And for good reason. I'm not one who likes to keep tabs on what's really going on around Spring Training until it gets closer to the season, and so, for that reason, I've avoided posting too much on Spring Training stuff.
Having said all that, I think it's time to throw out some blurbs from the past few weeks...
Manny returned to the lineup today as a DH against the Angels (he went 0 for 3), his first game action in a week since coming up with tightness in his groin about 10 days ago. No word yet on when he'll be back in left field. He says he's running at about 60 to 70% right now. As long as you're at 100% by opening day, big guy...
Chad Billingsley and Mark Loretta both left today's game with minor groin injuries, as well. Both said they'd have stayed in the game had it been the regular season. Neither is expected to miss much action, if any at all. However, Billingsley will have some muscle tests done just to be sure.
Speaking of Billingsley, a funny story today from Tony Jackson... something you'd only see during Spring Training.
Shawn Estes was cut yesterday, given a choice, became angered, came to his senses, and was then re-assigned to minor league camp. He apparently still has a chance to make the team, perhaps as that left-handed situational reliever they've been looking for.
And, for whatever it's worth, James McDonald has emerged, again, as a strong candidate for the fifth spot in the Dodgers rotation. Until his exceptional performance last Friday, he hasn't really looked all that good this spring, prompting the Dodgers to scramble for a feasible option for that elusive fifth spot. But after getting opinions from several coaches, McDonald decided to relax while pitching, instead of putting too much pressure on himself to do well, and the results were fantastic! Other candidates still include Claudio Vargas, Eric Milton, Eric Stults and... Josh Lindblom? He's a minor league kid who was promoted from minor league camp to the big league camp after razzling and dazzling coaches, teammates and opponents all spring. Remember Blake DeWitt last year?
Notice Jason Schmidt off the candidate's list? Yeah, I thought you would. He's not expected to be ready for the start of the season... again... and will probably start the season on the DL... again. However, that doesn't mean he won't pitch at all for the Dodgers this season, but we can only hope.
Also not on the list is Pedro Martinez. The Dodgers do have some interest in him, but only if his contract demands come way down. Petey is apparently looking for a contract similar to the one John Smoltz got from the Red Sox this winter (something in the neighborhood of one year, $5MM guaranteed with another $5MM in incentives). The asking price is too steep for the Dodgers, considering Pedro's recent history of injuries and his age.
The Blue have released Yhency Brazoban and his medical staff and supplies.
A random rumor has hit the world wide web in recent days that could send disgruntled (sound familiar?) outfielder Juan Pierre to the White Sox. The Chisox are in need of a lead-off hitting centerfielder, but the Dodgers would probably have to eat a chunk of what's left on his contract. However, there really was no reliable source for this rumor, and Pierre remains a Dodger, for now. Apparently an Andruw Jones-type deferral is not in the works for Pierre either. Darn.
And finally, the team has finally hired a play-by-play guy to do the 38 TV games that Vin Scully won't be doing. (In case you forgot, the Dodgers moved some people around in the broadcast booth and started looking for a new TV play-by-play guy after last season.) Eric Collins joins the staff, and will be doing the 38 road games against the Central and East division teams with Steve Lyons as the color guy. Charley Steiner and Rick Monday will be relegated to radio exclusively. Vin will do all home games and road games against West teams, and will be simulcast, as usual, for the first three innings on both radio and TV. Then Charley and Rick will take over the radio duties while Vin finishes up the TV broadcast. When Vin isn't around, Charley and Rick will do all of the radio games, while Collins and Lyons handle the TV side. Confused yet?
I think that's plenty for now. The roster is slowly starting to take some kind of shape, so in the next couple of days, once a few more guys are reassigned or designated, we'll try to break it all down.
Having said all that, I think it's time to throw out some blurbs from the past few weeks...
Manny returned to the lineup today as a DH against the Angels (he went 0 for 3), his first game action in a week since coming up with tightness in his groin about 10 days ago. No word yet on when he'll be back in left field. He says he's running at about 60 to 70% right now. As long as you're at 100% by opening day, big guy...
Chad Billingsley and Mark Loretta both left today's game with minor groin injuries, as well. Both said they'd have stayed in the game had it been the regular season. Neither is expected to miss much action, if any at all. However, Billingsley will have some muscle tests done just to be sure.
Speaking of Billingsley, a funny story today from Tony Jackson... something you'd only see during Spring Training.
Shawn Estes was cut yesterday, given a choice, became angered, came to his senses, and was then re-assigned to minor league camp. He apparently still has a chance to make the team, perhaps as that left-handed situational reliever they've been looking for.
And, for whatever it's worth, James McDonald has emerged, again, as a strong candidate for the fifth spot in the Dodgers rotation. Until his exceptional performance last Friday, he hasn't really looked all that good this spring, prompting the Dodgers to scramble for a feasible option for that elusive fifth spot. But after getting opinions from several coaches, McDonald decided to relax while pitching, instead of putting too much pressure on himself to do well, and the results were fantastic! Other candidates still include Claudio Vargas, Eric Milton, Eric Stults and... Josh Lindblom? He's a minor league kid who was promoted from minor league camp to the big league camp after razzling and dazzling coaches, teammates and opponents all spring. Remember Blake DeWitt last year?
Notice Jason Schmidt off the candidate's list? Yeah, I thought you would. He's not expected to be ready for the start of the season... again... and will probably start the season on the DL... again. However, that doesn't mean he won't pitch at all for the Dodgers this season, but we can only hope.
Also not on the list is Pedro Martinez. The Dodgers do have some interest in him, but only if his contract demands come way down. Petey is apparently looking for a contract similar to the one John Smoltz got from the Red Sox this winter (something in the neighborhood of one year, $5MM guaranteed with another $5MM in incentives). The asking price is too steep for the Dodgers, considering Pedro's recent history of injuries and his age.
The Blue have released Yhency Brazoban and his medical staff and supplies.
A random rumor has hit the world wide web in recent days that could send disgruntled (sound familiar?) outfielder Juan Pierre to the White Sox. The Chisox are in need of a lead-off hitting centerfielder, but the Dodgers would probably have to eat a chunk of what's left on his contract. However, there really was no reliable source for this rumor, and Pierre remains a Dodger, for now. Apparently an Andruw Jones-type deferral is not in the works for Pierre either. Darn.
And finally, the team has finally hired a play-by-play guy to do the 38 TV games that Vin Scully won't be doing. (In case you forgot, the Dodgers moved some people around in the broadcast booth and started looking for a new TV play-by-play guy after last season.) Eric Collins joins the staff, and will be doing the 38 road games against the Central and East division teams with Steve Lyons as the color guy. Charley Steiner and Rick Monday will be relegated to radio exclusively. Vin will do all home games and road games against West teams, and will be simulcast, as usual, for the first three innings on both radio and TV. Then Charley and Rick will take over the radio duties while Vin finishes up the TV broadcast. When Vin isn't around, Charley and Rick will do all of the radio games, while Collins and Lyons handle the TV side. Confused yet?
I think that's plenty for now. The roster is slowly starting to take some kind of shape, so in the next couple of days, once a few more guys are reassigned or designated, we'll try to break it all down.
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