43 pitches in four scoreless innings on the back fields at Camelback Ranch.</p> <p><span>Zack Greinke</span> makes hit return to the mound in a Cactus League game for the first time since Mar. 1 on Monday night, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> battle one of Greinke's former teams, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> in Surprise.</p>
<p><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> returns to the lineup after missing Sunday's contest in Phoenix. Gonzalez was hit near the elbow on his right arm on Saturday night by ex-teammate <span>Jake Peavy</span>, and the area was still swollen on Sunday morning. Gonzalez, who took batting practice on Sunday, said that he feels fine on Monday and that had the injury occurred during the regular season he would have played through it.</p>
<h3>Royals</h3>
<p>Gordon LF<br>Escobar SS<br>Butler DH<br>Moustakas 3B<br>Perez C<br>Hosmer 1B<br>Cain CF<br>Francoeur RF<br>Getz 2B</p>
<p>The Dodgers face <span>Wade Davis</span> for the second time in six days. Also scheduled to pitch for Kansas City is old friend <span>Luke Hochevar</span>, as well as <span>Aaron Crow</span>, J.C. Gutierrez, and <span>Dan Wheeler</span>.</p>
<h3>Dodgers</h3>
<p>Crawford LF<br>Schumaker 2B<br>Kemp CF<br>Gonzalez 1B<br>Ethier RF<br>Cruz SS<br>Hairston 3B<br>Ellis C<br>Greinke P</p>
<p>Scheduled to follow Greinke on the mound are <span>Matt Guerrier</span>, <span>Brandon League</span>, <span>J.P. Howell</span>, and <span>Kenley Jansen</span>.</p>
<h3>Game info</h3>
<p>Time: 6:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: Fox Sports Kansas City, MLB Network</p>
<p>Radio: KLAC 570</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_25_lanmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB Gameday</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/3/25/4146058/zack-greinke-dodgers-royals-lineupsEric Stephen