True Blue LA - March 2: Dodgers 3, Padres 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-03-02T17:00:02-08:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/52280792014-03-02T17:00:02-08:002014-03-02T17:00:02-08:00Maholm makes Cactus League debut in new role
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<p>The left-hander allowed one hit, a single, in two scoreless innings against the Padres on Sunday in his first spring appearance.</p> <p>GLENDALE -- <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> left-hander <span>Paul Maholm</span> made his Cactus League debut on Sunday in a role he's not accustomed to, but one he may find himself quite familiar in 2014.</p>
<p>Maholm retired six of his seven batters faced in two scoreless innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, pitching the third and fourth innings in relief of starter <span>Josh Beckett</span>.</p>
<p>"It feels good. Obviously it was only two innings and we're building up, but it felt good to get out there and put some pitch sequences together," Maholm said. "Getting to face the top four hitters in the lineup you get to face the guys you would face in the regular season."</p>
<p>Maholm is used to being a starting pitcher. In the minor leagues he made 42 starts and just one relief appearance. In nine years in the majors only one of his 243 appearances came in relief. Even in spring training, Maholm prior to Sunday started in 43 of his 46 games. That's 327 starts in 332 career appearances.</p>
<p>You'll excuse him if he is accustomed to a certain routine. But while Maholm may prefer starting, he has stated a willingness to pitch out of the bullpen if needed. But for now, relatively early in spring training, he remains on a starter's program, with decisions coming down the road.</p>
<p>"My whole thing since I've turned pro was to pitch well and make them make the tough decisions," Maholm said. "I don't have any control over it. All I can do is put my work in, stay healthy and pitch well, and hope things work out."</p>
<p>Sidelined early in camp with elbow tenderness, Maholm said he feels fine now.</p>
<p>"I missed the one BP that was a 15-pitch thing," Maholm said. "It was one of those things, hopefully you skip a day early and save yourself later in spring and get ready for the season."</p>
<p>Manager Don Mattingly was impressed with the 31-year-old left-hander's first appearance of the spring.</p>
<p>"He got over that little hurdle, missing a bullpen," Mattingly said. "He showed us that he still knows what he's doing."</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/3/2/5463838/paul-maholm-relief-dodgers-padresEric Stephen2014-03-02T15:15:54-08:002014-03-02T15:15:54-08:00Beckett calms nerves in return to mound
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<p>Nearly eight months after undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on his nerves, the Dodgers right-hander overcame his own nerves for a successful return to the mound.</p> <p>GLENDALE -- <span>Josh Beckett</span> pitched two strong innings in his 2014 Cactus League debut on Sunday as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> tied the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> 3-3 at Camelback Ranch.</p>
<p>Beckett was so nervous before his start - his first time facing opposing hitters (i.e. non-teammates) since May - that he had trouble sleeping on Saturday night. Once he arrived on Sunday, Beckett was so amped for the game that he said he felt fully warmed up 25 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.</p>
<p>"I watched him warm up and it was crisp," said manager Don Mattingly. "He was throwing the ball right where he wanted, and he went right out there with it. I'm sure he was excited. It was exciting for us to see it."</p>
<p>None of the nervousness showed on the mound, where Beckett allowed just one ground ball single in two scoreless innings, free of the numbness and tingling he felt in his fingers in 2013.</p>
<p>"I feel good physically. Right now the biggest thing for me is getting over the mental things," Beckett said. "The more time I face opposition, whether it's a minor league or a big league game, when guys are actually up there swinging, it's going to benefit me."</p>
<p>It had been a while for Beckett, whose last start for the Dodgers came on May 13, 2013. He had surgery on July 10, which included removing a rib, to relieve pressure in his nerves caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.</p>
<p>Beckett said he developed bad habits with the injury, including dropping his arm slot to more of a three-quarters delivery.</p>
<p>"I slowly started to creep down further and further, not knowing what the injury was," Beckett said. "The higher I got, the less blood supply was getting to my arm and hands."</p>
<p>After studying video from 2007, 2009 and even 2012, Beckett returned to his more traditional over-the-top style. It paid off on Sunday, with three strikeouts in his final four batters faced. Beckett could have pitched a third simulated inning in the bullpen after leaving the game, though he said he has never liked doing that in the spring.</p>
<p>The slower pace of increasing Beckett's innings suits him just fine, as his target readiness date is later than most on the staff.</p>
<p>"It appears we have a certain amount of time getting ready for Australia, but not everyone is going to pitch in Australia, and I think I'll be one of those guys left out of it. We got a couple guys I feel pretty confident can win those games," Beckett said. "I'll probably get more work if I stay here, and that will benefit me."</p>
<p>Thanks to several early off days the Dodgers don't need a fifth starter until April 19, though Beckett surmised he would be ready by the domestic opening day, which happens to be four weeks away. Mattingly provided the perspective.</p>
<p>"It's the first outing of spring training," Mattingly said. "It was a good start, and something to build on."</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers have gone one time through their starting rotation, which means <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> is on track to start on Monday in Phoenix against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>. <span>A.J. Griffin</span> starts for Oakland.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/3/2/5463734/josh-beckett-dodgers-padresEric Stephen2014-03-02T11:57:31-08:002014-03-02T11:57:31-08:00Crawford 2-3 days away from return to field
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<figcaption>Mike McGinnis</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers are taking it easy with Crawford as he deals with right quad tightness.</p> <p>GLENDALE -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> will use <span>Yasiel Puig</span> and <span>Dee Gordon</span> in center field on Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> at Camelback Ranch, but they won't be joined in the outfield by <span>Carl Crawford</span>.</p>
<p>Manager Don Mattingly said that Crawford likely wouldn't play in the field for another two or three days.</p>
<p>"I know he felt okay yesterday. I think he still feels a little something in there," Mattingly said. "I don't really want to send him out there until he feels like he can do everything out there without going backwards."</p>
<p>Crawford felt tightness in his right quad on Wednesday and sat the next two days, but returned to the lineup on Saturday, going 0-for-1 with a walk as a designated hitter. Crawford after Saturday's game said he still felt tightness in the quad.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#996600" width="125"><font color="#ffff33"><b>Padres</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B<br>
</td>
<td>Amarista (L)<br>
</td>
<td>CF<br>
</td>
<td>Puig<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF<br>
</td>
<td>Maybin<br>
</td>
<td>RF<br>
</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B<br>
</td>
<td>Alonso (L)<br>
</td>
<td>SS<br>
</td>
<td>Ramirez<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DH<br>
</td>
<td>Nady<br>
</td>
<td>1B<br>
</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C<br>
</td>
<td>Hundley<br>
</td>
<td>3B<br>
</td>
<td>Uribe<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF<br>
</td>
<td>Liriano<br>
</td>
<td>LF<br>
</td>
<td>Pederson (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS<br>
</td>
<td>Jackson<br>
</td>
<td>C<br>
</td>
<td>Federowicz<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B<br>
</td>
<td>Peterson (L)<br>
</td>
<td>2B<br>
</td>
<td>Guerrero<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF<br>
</td>
<td>Noel (S)<br>
</td>
<td>DH<br>
</td>
<td>Turner<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Camelback Ranch<br><b>Time</b>: 12:05 p.m. PT<br><b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA (Steiner/Hershiser)<br><b>Radio</b>: KLAC (Monday/Garciaparra)<br>KTNQ (Jarrin/Yniguez/Valenzuela)<br></span>
</div>
<p>On Sunday, Crawford took extra batting practice, along with <span>Matt Kemp</span> and <span>A.J. Ellis</span>, against <span>Zach Lee</span>.</p>
<p>"I think [Crawford's] biggest concern is getting his at-bats," Mattingly said. "The more live at-bats we can keep getting him, we're going to be fine. He'll have enough playing time to be totally comfortable in the outfield."</p>
<p><span>Joc Pederson</span> starts in left field for the Dodgers on Sunday.</p>
<p>On the mound, <span>Josh Beckett</span> makes his 2014 Cactus League debut with a start against a split squad Padres team. Other Dodgers expected to pitch on Sunday are <span>Paul Maholm</span>, <span>Stephen Fife</span>, <span>Sam Demel</span> and <span>Daniel Moskos</span>.</p>
<p><span>Robbie Erlin</span> starts for the Padres, and is expected to be followed on the bump by <span>Jesse Hahn</span>, <span>Kevin Quackenbush</span>, <span>Leonel Campos</span>, <span>Blaine Boyer</span> and <span>Patrick Schuster</span>.</p>
<p>Gordon played all over the outfield in the Dominican Winter League with Licey during the offseason, though when he went to Puerto Rico he played exclusively second base. He and <span>Chone Figgins</span> are the utility men this spring who figure to see time in the outfield as well to give the team some versatility if needed.</p>
<p>Joining Gordon in the scheduled Dodgers reserves on Sunday are <span>Nick Buss</span> in left field, <span>Clint Robinson</span> at first base (Mattingly compared his swing to that of John Olerud: "He's a big guy with a short swing."), <span>Mike Baxter</span> in right field, <span>Miguel Olivo</span> at catcher, <span>Brendan Harris</span> at third base and <span>Miguel Rojas</span> at shortstop.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/3/2/5463230/carl-crawford-quad-dodgers-padres-lineupsEric Stephen