Los Angeles Dodgers @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Notes: Umps can be disciplined, too

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:03:00 +0000

07/19/2006
PHOENIX -- Uniform personnel receive automatic fines for throwing equipment, as is the expectation for Dodgers coach Mariano Duncan flipping his cap after he flipped his lip during Monday night's ejection.
But what about umpires who catch those caps and toss them to fans? Are umpires subject to disciplinary action by Major League Baseball if they cross the line?
"Yes, umpires have been fined in the past," said Mike Port, Major League Baseball's vice president of umpiring.
Port would not address specifically Monday night's ejection of Duncan for complaining about a check-swing call by third base umpire Angel Hernandez, or Hernandez catching the cap Duncan flung his way and trotting over to the railing to give it to a young fan, a response that infuriated several Dodgers.
But Port -- a former Angels general manager and longtime baseball official who spoke only in general terms -- said that although umpire discipline is not discussed publicly, it does exist.
"Their accountability is high," said Port. "In the 11 months I've had this job, I'm amazed overall by their diligence and accuracy. Still, calls are missed. We track them with our observers and with tapes. Missing a judgment call is not a fineable offense. But we do look at the way they handle ejections, confrontations, if they abide by the umpires manual."
Just like any collection of people, umpires have widely ranging personalities and skills, but Port said they all must conform to a code of conduct.
"We do try to emphasize with umpires to avoid confrontations and they do a reasonable job overall," he said. "The preference is to be non-confrontation and tolerant. But it's a competitive game and occasionally tempers are lost. We like to see situations handled to keep people in the game. However, there are certain times when the line is crossed. Verbal abuse, off-color language, that's never tolerated.
"Each ejection is evaluated. When someone is charging from the dugout, an umpire will react. They are told not to go looking for trouble. When something happens, it complicates the life of an umpire. He hears from people in our office. He's better served by running the game smoothly."
Martin scratched: Catcher Russell Martin was a late scratch with a bruised right wrist, remnants of being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's game. It was obvious after he was struck that the wrist bothered him the most while throwing, even on short tosses back to the pitcher.
"It's sore and swollen," said Martin, whose availability to start Wednesday night was determined only after he took batting practice. "It was numb for a while, but I started getting the feeling back in it. I thought it would be better by now."
Martin was able to get his second hit after being struck by the Juan Cruz fastball. He took batting practice, but couldn't answer the bell and was replaced by Toby Hall.
Izturis still out: Third baseman Cesar Izturis remained in Los Angeles to be with wife Lilliana, who remained hospitalized after undergoing a cesarean section to deliver their daughter Monday. Manager Grady Little said Izturis was only questionable to join the club for Thursday's series finale and more likely would wait in Los Angeles for the club's homestand that opens Friday night.
Little indicated he is still interested in moving Izturis, a Gold Glove shortstop converted to third base, over to second base while Jeff Kent recovers from a strained oblique muscle.
"He looks like a natural anywhere on the infield, if you ask me," Little said. "His arm (which underwent Tommy John surgery last year) is not a concern of ours anymore after seeing him back playing."
Tomko tuneup: Little confirmed that disabled pitcher Brett Tomko will be a reliever when he returns from a Minor League rehab assignment next week. Tomko will face hitters Thursday and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday and Monday before being activated.
"We want to see him warm up out of the bullpen a couple times," said Little. "Our intentions are to have him come out of the middle part of the 'pen, sometime before the ninth inning. What that leads to in the future, I don't know. We'll see how he responds. This will allow him to rejoin the team quicker and he'll be able to help us. Who knows? This guy might have the stuff to be a closer."
Throughout his career, coaches have toyed with the idea of turning Tomko into a late-inning specialist, because he has a four-pitch repertoire that includes a 95-mph fastball, ala Eric Gagne, who made the switch in 2002.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Dodgers manage just six hits in loss

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:02:00 +0000

07/20/2006
PHOENIX -- There was nothing amusing on the Dodgers' side of an 8-0 loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, other than the timing of Arizona manager Bob Melvin.
The Dodgers hadn't moved a runner as far as second base in the fifth inning when he had plate umpire Randy Marsh check the bat of shortstop Rafael Furcal (who struck out three innings earlier) for a discoloration he suspected was pine tar high on the barrel.
"We're not even hitting and they check the bats," said Furcal. "Unbelievable."
You'd think changing anything about the Dodgers' offense in this game would be the last thing Melvin would want. The Dodgers were shut out for the second time in a week, fifth time this year and never had a runner reach third base.
And they slipped all the way into fourth place in the division with their sixth loss in the seven games since the All-Star break. It was the second time this season they lost to Miguel Batista, who threw his fourth career complete game, second against the Dodgers.
What does Dodgers manager Grady Little think about his offense?
"I try to always be at the point if I couldn't say anything good, I wouldn't say anything, so tonight I'm not going to talk about it," he said. "I couldn't hit when I played. What am I going to do?"
Little later conceded that he's "concerned" about the lack of production.
"Collectively, we've gone into a little tailspin and it's lasted the entire trip," he said. "But I feel with the players we have we can get it going again. It just needs to happen."
One day after Jeff Kent was placed on the disabled list and still short-handed with third baseman Cesar Izturis home after the birth of his daughter, the Dodgers also were without rookie catcher Russell Martin.
Martin, hit on the right wrist by a Juan Cruz fastball the night before, was concerned enough about the soreness and swelling that he had X-rays taken. They were negative, but he said the limited range of motion might keep him out of Thursday night's trip finale, when the assignment gets even tougher for the Dodgers, because the Diamondbacks throw an All-Star in 10-game winner Brandon Webb.
Not that the opposing pitcher really matters when you're averaging fewer than two runs a game against every pitcher you've faced on the trip.
"We've gotten to the point where we don't need to expend a lot of energy seeing how the other team is doing," said Little. "We've got to look in the mirror and reach down and go get him."
Although umpire Angel Hernandez again got under the Dodgers' skin by calling a balk on reliever Joe Beimel that scored a run, compounding the prolonged offensive malaise was the continuation of starting pitcher Derek Lowe's slump.
He lost for the fourth time in his past five starts, during which he has missed very few bats (49 hits in 24 1/3 innings). His ERA during the stretch is 9.99.
Lowe (7-7) got through the first three innings clean, but the wheels came off in the fourth when Arizona scored four runs, two on a two-run, 443-foot blast to center by former Dodger Shawn Green (.459 average against L.A. this year). Four more Diamondbacks reached base in the fifth when Lowe's cornerman, Little, stopped the beating at the 4 1/3-inning mark, his shortest of the season.
"Those type of starts obviously are not going to get it done," said Lowe. "This is not a trial-and-error session. My job is to pitch deep into games and I haven't done it in a month."
Lowe scoffed at the suggestion that the three effective innings were a positive to build on.
"Yeah, if you're a rookie," said the nine-year veteran. "There comes a point in time where I have to make better pitches. Now it seems like when I make them, they get hit. And when I make mistakes, it's punishing, an extra-base hit or a home run. It's not for lack of effort or concentration. It comes down to execution. I'm beyond frustration. The results are horrible."
Lowe repeated the theory that pitch selection is part of his problem. He said he abandoned the curveball against Arizona and succeeded with the sinker early, but felt he had to change the pitch selection the next time through the lineup, which is exactly when the Diamondbacks awoke. He's clearly not trusting his stuff.
"Right now, I'm fighting when to throw the breaking ball," he said.
Little praised Lowe's stuff, but said he mislocated pitches. Arizona outfielder Luis Gonzalez, however, said Lowe's sinker flattened out after the second inning.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Notes: Little rearranges lineup

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:01:00 +0000

07/20/2006
PHOENIX -- Russell Martin returned from a bruised wrist Thursday night, but Cesar Izturis was still attending to family matters and Dodgers manager Grade Little, left with essentially the same deck of cards, shuffled them anyway.
He took J.D. Drew, homerless since June 1, and moved him into the No. 2 spot in the batting order, elevated Andre Ethier to cleanup, Willy Aybar to fifth and started Jose Cruz Jr. in center field instead of four-time Gold Glover Kenny Lofton, who is batting .333 on the trip but hasn't played the best defense of his career, particularly on getting jumps for line drives.
"He's probably had his better days out there, but he gives you everything he's got," Little said of Lofton.
But Little was quick to point out that the changes are not the result of disappointment in any one player.
"It's collectively, not just one person," he said. "We're not going to keep repeating things that aren't working. We've got to change something. Things aren't going good right now. It's the whole club and you try not to catch yourself pointing fingers at each other. We, as a team, are not going to do that."
Little said he believes his roster, if healthy, is good enough to finish first in the National League West.
"We just need everyone in the room to do their job. With everyone active, we feel good about this club," he said. "Losing six of seven, I'd be lying if I said there aren't missing components. I don't know if I can narrow it down specifically. There's a lot of baseball left and we know we've got a good club."
Martin, who missed Wednesday night's game after being struck by a Juan Cruz fastball Tuesday night, said the range of motion in the wrist had improved significantly and the swelling had reduced.
Little said he expected Izturis to rejoin the club Friday night for the opener of the homestand against St. Louis. He missed the entire four-game series in Arizona for the birth of his daughter.
Capgate: Coach Mariano Duncan said he has spoken with Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's head of discipline, and Mike Port, vice president of umpiring, as part of the investigation into Duncan's ejection by umpire Angel Hernandez, who caught the cap Duncan threw and gave it to a fan.
Duncan said he's been told a suspension and fine are likely in ejection cases where a coach comes onto the field. Fines are automatic for tossing equipment. He expects to receive a decision on Friday. There also is precedent for disciplinary action to be taken against Hernandez, although MLB does not make those public.
Duncan said the umpires' postgame report accused him of bumping crew chief Randy Marsh in the argument that ensued. Duncan disputed that account. The umpires have had no comment.
Tomko to Vegas: Starter-turned-reliever Brett Tomko passed a 20-pitch session throwing to hitters Thursday and will have a two-outing rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday and Monday as a final test of his healed oblique muscle before rejoining the Dodgers in his new role as reliever.
"I felt pretty good. The pitches were doing what I wanted them to do," said Tomko, who threw to Ricky Ledee and Aybar. "I don't think I'm favoring it. I'm ready to go."
Little said the Dodgers were interested in seeing Tomko warm up out of the bullpen in Las Vegas, but he said he can get warm in 15-20 throws and was not concerned about that part of the transition.
Tomko said he's lost 12 pounds during his rehab by adjusting his eating schedule with more frequent meals but smaller portions.
Beimel baffled: Reliever Joe Beimel still can't understand why first-base umpire Hernandez called him for a balk in the sixth inning Wednesday night when he appeared to have picked Chad Tracy off first base, bringing a runner in from third base.
"He said I stepped too far towards home plate," said Beimel. "Look at the tape. Not even close. I'm not an idiot. With a runner on third, the last thing I want to do is make a mistake and let that runner score. I was careful. I stepped right toward first base. It's a little upsetting."
Beimel said he remembers being called for one other balk in parts of six Major League seasons.
"Might have been the same guy called it, I'm not positive," he said of Hernandez.
Mueller stymied: Infielder Bill Mueller said doctors have ruled out all known procedures to repair the deteriorating condition in his right knee.
"We don't know what's left," said Muller, who is done for the season and quite possibly his career.
Mueller will continue rehabilitation in hopes of a miraculous recovery or some yet-to-be-discovered solution. He is signed through 2007.
Ruggiano to Devil Rays: The Dodgers sent outfielder Justin Ruggiano to Tampa Bay to complete the June 27 acquisition of Mark Hendrickson, Toby Hall and cash. The Dodgers earlier sent Dioner Navarro and Jae Seo to the Devil Rays. Ruggiano, 24, was hitting .260 with nine homers and 45 RBIs for Double-A Jacksonville.
Fitness program: The Dodgers will host a national fitness program with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society, American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons called "Promote a Lifetime of Activity for Youth" (PLAY) to combat childhood obesity. All-Star infielders Nomar Garciaparra and Izturis and head trainer Stan Johnston will interact with local youth at Dodger Stadium on Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m on the field.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Dodgers tumble in trip finale

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:56:00 +0000

07/21/2006
PHOENIX -- In nearly 50 years of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball, never have they rallied from as far back as fourth place at any point after the All-Star break to finish first.
The current Dodgers are in fourth place. On Thursday night they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2, their seventh loss to conclude an eight-game trip that opened the second half. They are 3 1/2 games out of first place and one game out of last in the NL West.
They were swept four games in St. Louis and took one of four against the Diamondbacks. They were outscored in the eight games, 42-16. They were outhomered, 10-2. The offense was shut out twice during the trip and hit .224, while the starting pitchers had only two quality starts and a 5.24 ERA.
They've been playing short-handed, with Cesar Izturis on family leave the past four games, Jeff Kent trying to play hurt until he was disabled.
They're now 19-31 on the road, but it won't get any easier when the homestand opens Friday night because they'll be facing the first-place Cardinals again.
On this trip, they ran into hot-tempered umpires and nasty-throwing right-handers, Arizona's Cy Young contender Brandon Webb (11-3) administering the latest defeat.
"[Webb's] not the guy we needed to run up against the way we're struggling," said manager Grady Little.
And when Webb allowed the occasional baserunner, the Dodgers minimized the damage by grounding his sinker into four double plays, two by Nomar Garciaparra, whose clutch bat from the first half has cooled considerably. Dodgers runs scored on a double-play grounder and an error.
The Dodgers countered Webb with Mark Hendrickson, who couldn't repeat the quality start he threw at the Cardinals last week. He was driven from the game after 5 1/3 innings having allowed five earned runs, including a two-run homer by Carlos Quentin in his Major League debut when the score was still 3-1.
"It was kind of frustrating. I felt I had pretty good stuff," said Hendrickson, still winless as a Dodger after his trade three weeks ago. "The home run was one of the worst curveballs in the game. That's frustrating, because we still had a chance. It was kind of deflating for myself and the team."
Deflated is a pretty fitting description of the current Dodgers, who aren't much for late-inning drama with a 2-34 record when they trail after the sixth inning.
"I think we're pressing as a team," said Hendrickson. "It's not just one facet. It's every facet. From the pitchers' standpoint, we're not consistently getting deep into the game. You win as a team and lose as a team, but we're not playing very well as a team, period."
Little said Hendrickson "got about six pitches up, and got burned on every one of them." He said the double-play inning-killers go "along with the way we're playing." He conceded he had no answers for the cause of the team-wide malaise or a sure-fire cure.
"We'll just keep changing things and mixing until we find the right combination," he said. "We've got to start to get the job done."
He said he did not question the effort of his players and said the intensity is "what you'd normally see with a club in this spell. It's enough to win a game, but no one person will take over. It's got to be everybody working together."
Little knows that -- $100 million payroll aside -- his team lacks the superstar that can take over a game or put an entire team on his back and carry it. He has J.D. Drew, who was moved into the second spot in the batting order because he's hit one home run in the past two months and responded with three hits.
Thursday night's makeshift lineup also included rookies Andre Ethier and Willy Aybar batting fourth and fifth. They possess a total of 10 career Major League home runs. Ethier had two hits.
Fans hoping and praying for a savior to arrive via trade before the deadline at the end of the month might be disappointed. For one thing, the way the entire team is playing now, no one new arrival will turn this team around.
"This is probably snowballing on us, but we've got to get the players on the field playing better," said Little. "It could be that they're waiting for something to happen instead of each one making it happen. It's just got to change."

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Long balls push Dodgers past Marlins

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:33:00 +0000

03/16/2006
Marlins at the plate: Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida had RBI singles in the third inning. Matt Treanor singled to start the third and doubled in the fourth and seventh innings.
Dodgers at the plate: Cody Ross's pinch-hit homer, a solo shot in the third, was his fourth home run in 20 spring at-bats. Bill Mueller's solo home run was his second. Joel Guzman's solo home run was his second. Delwyn Young joined the power surge with his first home run. James Loney doubled in a run.
Marlins on the mound: Jason Vargas allowed two solo home runs in four-plus innings. Joe Borowski allowed two runs in two innings.
Dodgers on the mound: Starter Aaron Sele allowed two runs in a four-hit third inning. Eric Gagne allowed a single and got a double-play grounder in one scoreless inning. Joe Beimel struck out the side in the fourth inning. Franquelis Osoria got the save with a perfect ninth inning.
Grapefruit League records: Marlins 10-5-2; Dodgers 8-5-2.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Billingsley takes comparisons in stride

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:30:00 +0000

03/16/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Dave Stewart, the only pitcher in the last quarter century to win 20 games four consecutive seasons, has this to say about top Dodger pitching prospect Chad Billingsley:
"He's going to be far better than I ever was."
Whoa.
Here's the fine print: Stewart is Billingsley's agent.
Disclaimer aside, Stewart isn't alone in his praise for Billingsley, the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year two years running.
"He's going to be there real soon," said Ken Howell, meaning Billingsley's anticipated arrival in the Major Leagues. Howell has been Billingsley's pitching coach the last two seasons and will be with him at Triple-A Las Vegas this year, for as long as Billingsley is there.
"It's not just one or two of us in the organization that feels this way about him," said Rick Honeycutt, the who was the organization pitching coordinator until a recent promotion to Major League pitching coach. "A lot of eyes were watching that Double-A Jacksonville team last year. Other teams feel the same way about him. Over the second half, he was just lights out. He's the total package."
Billingsley, 21, was a first-round pick out of Defiance (Ohio) High School. In three Minor League seasons, he is 29-14 with a 3.01 ERA. He's a power pitcher with a thick trunk (244 pounds) on a 6-foot frame. He's built a little like Tom Seaver, although he said Nolan Ryan "was my role model."
"I started pitching when I was 7, and when I was 8 my dad had a stroke and became disabled, and he was my pitching coach," said Billingsley. "He worked for General Motors (and) didn't really know anything about baseball mechanics, but he researched and bought books and videos and zeroed in on Ryan because of his mechanics and molded me into something like that, even with the huge leg kick.
"Everything Ryan has said he did, that's what my dad had me do. I even picked up my grip looking at his grip on a baseball card. My dad got all the tools Ryan used, like a little baseball that helped with my control and various weights. My dad knows me best. My success is his success."
Howell said the biggest difference between Billingsley today and the one of two years ago is mechanical -- a lot of the rough edges have smoothed out, even though in his first spring appearances he's overthrown to the first few batters he's faced.
"He still tends to speed his body up, especially at the start of a game, and he is just starting to understand that he needs to slow the body down," said Howell. "In this first Major League camp, with the atmosphere, the excitement, he's gotten hyped up at the start and the next inning he's settled down."
Although the Dodgers farm system hasn't produced a superstar pitcher since Pedro Martinez and there is internal support to rush Billingsley to the Major Leagues sooner rather than later, new general manager Ned Colletti has resisted, instead signing free agent Brett Tomko and trading for Jae Seo to bide time for the kid's arrival.
Colletti didn't need to be an eyewitness to understand what happened to Edwin Jackson, the last Dodger "phenom" pitcher to veer off-course. The next phenom knows Jackson's saga all too well.
"When Edwin got sent down to Jacksonville last year, we were roommates for a while," said Billingsley. "What I think is that he tried to do too much and lost confidence in himself. A lot of this game is mental and it gets tough if your head isn't on straight. He told me he was getting a lot of information from a lot of people and I think he just lost confidence."
Now Billingsley is considered the next Jackson, at least in ability, and such expectations can set the bar awfully high. In his debut, Jackson beat Randy Johnson on his 20th birthday, and five months later came to his first Spring Training being compared to Doc Gooden. A spot in the rotation was his to lose, which he did. Billingsley hasn't made a pitch above Double-A, yet all eyes are on him.
"I don't get caught up in that," he said. "I've been compared to so many big names. I'm not trying to be like anybody else."
Stewart said Billingsley will succeed because he not only has immense talent, but the work ethic to harness and refine it.
"With his attitude to go after it, he has a real high ceiling," said Stewart.
But better than a four-time 20-game winner?
"He's going to be real good," said Stewart. "But I wouldn't put him in a big game against me."

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Notes: Pitching staff still taking shape

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:28:00 +0000

03/17/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Because the Dodgers have one day off four days into the season and another two weeks later, manager Grady Little said on Friday that he's leaning toward starting the season with an 11-man pitching staff. For the first week, fifth starter Jae Seo will be in the bullpen.
"If we're confident in how quickly they're able to rebound, that will have a lot of bearing on it," said Little.
Eric Gagne is rebounding better the day after pitching, but he still needs two days off between appearances. Little said that it is too early to evaluate Yhency Brazoban, because he missed two weeks with a sore shoulder. He will throw two innings on Saturday. If either is not 100 percent, the chance of carrying 12 pitchers increases.
Assuming that both Gagne and Brazoban open the season with the club, that leaves four more bullpen spots, and Danys Baez and Lance Carter (both acquired in the Edwin Jackson trade) figure to hold two of them.
For the final two spots, there are 11 remaining contenders: right-handers D.J. Houlton, Takashi Saito, Jonathan Broxton, Franquelis Osoria, Aaron Sele, Chad Billingsley and Brian Meadows; and left-handers Tim Hamulack, Hong-Chih Kuo, Kelly Wunsch and Joe Beimel. Saito, Sele, Meadows, Wunsch and Beimel are on Minor League contracts.
The most favorable comments by Little recently have praised Saito, Osoria, Broxton and Kuo. Broxton struck out two in one inning on Friday night and struck out a pair in an inning on Monday after a few shaky early outings. Broxton said that he's made a mechanical adjustment that gets the lower half of his body more involved in his delivery.
"He can be a bull out there," said Little. "You see a kid getting better as Spring Training goes along."
Houlton had a shaky outing on Friday night, one that was compounded when Jason Repko came up empty on a do-or-die catch attempt that went for a three-run triple.
Wunsch, who was charged with the go-ahead run on Friday night, has had a rough spring, As for Sele, he has been a starter almost exclusively through his career, and adjusting to long relief can be a challenge. He is not expected to embrace the idea of going to the Minor Leagues if the club asks.
Kent's power: Despite a late start to spring games because of wrist surgery, Jeff Kent is swinging the bat as if he's healed. He slugged his second home run on Friday night, raising his average to .312 and his slugging percentage to .625.
"You look in the dictionary under 'old pro' and you'll see his picture," said Little of Kent. "He knows how to play the game of baseball. He's been doing it good for a long time. He wouldn't get out there until he was fully ready. He's a pleasure to have around."
Navarro improved: Catcher Dioner Navarro, who strained a hamstring on Wednesday, said that he continues to improve. Russell Martin started against the Mets on Friday night and was expected to make Saturday's game in Lakeland.
Reporting, not reporting: Starting left fielder Jose Cruz Jr. returned to Dodgertown and was in the lineup for Friday night's game, but Little said that Ricky Ledee won't be back until Saturday. The outfielders had been participating for their native Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
Tomko honored: Friday starter Brett Tomko returned on Wednesday to his alma mater, Florida Southern College, for a ceremony to retire his uniform No. 35. In 1995, Tomko won the Dick Howser Award as the Division II player of the year after going 15-2 with a 1.35 ERA and leading the school to the NCAA Division II national championship.
In the booth: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully arrived in town on Friday. Also in town is former Dodgers outfielder Tom Goodwin, who will team with Rick Monday as an analyst for the weekend radio broadcasts.
Gadget dept.: Every year, new hitting aids hit the market, and hitting coach Eddie Murray has provided his pupils with Kinect Sports aluminum alloy training bats. The bat was designed with a reduced barrel circumference that coach Rich Donnelly said makes it look more "like a broomhandle" than a bat, but the smaller sweet spot requires better concentration for square contact.
The bat lacks the typical "ping" sound of aluminum and more closely mimics the sound and "moment of inertia" of a wood bat, according to the manufacturer.
Entrepreneur in uniform: Minor League reliever Aaron Klusman has launched AK Industries, an online clothing company that sells hats, T-shirts and hoodies to people who love all things extreme.
Klusman, who played for Rookie-level Ogden last season, came up with the idea for an action sports clothing line while in a business class at Arizona State University. At its peak, AK Industries sold $10,000 in merchandise in just four weeks. The company, which now has professional snowboarder Jef Groff as its spokesman, has reached the point where it is ready for retail.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Dodgers, Mets battle it out to a tie

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:28:00 +0000

03/17/2006
Mets at the plate: Jeff Keppinger's bases-loaded triple capped a four-run sixth inning. Keppinger also doubled and scored a run. Victor Diaz homered. The Mets scored another run on a bases-loaded walk by Corey Ragsdale.
Dodgers at the plate: Jeff Kent followed J.D. Drew's single with his second home run. Olmedo Saenz's pinch-hit double was cashed in by Kenny Lofton's fielder's-choice grounder. Andre Ethier hit a two-run triple. James Loney doubled with two outs in the ninth and was singled home by Willy Aybar to tie the game.
Mets on the mound: Steve Trachsel was charged with three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Matt Perisho was charged with three runs in one inning, and Bartolome Fortunato allowed the tying run in the ninth.
Dodgers on the mound: Starter Brett Tomko allowed two runs, one on Diaz's home run and another on a Chris Woodward groundout that cashed in Keppinger's double. D.J. Houlton was charged with four runs (three earned) in two innings. Brian Meadows walked in a run that was charged to Kelly Wunsch. Jonathan Broxton struck out two in one inning.
Grapefruit League records: New York Mets 10-6-1; Dodgers 8-5-3.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Notes: Kuo keeps racking up K's

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:26:00 +0000

03/18/2006
LAKELAND, Fla. -- For more than 20 years, the Dodgers have searched for a left-handed reliever as fearless and forceful as Steve Howe, and they might have found the real deal in Hong-Chih Kuo, whose outing Saturday was the stuff that wins jobs in Spring Training.
In fact, Ken Howell and Steve Yeager, who were teammates of Howe and coached Kuo at Double-A Jacksonville last year, said the lefty's style is reminiscent of Howe.
"Where he resembles Howe is that he goes right after guys," said Howell. "He throws hard and throws strikes. He attacks the zone and surprises right-handed hitters who wait for him to nibble. He's fun to watch."
Kuo struck out the first four Detroit batters he faced on Saturday and went two innings for the first time this spring. He has allowed only one hit with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He said earlier preparation to compete for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic has him in top shape, even though he allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings in that tournament.
"The kid has been outstanding the last couple of times," said manager Grady Little. "He was in complete command of the ballgame. He didn't back off any hitter -- his stuff was outstanding. What more can you say?"
You can say that Kuo is a medical marvel, a victim of two Tommy John surgeries that limited him to only 44 1/3 innings during his first five professional seasons after signing for a $1.25 million bonus. In a spectacular professional debut, he struck out seven of 10 batters and blew out his elbow. It's been a monumentally frustrating ride ever since.
In a September callup last year, Kuo struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. Although a gigantic home run hit by Barry Bonds made the SportsCenter highlights, Kuo was literally unhittable for right-handed batters (0-for-10), which makes him something special. Now's he's working on a slider -- another Howe money pitch.
Kuo said this is the first time he's felt comfortable pitching a second inning, and the next test is to pitch on consecutive days. If he clears that hurdle, the 24-year-old will be hard to keep off the Major League staff.
What about Carter? For all the fuss over Kuo, nobody in camp is having a better Spring Training than Lance Carter.
Ironically, Carter gives the Dodgers two relievers who have had two Tommy John operations. He missed the 1997 and 2001 seasons, but made it all the way to the All-Star team with the Devil Rays, and he would seem to have a job locked up this spring with the equivalent of a complete-game shutout -- nine scoreless innings.
"He's done nothing around here to turn a person off -- in the clubhouse or on the mound," said Little. "He's productive. You can't help but like everything he does. He doesn't wow you with his stuff. All he does is get people out."
And Osoria? With all of the veteran arms in camp, there didn't seem to be room for Franquelis Osoria a few weeks ago, but after another shutout inning Saturday, the sinkerballer again drew praise from Little.
"That's the second time for him with outstanding stuff," the skipper said. "We're not ignoring people who throw the ball like that and get good results."
Yhency Brazoban pitched two innings, the second better than the first. He's playing catch up after missing two weeks with a sore shoulder, and he has posted a 9.64 ERA thus far.
On offense: James Loney continued another torrid spring with three hits on Saturday to raise his average to .452, while Russell Martin (.348) delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Tigers.
Navarro continues improvement: The club is now cautiously optimistic that catcher Dioner Navarro will be healthy enough to start the season behind the plate. Navarro suffered a strained hamstring Wednesday, but after an injection, he has responded better than originally anticipated.
Werth's improvement negligible: Jayson Werth, into his second year with a wrist injury, said he swung a fungo at "about 30 percent," but when he tried to roll his wrist, "it bites." He remains out indefinitely.
TV on Sunday: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be at the microphone for the first time this spring on Sunday. This is Scully's 57th season with the Dodgers.
Ladies Day: The 5th annual Ladies Spring Training Day at Dodgertown will be held Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. PT. Women from across the region can come out and receive special instruction from Dodgers players and staff. There will be throwing, batting, base running and fielding stations, along with guest lectures from Dodgers personnel.
In May 2005, the Dodgers, led by vice chairman and president Jamie McCourt, launched the Women's Initiative and Network (WIN) program to develop and expand their female audience. The program aims to provide women of all ages and backgrounds with unique opportunities to learn about baseball and experience the fun of attending a game at Dodger Stadium.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Martin's single in ninth lifts Dodgers

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:26:00 +0000

03/18/2006
Dodgers at the plate: The Dodgers sprinkled 10 hits across Joker Marchant Stadium. Russell Martin's single to center off Wilfredo Ledezma with two outs in the ninth inning scored two runs to give the Dodgers the lead and the victory.
Tigers at the plate: In his first at-bat of Grapefruit League season, Craig Monroe led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo homer.
Dodgers on the mound: In his second start, right-hander Chad Billingsley worked three innings and gave up one run on two hits. Right-hander Lance Carter replaced Billingsley and worked a scoreless inning. Yhency Brazoban followed, and his wild pitch allowed the Tigers to take a 2-0 lead. Right-hander Franquelis Osoria pitched the ninth for the save.
Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Jason Grilli started and pitched four innings. Grilli, who pitched for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, gave up four hits and no runs. Ledezma gave up the decisive runs in the ninth for the blown save and the loss.
Grapefruit League records: Dodgers 9-5-3; Tigers 11-8-1.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Sarah's Take: Give rookies a chance

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:25:00 +0000

03/19/2006
In Spring Training, the Dodgers are having the opportunity to take a good long look at the young Minor Leaguers. After a disappointing 91-loss season, the Dodgers should be evaluating everything.
Since general manager Ned Colletti and manager Grady Little are new to the Dodgers organization, they are not familiar with the Minor League system. They need to know the Minor Leaguers. I don't see the Dodgers signing many free agents every year. Although Colletti signed many big-name free agents this offseason, these veterans have short-term contracts. Therefore, the young Dodgers will have an opportunity to get to the Majors shortly. To me, every Minor Leaguer needs to make a good impression on Dodgers management.
Some Dodgers fans have criticized Colletti for getting so many former Giants and Red Sox. I don't mind where these veterans came from if they can play. Last year, the Dodgers had many new faces. I was upset because many of those veteran players couldn't play well ever. This year, the Dodgers have many superstars who are still in their prime. Although these veterans might not be in Los Angeles for a long time, they can make a lasting impression on the city. These veterans are supposed to fill in the gap until the Minor Leaguers are ready for the Major Leagues.
Some members of the media have been criticizing Little for not playing the veterans enough. I laugh and say, "Hogwash!" Jim Tracy never played his veterans much, especially not together. I never understood how the veterans developed communication. However, I can't argue with the results of Tracy's teams in April.
Obviously, Grady Little has a different philosophy than Tracy. Little has been playing the veterans in the same game. The veterans don't play every game. This is normal for every baseball team. Little has given the Minor Leaguers enough time to show what they are capable of doing. The Minor Leaguers have been impressive. Spring Training is the only time that Little can see what Minor Leaguers are doing firsthand. I have been enjoying listening to the exhibition games because they are the only time that I can get to know the Minor Leaguers. Sometimes during the season, Dodgers fans e-mail me asking about a certain Minor Leaguer. Usually I don't know, but if I can remember him from Spring Training, I feel less stupid. With two weeks until the regular season begins, I expect Little will play his veterans more than he has. Personally, I prefer how Little is running Spring Training to the way Tracy did.
Seeing players in person is valuable. Although some baseball fans think looking at a player's statistics tells them the whole story, I know better. I use statistics in my writings to illustrate how a player is doing, but I understand statistics don't tell everything. I find the defensive statistics are misleading. If a player doesn't make errors, the statistics show that he is a good defensive player. However, he might not have the range to make the necessary plays. Little can read scouting reports to learn how a Minor Leaguer is doing. But to me, scouting reports can be biased because the scout writes down his opinions about a player. I believe the time that Little is spending watching the Minor Leaguers is helping him to make an informed decision about who will be on the team.
While some members of the media are worried that the veterans will not be ready for the regular season, I am not. The veterans know what they need to do to get ready for April 3. The Dodgers have many positions that need decisions on who will play them. I am not satisfied with preseason predictions. Too many young players are having a good Spring Training, and they should be able to earn a position on the Opening Day roster.
The left-field job is wide open. Before Spring Training began, everyone believed Jose Cruz Jr. would be the left fielder. Cruz hasn't been in Vero Beach because he has been representing Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Last August and September, he was impressive while playing for the Dodgers. Cruz hasn't had the career that most people thought he would. Offensively, he has struggled. Although he has the most experience of any of the potential Dodgers outfielders, he shouldn't block a promising young outfielder.
Whereas most reporters are certain that the Dodgers will have a veteran outfield, I am not. I will be disappointed if Little doesn't look past previous performances and choose the outfielder with the best Spring Training to be his left fielder. My biggest complaint about Tracy was he didn't give the young players an opportunity to play for the Dodgers.
After a fantastic Spring Training in 2005, Jason Repko made the Dodgers and sat on the bench. Repko didn't have a good rookie year. He is a possible five-tool player with a lot of enthusiasm. He made an impact on every game that he had an opportunity to get in, but for most of the last season, he sat and rusted. This Spring Training, he is excelling again. He is slated to be the fourth outfielder on the Dodgers until Jayson Werth returns from a wrist injury. Why hasn't Repko been considered to be the starting left fielder? I felt the lack of opportunity to play regularly hurt Repko's offensive skills and confidence. I hate seeing a young talented player being wasted because the Dodgers are not comfortable giving a rookie a chance to play regularly.
Cody Ross is another young outfielder who is having a good Spring Training. He is an older Minor Leaguer who is out of options. Not many people think he will have a good Major League career, but nobody can predict how Ross will do in the Majors. This spring he has displayed unexpected power. The projected Dodger lineup doesn't have an abundance of power, so having Ross able to come off the bench and hit a home run would be a big plus for the Dodgers.
This spring, Grady Little has moved the most treasured Dodgers Minor League prospect, Joel Guzman, from shortstop to left field. Because many left fielders are weak defensively, I am not worried about Guzman's defense. The kid can hit, especially with power. I think the Dodgers aren't considering Guzman for the Major League roster. Guzman hasn't played at the Triple-A level yet. The Dodgers don't want to rush Guzman. I don't want to hold the kid back, either. For two straight Spring Trainings, he has received a long look in the Major League camp, and he has done well. Ever since Adrian Beltre, the Dodgers have not promoted any position player quickly through the Minor League system. However, not every player is like Beltre, who needed Triple-A. If Guzman continues to do well this spring, I think he should be considered for the Major League roster.
For the second straight Spring Training, the Dodgers have a battle for the starting catcher position. Before Spring Training began, most people thought Dioner Navarro would be the regular catcher for the Dodgers. Although he did satisfactorily last August and September with the Dodgers, I was not convinced he was the catcher of the future.
Navarro had trouble knowing what to do with his mask on a foul ball. In my opinion, this skill should be learned early in the Minor Leagues. Not knowing what to do with his mask made every foul ball an adventure, and I was always scared that he would trip on it and injure himself. Before he came to Los Angeles, I heard that Navarro had a terrific throwing arm, but I didn't see any evidence of it. He didn't seem to be able to catch a basestealer. Usually when he tried, he overthrew for an error. Although the media praised Navarro's patience at the plate, I was not impressed. I thought he needed to be more aggressive.
This spring, 22-year-old Navarro has struggled. He has done OK defensively but nothing spectacular. He has a .064 batting average. To me, this doesn't make a Major Leaguer. I would like to see Navarro start the season at Triple-A, especially after he injured his hamstring. In my opinion, Navarro's strength is his ability to work with pitchers. The Dodgers can't keep a catcher without better basic skills.
The Dodgers have a 23-year-old catcher, Russell Martin, who is making a statement to be on the Major League roster. Many people within the Dodgers organization believe Martin is the future catcher. For two consecutive Spring Trainings, he has impressed me, not an easy feat. Reportedly he is a hard worker. This winter, Martin worked with Eric Gagne, and this probably will help Martin to get more prepared for the Major Leagues.
Martin, a converted third baseman, has displayed better than average defense. When he throws to second base, he throws perfect strikes and usually catches the potential basestealer easily. He can block pitches in the dirt. He is agile behind the plate, and this helps him to prevent wild pitches and catch foul balls. Before Friday's game started, Martin was hitting .380 during Spring Training. Though Martin hasn't played above Double-A, he has shown that he is ready for the Major Leagues. Since Navarro has an injury, the Dodgers should give Martin a chance to play in the Major Leagues this April.
I have heard a rumor that the Dodgers wanted to bring all of the players at Double-A up at the same time. People remember the team of the 1970s, and they think the famous infield arrived at the same time. This is not true. It would be nice if a team could go through the Minor League system together, but it is not possible. I hope the Dodgers will abandon the idea, and they will promote the players when they are ready.
I don't think the Dodgers will lose 91 games again this year. They have many young players who can help the Dodgers now. I hope the Dodgers will consider the rookies for each position. I am excited about the 2006 season.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Notes: Penny looking for a break

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:23:00 +0000

03/19/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Brad Penny is trying everything to rediscover his "A" game breaking ball. He worked on it in a Friday side session, then Sunday had a tutorial with the all-time Dodgers pitching guru, Sandy Koufax.
Penny spent 20 minutes talking with Koufax, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and bullpen coach Dan Warthen. It was Koufax's first visit to Dodgertown this spring.
"We talked mainly about gripping the curveball," said Penny. "He showed me the way he gripped it. But geez, have you ever seen his hand? He says to hold it like this, but that's easy for him to say with hands that big. But I'm going to try it and see what happens."
Penny, who pitches Monday night against the Nationals, already was excited about the progress he made with his breaking ball during the bullpen session Friday.
"That's the way I threw it in the World Series," said Penny, the winning pitcher in Florida's 2003 clinching victory over the Yankees. "Last year, that was the last thing I couldn't really do because of my arm. Snapping it at the end never felt quite right."
Penny suffered a damaged biceps nerve in August 2004 and started the 2005 season three weeks late, but still made 29 starts. Nonetheless, he said he was still apprehensive and lacked full extension on his breaking ball. The bullpen session was designed to extend the release point on that pitch.
Steady progress for Gagne: Eric Gagne threw his entire repertoire for the first time this spring in his one-inning Sunday outing, adding the slider for the first time. Gagne made 16 pitches and had a strikeout and a walk.
Gagne is not where he wants to be in his recovery from elbow surgery last June, but he's pleased that the progress has been steady with no setbacks.
"I wish I was 100 percent right now and that I could throw like I want, but it's getting better every time and that's all I can ask for," said Gagne. "I didn't get tight on the mound at all, it didn't bark. Nothing."
Gagne said he is bouncing back between outings better each time, but he is still taking two days off between appearances and is not expected to try pitching on consecutive days until the last week of March.
"It was good again today and we have to see how I am the next day," he said. "It's taking me less time to warm up, less time to get loose."
Of his four fastballs, he topped out at 93 mph.
Ace time: Derek Lowe, who allowed one run over six innings, will emerge as the staff ace if manager Grady Little is right.
"The man is getting geared up to have a great season," Little said. "He has total focus on what he's doing out there. He's got the ability. With focus, the results will come."
Lowe said he's not hung up on titles.
"My goal isn't to be the No. 1 guy, it's for my team on the day that I pitch to feel we're going to win that day," said Lowe. "That's a trust and a respect you have to earn from the team. I'm trying to do that in Spring Training so people feel good every time I go out there."
Lowe has allowed one run in 13 official spring innings for a 0.69 ERA.
Offense on track: Bill Mueller had a home run and two singles and scored three runs Sunday, and Ricky Ledee had a two-run homer and double in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic.
J.D. Drew did not start in the game against Washington and instead took extra at-bats in a Minor League game.
Little said he did not know when Jae Seo, who allowed only one run in 14 innings, and Hee-Seop Choi, who hit .217, would arrive back from the Classic after Saturday's elimination of Korea, or Odalis Perez of the Dominican Republic team.
Mixed emotions: Cuban reliever Danys Baez, who defected to play Major League Baseball, didn't watch Cuba's victory Saturday over the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.
"I'm happy for a few of my friends on the team, but I'm not part of it because they wouldn't let me play," said Baez. "I wish them good luck. They played great baseball to beat the Dominicans. But even though it's my country, they're not thinking about me, so how can I feel part of them?"
Baez, pleased with a mechanical adjustment he made last week, threw a perfect inning Sunday. If Gagne cannot bounce back for consecutive appearances in April, Baez will pick up a share of save opportunities.
Izturis defies the experts: Cesar Izturis continues his recovery from Tommy John elbow reconstruction faster than the club expected.
Saturday, for the first time, he threw from the regular shortstop position, only six months after having the operation. He believes he's only a couple of weeks away from beginning to play in Minor League games and now foresees a Major League return by May 1 or sooner.
Dr. Frank Jobe said he wants to have a new MRI taken of the repaired ligament on the inside of Izturis' elbow and the osteochondritis condition on the outside of the elbow before Izturis is cleared for game action.
Navarro healing quickly: Catcher Dioner Navarro, who strained a right hamstring muscle Wednesday, threw for the first time Sunday and said he continues to be healing faster than he expected.
Navarro said he might start light jogging soon, and still has not tried to hit or squat. Without a setback, chances are he will be healthy when the season starts in two weeks.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Lowe goes six strong in Dodgers' win

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:22:00 +0000

03/19/2006
Nationals at the plate: A single by Royce Clayton and an infield single by Ryan Zimmerman were cashed in by Daryle Ward's RBI groundout. The Nationals had one single over the last 4 2/3 innings.
Dodgers at the plate: Five runs scored in the first inning on a fielder's choice and error off the bat of Jose Cruz Jr., a Jeff Kent sacrifice fly, an RBI single by Bill Mueller and a two-run throwing error by Zimmerman. Mueller homered in the third inning and had three hits. Ricky Ledee, in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic, hit a two-run homer and a double.
Nationals on the mound: Billy Traber was charged with five runs in the first inning, three of them earned, and a sixth run in the third inning on Mueller's home run.
Dodgers on the mound: Starter Derek Lowe allowed one run on four hits over six innings. Eric Gagne, Jonathan Broxton and Danys Baez pitched scoreless innings.
Grapefruit League records: Nationals 5-15-1; Dodgers 10-5-3.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Dodgers fete Campo Las Palmas

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:21:00 +0000

03/19/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Dodgers organization recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Campo Las Palmas, its baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. That so many dignitaries made the trip for the ceremony was an indication of how important that academy has been to the ballclub.
Attending were chairman and vice chairman Frank and Jamie McCourt, general manager Ned Colletti, chief operating officer Marty Greenspun, vice president of communications Camille Johnston, vice president of scouting and player development Roy Smith and vice president of Minor League facilities Craig Callan.
Among the current Dodgers who have gone through the academy are Joel Guzman, Franquelis Osoria, Willy Aybar and Tony Abreu.
Former standout academy graduates include Pedro Martinez, Raul Mondesi and Adrian Beltre.
On the move: Blake DeWitt, a first-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft as a shortstop, will play second base this season, most likely at Class A Vero Beach. DeWitt had been playing third base, but the thought of a talented middle infielder who is also pure left-handed hitter is appealing to management. DeWitt led Columbus last year in hits, doubles and total bases.
Names in the game: Lance Parrish was hired to manage the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors, after serving last year as bullpen coach for the Detroit Tigers. Parrish was also a member of Detroit's staff from 1999-2001. Parrish served as a coach for the Dodgers' Double-A team at San Antonio in 1997-98 and was the Missions' interim manager the second half of the 1998 season. Parrish was an eight-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger Award winner and three-time Gold Glove winner during a 19-year playing career. He ranks in the top 10 for catchers in games caught, home runs and RBIs.
They're No. 1: Scott Elbert has been in the organization only two seasons, but management is so confident of his future it felt comfortable trading away Chuck Tiffany, who had been considered the Dodgers' best left-handed starting pitching prospect until Elbert emerged.
Elbert was drafted 17th overall in 2004 out of Seneca (Mo.) High School, and his 2.66 ERA last year was the best among all Dodgers full-season Minor Leaguers. He also struck out 128 batters in 115 innings and is rated as the organization's sixth-best prospect by Baseball America.
Class of '05: Luke Hochevar, a supplemental first-round pick in last year's draft, remains unsigned with no indication the two sides intend to make an effort to break the impasse. Hochevar rejected a $2.97 million bonus offer after verbally accepting it. He will be a senior this year and would go back into the draft in June.
What they're saying: "He's a non-drafted short right-handed pitcher who's under the radar and has to prove himself at every level. He's had to grind it out, but every manager and pitching coach wants him on their club. He's got guts, and he knows how to pitch." -- Smith on pitcher Eric Hull, who has a 3.33 ERA over four professional seasons

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/

Notes: Martin making his mark

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:20:00 +0000

03/20/2006
VIERA, Fla. -- Dioner Navarro, with an .063 batting average and a strained hamstring, still projects to be the Opening Day catcher for the Dodgers.
But Russell Martin was told when camp opened that he would be given a chance to win the job, and he's doing everything possible to make it happen.
With a three-run homer and four RBIs Monday night, Martin raised his spring average to .400. While Martin is capitalizing on expanded playing time in Navarro's absence, Navarro is working like a madman to get back on the field.
Navarro added batting practice and light jogging to playing catch, and Monday he said he feels no pain in the hamstring muscle he strained last week. He said he's relatively confident he will be at full strength for the start of the season.
"But I haven't really tested it yet and I don't need to yet," he said. "I haven't squatted. But it's really coming along good because I'm working hard every day. That's the difference in a guy who has an injury for a month and a guy who has one for two weeks. It's hard work."
There's only room on the Major League club for one of them, with Sandy Alomar Jr. the veteran backup. Unless Navarro opens the season on the disabled list, Martin figures to be at Triple-A Las Vegas. He's just not playing like a Minor Leaguer.
"This is definitely a confidence booster for sure," Martin said. "The pitchers like throwing to me and that tells me I'm doing a decent job behind the plate. I feel like I can compete at this level."
Martin said starting pitcher Brad Penny's breaking ball showed improvement in his five-inning outing Monday, which was marred by a two-run first inning. Penny retired the last 10 batters he faced.
"He was overthrowing everything there and it took an inning or two for him to get his composure back, but he made the adjustment," said Martin.
Guzman still in the mix: If 21-year-old Joel Guzman hasn't yet done enough to win an everyday outfield job, he has Dodgers manager Grady Little toying with the thought of keeping him in the Major Leagues in a utility role.
Little originally said if Guzman doesn't play every day in the big leagues, he would play every day in the Minor Leagues. Little backed a bit off that position on Monday, even though it would be highly unusual for a top prospect jumping from Double-A.
"It's sticky. There are very few people who think he can't help our club, but is it the best thing for him?" said Little. "He's done a great job adjusting to the outfield, making all the plays, and I'm confident he can do other things defensively, like shortstop and first and third base. In left field, he looks like Dave Winfield."
Little said deciding whether to start the season with 11 or 12 pitchers will dictate which players -- and what kind of players -- are needed to fill out the remaining position spots. The most likely scenario would be 11 pitchers, at least initially with fifth starter Jae Seo in the bullpen.
Going with 12 pitchers might make Guzman's infield/outfield versatility even more tempting, because he essentially could serve the purpose of two position players. Because Oscar Robles is a left-handed hitter, the right-handed Guzman would probably make the team at the expense of right-handed-hitting utilityman Ramon Martinez. Guzman had a single and two RBIs Monday night.
A linked bench decision is what to do with Hee-Seop Choi, who returned from the World Baseball Classic and made the trip Monday. With Nomar Garciaparra starting at first base and Choi unable to play anywhere else, he would be the second left-handed hitter off the bench after Ricky Ledee, especially if Robles is not on the club. With Ledee and Robles on the club, Choi could be a numbers victim.
Little said he would need to watch Choi play to make an evaluation, although Choi is a known quantity - left-handed power, but lacking consistency. Little also praised the play of Willy Aybar, another utility infielder who had an impressive September call-up and is still competing for a job.
Seo and Odalis Perez will rejoin the club from their Classic duties Tuesday. Perez will pitch in a Minor League game, while Seo will drop into the rotation and start Thursday.
Cutdowns: The Dodgers reassigned five players out of Major League camp and none of them was a surprise, although one of them was pitcher Chad Billingsley, considered by many as the best prospect in the organization.
The others were left-handed reliever Joe Beimel, first baseman James Loney and outfielders Matt Kemp and Delwyn Young.
"I was kind of expecting it," said the 21-year-old Billingsley, who had a 3.86 ERA in 9 1/3 innings. "I felt I threw well and that's all I can do. I feel I gave them a good look and if something happens to somebody up there, they'll think of me."
Beimel was one of four left-handed relief contenders, leaving Kelly Wunsch, Hong-Chih Kuo and Tim Hamulack.
Kemp, who hit 27 home runs at Class A Vero Beach, is expected to play at Double-A Jacksonville this year. The other four are likely headed to Las Vegas.

Source: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/