True Blue LA - March 4: Mariners 4, Dodgers 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-03-04T18:59:12-08:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/52361472014-03-04T18:59:12-08:002014-03-04T18:59:12-08:00Wilson knuckles, Trayvon homers vs. Mariners
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>News and notes from Tuesday's Dodgers loss to the Mariners.</p> <p>GLENDALE -- <span>Brian Wilson</span> didn't get to bat on Tuesday, but he did get to start in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' 4-1 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> at Camelback Ranch. Wilson, with 333 relief appearances in his career and no starts, started the "bullpen game" on Tuesday and pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout. He even dropped in a knuckleball for a strike with his first pitch of the game (thanks <a target="_blank" href="http://wapc.mlb.com/cutfour/2014/03/04/68690860/brian-wilsons-first-pitch-of-the-year-was-a-knuckleball">to Cut4</a>):</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4089179/wilson-knuckler.gif"></p>
<p><span>Kenley Jansen</span> followed with a perfect second inning, with one strikeout, and setup man <span>Chris Perez</span> struck out two in a scoreless fifth inning.</p>
<p>The Mariners scored some runs off <span>J.P. Howell</span> and <span>Jamey Wright</span>, with the help of a couple errors, for the win. Here are some notes from Tuesday:</p>
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<li>
<span>Trayvon Robinson</span>, back with the Dodgers on a minor league deal, came up from minor league camp and homered for the Dodgers' only run of the game.</li>
<li>Manager Don Mattingly on second base still being wide open: "I don't think anybody can sit here and say 'That's my position.' That doesn't make it a straight platoon, but it may make it where it's a little bit of a mix and match. By the time we leave here, I think we'll be pretty comfortable at second base. When it's all said and done, with our combination of guys, we're going to be in pretty good shape when we leave here."</li>
<li>
<span>Alex Guerrero</span> is expected to start at second for the Dodgers on Wednesday. Dee Gordon, who played four innings at second base on Tuesday, is expected to start in center field.</li>
<li>
<span>Chone Figgins</span> started at second base, his fifth different position of the spring, and is tied for the team lead in plate appearances with Guerrero at 15. Figgins is expected to get Wednesday off after going 0-for-5 the last two games. "His at-bats early were pretty good. Yesterday and today were a little stagnant," Mattingly said. "Again, I think it's going to be in and out. We're trying to get him a lot of at-bats, hopefully we can find some rhythm."<br>
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<li>Former Dodgers closer <span>Eric Gagne</span> will be back at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday, managing Team France in an exhibition game against Dodgers minor leaguers on one of the back fields.<br>
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</ul>
<h4>Alternate photo choice</h4>
<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> had two throws in the third inning, one good and one not so good. The throw home (the good throw) left him a bit off balance:</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29518163/20140403_gav_sv5_011.0.jpg"><br><i>Photo: USA Today</i></p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers head to Goodyear on Tuesday night to battle the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, which more importantly means a late reporting time and the only sleeping in day of the spring. <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> gets the start for the Dodgers, against new $100 million man <span>Homer Bailey</span>.</p>
<h4>Tuesday particulars</h4>
<p>Home run: Trayvon Robinson (1)</p>
<p><b>WP - <span>Felix Hernandez</span> (1-0)</b>: 2 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout</p>
<p><b>LP - J.P. Howell (0-1)</b>: 1 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned runs), 1 strikeout</p>
<p><b>Sv - <span>Dominic Leone</span> (1)</b>: 3 ip, 3 down</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/3/4/5471288/brian-wilson-knuckleball-trayvon-robinson-dodgers-marinersEric Stephen2014-03-04T11:43:25-08:002014-03-04T11:43:25-08:00Wilson starts, Crawford back in field vs. Seattle
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<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Pregame news and notes from Tuesday at Camelback Ranch, where the Dodgers will battle the Mariners.</p> <p>GLENDALE -- <span>Carl Crawford</span> returns to the field for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Tuesday afternoon as they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> at Camelback Ranch. Crawford, limited with tightness in his right quad, last played in the outfield on Wednesday against Arizona.</p>
<p>Crawford is expected to play five innings in the field on Tuesday, per manager Don Mattingly, and will likely be the designated hitter on Wednesday night when the Dodgers are in Goodyear to battle the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>.</p>
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<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="#1c8b85" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Mariners</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#157dec" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Miller (L)</td>
<td>RF<br>
</td>
<td>Puig<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Seager (L)</td>
<td>LF<br>
</td>
<td>Crawford (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Romero</td>
<td>DH<br>
</td>
<td>Ramirez<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Smoak (S)</td>
<td>CF<br>
</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DH</td>
<td>Morrison (L)</td>
<td>C<br>
</td>
<td>Ellis<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Gillespie</td>
<td>3B<br>
</td>
<td>Uribe<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Jones (L)</td>
<td>1B<br>
</td>
<td>Robinson (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Zunino</td>
<td>SS<br>
</td>
<td>Turner<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Marte (S)</td>
<td>2B<br>
</td>
<td>Figgins<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>: none</span>
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<p>In other lineup notes, <span>Chone Figgins</span> gets the start at second base, his fifth different position in seven games. He will be followed at second on Tuesday by <span>Dee Gordon</span>, who will see time in center field on Wednesday.</p>
<p>"I want [Gordon] to get enough time for us to be able to figure out a value there," Mattingly said. "We've got that utility spot that we're trying to figure out also, so we need to figure out what our guys can do and can't do."</p>
<p>Scheduled reserves for the Dodgers on Tuesday include <span>Mike Baxter</span> in left field, <span>Joc Pederson</span> in center field, <span>Tim Federowicz</span> at catcher, Gordon at second, <span>Brendan Harris</span> at third base, <span>Miguel Rojas</span> at shortstop, and <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> at first base.</p>
<p>When Van Slyke is at first base, he'll be next to his dad, Andy, the new first base coach of the Mariners.</p>
<p><span>Brian Wilson</span> gets the start for the Dodgers in what is essentially a bullpen game for the Dodgers in place of what would have been Zack Greinke's second Cactus League start. Wilson, who has made 333 appearances in the majors without a start, lobbied Mattingly to bat first in the lineup so he could hit. Wilson is 0-for-9 with a sacrifice at the plate in his career.</p>
<p>"He wanted to hit today," Mattingly said. "He was getting on Kershaw, saying 'I'll be the first guy to go three [innings].'"</p>
<p>Other pitchers scheduled to follow Wilson are <span>Jamey Wright</span>, <span>Chris Withrow</span>, <span>Chris Perez</span>, <span>J.P. Howell</span>, <span>Kenley Jansen</span> and Red Patterson.</p>
<p><span>Felix Hernandez</span> starts for the Mariners, and will be followed on the mound by <span>Hector Noesi</span>, <span>James Gillheeney</span>, <span>Jonathan Arias</span>, <span>Stephen Kohlscheen</span>, <span>Dominic Leone</span>.</p>
<p>In uniform from the minor league side for the Dodgers is <span>Trayvon Robinson</span>, who re-sighed with the club on a minor-league deal. Robinson will wear No. 89, and be joined by outfielder <span>Jeremy Hazelbaker</span> (No. 91) and right-handed pitcher <span>Romulo Sanchez</span> (No. 97).</p>
<h4>Notes</h4>
<ul>
<li>Mattingly isn't any closer to divulging his Australia starting pitchers, but it sounds like the decisions have been made. "We've talked to each guy individually, so they kind of know the program at this point," Mattingly said. "As we get closer I'm sure we'll be more willing to throw it out there."</li>
<li>John Shoemaker, will manage the rookie level Arizona League Dodgers this season, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday's game. Shoemaker has been in the Dodgers organization as a player, coach, manager or coordinator since 1977.</li>
<li>The Dodgers will get their first crack at the new instant replay system on Thursday in Tempe against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>. That is one of five Cactus League games in which the team will get to try out the new system, which will be fully implemented during the regular season. The other games are March 11 at Kansas City, March 12 vs. Arizona, March 15 vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> and March 16 vs. Colorado.</li>
<li>Dan Plesac was in camp Tuesday interviewing several Dodgers (I interviewed Plesac for a later post as well) as part of the MLB Network "30 Clubs in 30 Days" series. The Dodgers' episode will debut Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PT.<br>
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</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/3/4/5470476/carl-crawford-brian-wilson-dodgers-mariners-lineupsEric Stephen