February 8, 2008 No comments

02-08-2008 - Final Tune-Up Before Spring Training

DODGER NOTES:

This picture sums up our 2007 season in a nutshell. Raffy Furcal’s ankle injury is one main reasons we didn’t win last year, so it’s good to hear how well he is doing in the Dominican. He’s back on track and going to be playing the year of his career! He hit another HR in the Dominican Championship game.
Trainer Stan Conte reported from Arizona that he watched pitcher Jason Schmidt throw off a mound. Conte said Schmidt continues his recovery from serious shoulder surgery, and Conte was pleased with what he saw. Schmidt is expected to be throwing off a mound in Spring Training.
According to Dodgers.Scout.com, Andrew Lambo’s his rookie season in the Gulf Coast League was simply amazing. Lambo had an on-base percentage (.440) and OPS (.960). Lambo’s .343 batting average ranked third in the GCL. He also tied for fifth in runs scored (28) and was tied for sixth in total hits (62). He can play RF or 1B. For his effort, Lambo was named the Dodger’s Guy Wellman Award winner, which is given out annually to the Dodgers’ top minor league player. Past honorees included pitchers Clayton Kershaw (2006), Chad Billingsley (2005) and Chan-Ho Park (1994), as well as first baseman James Loney (2002) and third baseman Adrian Beltré (1995). Lambo, 18, will be presented with the Guy Wellman Award, named after the team’s longtime coordinator of instruction and field coordinator, during a spring training game.
Andre Ethier wants to start and avaoid another unfortuneate situation according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA TIMES - of course he does. My advice: OUTPLAY PIERRE! Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that Ethier said: “My role on the team is not something I can control,” said Ethier, who hit .284 last year with 13 homers, 64 RBIs and 447 at-bats in 153 games while caught in an awkward rotation with Matt Kemp and Luis Gonzalez for the two corner outfield spots. In my position, I have no say. I want to be here. The Dodgers have my rights, they have the power. I’ve prepared for Spring Training like I did before. I’m out to win an everyday job. I feel I have something to prove, like always. You can always better yourself, become more consistent.” I am sure he wants to play, so it really IS UP TO HIM to prove to Joe Torre that he needs to be in the lineup. 25 HR from a LF would set Pierre on the bench or make him “trade bait.”
Rudy Seanez deal with the Dodgers is a non-guaranteed, one-year deal that carries what amounts to a $700,000 base salary - identical to the base the Dodgers paid Seanez last season - if he makes the Opening Day roster. If he doesn’t, they don’t have to pay it all. All I can say is that he must want to pitch in LA.
Diamond Leung of The Press-Enterprise had this to say after talking with Russ Martin: Other than the contract extension possibility, I was able to chat with Russell Martin outside Childrens Hospital Los Angeles earlier this week about a couple people close to him who had rough offseasons. Martin said he hasn’t been able to speak with former manager Grady Little since he resigned, but that the two had played phone tag and said what they needed to say to each other through some lengthy voicemails. “I love Grady,” Martin said. “He’s a good person. It was just surprising. Even to this day, I don’t know who’s decision it was. It’s just that business side of baseball that I don’t really understand at times. The decision was made. Whether it was Grady’s or not, I don’t know.” Martin also recently while working out in Arizona ate with friend, former teammate and fellow Canadian Eric Gagne, who was fingered in the Mitchell Report and could break his silence on the issue next week. “Whenever he feels like it’s time to talk, he’ll do that. Right now, he’s a friend. He’ll always remain my friend, and I know he’s going through a hard time right now. I’m not even going to share my reaction is,” Martin added with a laugh. “I’m going to keep it to myself. Whenever he comes out and he talks about it, you’ll understand. You’ll see what kind of guy he is, and that’s the most important thing to me.”
The Dodgers signed Jason Johnson to a Minor League contract. Johnson, 34, has a career Major League record of 55-98, 4.99 and pitched in Japan last year. One more arm - probably headed to Vegas, but you never know….