March 2008 Archives

When Joe Torre arrived in his office after the Dodgers' Opening Day 5-0 win over San Francisco, he found a note on his desk. It said: ``We eat, we win.'' It was from B.C. - Billy Crystal - who's a good friend of Torre's.
``That goes back a long time,'' Torre said. ``We had lunch one day, and we won the game that night. I don't know if it's superstition. It's more an expression than reality. Now, if we just if we talk about eating together. He's a dear friend.''
Speaking of eating, Torre said he would go out to eat tonight with his family, which included many of his relatives from Cincinnati. He said he has many favorite eateries in L.A. because you can sit outside. However, he said his group will probably be in the back of a restaurant somewhere.

As anyone who is around this game on a regular basis will tell you, the best game of any baseball season is Game 2. If opening day is sensory overload, Game 2 is sweet normalcy, and I can't wait to get here tomorrow. As for the rest of today, well, let's just say there is a lot of work to be done. ... Anyway, one thing that was really, really encouraging today was the way the Dodgers worked Zito, getting his pitch count to 87 by the time he was pulled after just five innings. The philosophy behind that strategy is that you get a starter out of the game early and get to the middle relief. Well, the Dodgers actually scored four of their five runs off Zito and only one off middle reliever Merkin Valdez. But the strategy is a proven one, and if the Dodgers can keep it up, it will serve them very well as the season goes along. ... By the way, I can't stop myself from pointing out that Andre Ethier and Juan Pierre now have exactly the same number of hits this season.

The Dodgers did officially purchase the contracts this morning of infielder Blake DeWitt and Angel Chavez, and DeWitt is in the starting lineup at 3B, batting eighth, for better or worse. ``We're not askign him to do anything other than play the position,'' Joe Torre said. ``We don't want him to carry us or do anything extraordinary.'' Chavez was taken over Ramon Martinez because Martinez basically because he gives the club more roster flexibility, which is important given that either one would be going back to Triple-A eventually. By adding Martinez to the 40-man roster, the Dodgers would risk losing him when they try to outright him back to the minors because he has enough big-league service time that he could simply refuse the outright, become a free agent and keep his major-league salary for the entire season. Chavez doesn't have enough service time to do that. ... There are indications DeWitt's stay might be a short one, even though Torre admitted this morning that Nomar will need a rehab assignment before he is activated, which means he isn't going to be activated anytime soon because he isn't even close to being ready for game action. But Marcus Giles is still a free agent, has been ever since the Rockies released him on Tuesday. It would make sense if the Dodgers were to sign him and send him to Vegas for a few days to see if he could master playing 3B, where he has made nine career appearances, none since 2005. Then, if he proves he is even adequate, they could bring him up after a few days and stick him in the lineup.

Kuroda/Kershaw flirted with a no-hitter before Clayton ultimately gave up a one-out single to Bobby Kielty in the eighth, but Kuroda, Kershaw and Falkenborg ultimately combined one a one-hitter, and the Dodgers finished the spring 11-18-4. ... It LOOKS LIKE Angel Chavez has made the team. He is a non-roster infielder about whom I don't believe I have written a single word this spring. He is 26, from Panam and spend his entire career in the Giants chain until the past two years, when he logged time with the Phillies, Orioles and Yankees affiliates. He has 10 major-league games, all in 2005 with the Giants. ... Jason Repko was optioned to Las Vegas after the game, so the Dodgers now have a 24-man roster plus Chavez and DeWitt, and the final move won't be made until Ned is sure he isn't making a trade. Tony Abreu will be DL'd, and I'm guessing Jason Schmidt will be placed on the 60-day DL, which will clear a second 40-man spot (Rudy Seanez's release on Wed. cleared the first one), so the club can purchase the contracts of both Chavez and DeWitt. ... Interesting subplot of tomorrow's pitching matchup: both Barry Zito and Brad Penny are ex-boyfriends of Alyssa Milano. Wonder for whom she'll be rooting. I guess whichever breakup was the least messy.

Joe Torre broke the news to Juan Pierre this morning. ``He just said `OK,' but I know he is disappointed, and that's fine,'' Torre said. ``You don't want a guy sitting on your bench who just accepts being on the bench.'' Torre said JP will be a regular bench player, pinch hitting, etc. ``Before it's all said and done, we're going to get contributions from a lot of people,'' Torre said. ... In other moves, the team reassigned Brian Falkenborg, Mike Koplove, Greg Jones, Clayton Kershaw, Chan Ho Park, Rene Rivera, Danny Ardoin and Rene Rivera and disabled Nomar, LaRoche and Schmidt. The guess here is that Park will be the first guy called up when the team decides to add a 12th pitcher, something Torre acknowledged will probably happen in the next week or two. For now, Park is slated to start the Vegas season opener on Thursday at home against Salt Lake. ... Tony Abreu also is expected to be DL'd by tonight, and there are more cuts yet to be made. But Torre said there also could still be a last-minute trade. For now, Chin-lung Hu is on the team as an extra infielder. Angel Chavez, a non-roster infielder, still hasn't been cut, either.

First Boston victory in four meetings between the clubs this spring. I'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail on this one because, well, let's face it, opening day is about 38 hours and 42 minutes away, and it just doesn't matter anymore. But the Dodgers fall to 10-18-4 for the spring. ... They are now playing some horrendous hiphop song on the sound system here that seems to be called Go Dodgers Go, and I am hoping with every fiber of my being that they're not planning on playing that after every game this year. There is too much artificial noise at Dodger Stadium already, and the last thing we need to hear every night is some contrived song to celebrate a home team that shouldn't need to be celebrated beyond the games it wins and the cheers of its adoring fans. Besides, what's wrong with Randy Newman's I Love L.A., the song they have been playing after every home win for at least as long as I have been on the beat? It's a decent song that doesn't offend the senses. Just stick with that, and don't fix what isn't broken. ... But Go Dodgers Go isn't even the worst thing that happened tonight. That was that they played Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline in the eighth inning. I mean, they play that song at FENWAY PARK, and the Dodgers were playing the RED SOX. But then, given the people who are running this organization now, I guess whatever the Red Sox do is going to become whatever the Dodgers do. So much for originality.

Melissa Lalum reports that some fans waited two hours in line to take a shuttle from Dodger Stadium to the
Coliseum.
Mike Barraza, 30, of Los Angeles, has been a Dodgers fan ever since the
days of Fernando Valenzuela. But he wasn't a fan of the Dodgers free shuttle service.

"I got in line at 5:30, I'm hoping to arrive by 8 p.m," Barraza said.
"Very poor organization. The line is moving fast, but they're
definitely overwhelmed."

Ever seen a giant wave? About 115,000 fans at the Coliseum did the wave and it got around the stadium several times.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar threw out a pitch between innings, and let's just say it's a good thing he stuck to basketball. His first pitch was a one-hopper to the left of the bag. But when he jokingly used a hook shot to get the ball to home plate, he was almost right on the money to catcher Russell Martin, although Martin was a few feet in front of home plate.

Boston manager Terry Francona and Dodgers manager Joe Torre were talking behind the batting page talking. As they were leaving, Francona put his arm around Torre and jokingly jostled him around and said: ``Hey, I can do that now.''
As you know, Torre used to manage the Yankees and such fun between the rival managers would've been frowned upon.

David Ortiz had fans scrambling a while ago during batting practice as he hit a ton of homers over the center field fence at the Coliseum.

The shuttle system at Dodger Stadium hasn't been working quite as well as it did earlier in the day. My co-worker, Justin Frank, said he arrived at Dodger Stadium at 3 p.m. and didn't get to the Coliseum until 5:30 p.m. Ouch! There was at least an hour wait for a shuttle when he got there.

I took the shuttle from Dodger Stadium today, and it couldn't have been an easier way to get to the Coliseum. I got to Dodger Stadium at 2:15 p.m. and by the time I parked, got on the shuttle and arrived at 3 p.m. However, a friend of mine called from Dodger Stadium and said she left because the line to get on the shuttle was so long. She's trying her luck somewhere near the Coliseum. I wished her luck.

Tonight's lineups, for those who asked

Boston
Lugo SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Youkilis 1B
Crisp CF
Ellsbury RF
Kielty LF
Cash C

Dodgers
Furcal SS
Martin C
Ethier LF
Kent 2B
Jones CF
Loney 1B
Kemp RF
Pierre DH
DeWitt 3B

Interesting they DH Pierre in a ballpark where he might actually be able to throw the ball from LF to home plate. As for Kershaw, I didn't get your request until after I was done downstairs, and I can't find any documentation stating that he IS going to pitch behind Loaiza tomorrow, but I do think it's a safe bet. He hasn't pitched since Tuesday, and he needs at least a couple of innings because J-ville doesn't open its season until Thursday against West Tennessee. ... By the way, it LOOKS like Ramon Troncoso is going to get the last spot in the bullpen. He is having a GREAT spring. He also already has a 40-man spot, and those are in short supply right now. It's a wing and a prayer given that his 35 appearances at J-ville are his ONLY experience at anything higher than Single-A. But he's a sinkerball, groundball pitcher who gave up seven home runs in 215 1/3 minor-league innings. ... Speaking of guys with very little experience above Single-A, Torre also but said in his pregame media session today that Blake DeWitt will be the opening-day 3B. He is waiting until the moment rosters have to be set (noon tomorrow) to make it official just in case something unforeseen (trade for a 3B) happens. But for now, that's the way they plan to go. ... Jill Painter will be blogging in-game tonight. That's all for me until later.

Yes, it's true. I have lived in Los Angeles for four years and have been coming here a lot longer than that, and this marks the first time I have EVER set foot inside the storied Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. ... That's all I got for now. I'll check back in a little later

Rafael Furcal went 3 for 4, raising his average to .385. Chad Billingsley pitched five superb innings, allowing a run on two hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. The boys scored two in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie, Mark Sweeney driving home Andre Ethier with the winner with an RBI double. James Loney plated Sweeney with a single. Joe Beimel, Ramon Troncoso, Scott Proctor and Jonathan Broxton held the Sox to one hit over the final four innings. Dodgers go to 10-17-4 for the spring. ... And they just dimmed the lights at 10:54 p.m. Good. I was getting a headache.

I can't even begin to put into words how much brighter it is here than in the past. I'm not sure I like it yet. It just doesn't look like Dodger Stadium. It has this weird, green flourescent sort of feel to it. But I'm sure the 83 games I'm going to see here over the next six months will be enough for me to get used to it. It's just that it sort of overwhelms the senses the first time you see it. ... Doesn't look like the Christmas tree sales down in the bullpens are especially brisk. Guess they'll pick up around the Holidays. ... Jeff Kent is in the lineup, batting fourth. He ran before the game. Guess he must have felt OK. He does need at-bats in advance of Monday's opener.

Sports columnist and editor Kevin Modesti toured the Coliseum yesterday and we chronicled his visit with a video. It's a great look at the setup of the stadium and Kevin gives some of the history behind Saturday's game. Check it out here:

Previewing baseball at the Coliseum

Actually, I haven't been down on the field-level concourse yet to see how much wider it is. But from the press box, I can see what they have done to the bullpens. There are trees out there. Or are the hedges? Not sure, but it's some kind of foliage, which will no doubt make the relievers feel outdoorsy as they warm up to come into the game in key situations. What I'm really looking forward to is seeing what the new lights look like when it gets dark tonight. Supposedly, the place is going to be twice as bright, or at least that's what Frank told us at dinner one night in Vero Beach. ... No news so far today. Jeff Kent is supposed to take BP in a simulated game at 3:30. It's now 3:47, so they can start anytime.

The Dodgers played the Angels and DIDN'T LOSE!!!!!!! Andre Ethier, playing RF, impersonated Dave Parker in the 1979 All-Star Game (look THAT ONE up) and threw out two runners on the basepaths, including his Vlad-ness trying to stretch a single in the sixth inning and Brandon Wood trying to score on a would-be sac fly in the eighth. Blake DeWitt took another step toward being the opening-day 3B by making a game-saving stop of a ball hit by Maicer Izturis in the eighth that would have gone up the LF line, turning it instead into a harmless infield single. DeWitt then worked a six-pitch walk with two outs in the ninth to load the bases, only to have Juan Pierre fly out two pitches later, leaving the bases loaded and leaving Pierre's average for the spring at a ro(bust) .179.
After the game, Joe Torre still wouldn't shed any light on the OF situation.
``I'll let you know when I know,'' he said.
In other words, he'll let us know when he figures out how to break the news to JP. That's why Joe gets paid what he gets paid. As for why JP gets paid what he gets paid, well, that isn't entirely clear.
Dodgers go to 9-17-4 for the spring. As Ned Colletti pointed out in Joe's office, they become the first team in the history of baseball to play to a tie in Florida, Arizona, China and California, all in the same spring. Woo-hooooooo!!!!

I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong.I was wrong. I was wrong. ... And no, I did NOT come to this conclusion after watching the left fielder foul out to left field to end the inning on a 1-0 pitch after the previous two hitters had just worked walks on a combined 13 pitches to load the bases, in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game, thus capping an 0-for-5 night for said left fielder. Nor did I come to this conclusion after watching Andre Ethier save the game by cutting down Brandon Wood at the plate to end the eighth inning. I actually came to this conclusion a few days ago. I just thought this would be the perfect occasion in which to finally deliver my long-overdue mea culpa. OK? Is everybody satisfied?

He felt something in his right groin after one of his at-bats against the Brewers on Tuesday. The move can be backdated to Wednesday, which means he won't be eligible to play until April 11 against the Padres. Not sure what it means for third base except that Blake DeWitt now might actually, truly be a candidate for the opening-day roster. That would mean a whole lot of other things, too, mostly that his calendar would be moved up a year so that he would run out of options a year earlier, would become eligible for arbitration a year earlier, etc., because as of right now, he doesn't even have to be added to the 40-man roster until next winter. If he is added to the opening-day roster, all of that changes. If you assume Rudy Seanez was released to make room on the 40-man for Chan Ho Park, then this probably means another spot will have to be cleared to make room for DeWitt ... or for Marcus Giles, if the Dodgers decide to go that route. He was officially released by the Rockies on Wed. ... Two moves today: Yhency Brazoban was optioned to the minors to the surprise of no one who saw him pitch (or try to field his position) this spring, and veteran reliever Mike Myers was released. Myers was in camp on a non-roster invitation, so releasing him doesn't clear a roster spot. ... If you're coming to tonight's lone installment of this year's abbreviated Freeway Series, bring a jacket. It's going to be chilly.

He felt something in his right groin after one of his at-bats against the Brewers on Tuesday. The move can be backdated to Wednesday, which means he won't be eligible to play until April 11 against the Padres. Not sure what it means for third base except that Blake DeWitt now might actually, truly be a candidate for the opening-day roster. That would mean a whole lot of other things, too, mostly that his calendar would be moved up a year so that he would run out of options a year earlier, would become eligible for arbitration a year earlier, etc., because as of right now, he doesn't even have to be added to the 40-man roster until next winter. If he is added to the opening-day roster, all of that changes. If you assume Rudy Seanez was released to make room on the 40-man for Chan Ho Park, then this probably means another spot will have to be cleared to make room for DeWitt ... or for Marcus Giles, if the Dodgers decide to go that route. He was officially released by the Rockies on Wed. ... Two moves today: Yhency Brazoban was optioned to the minors to the surprise of no one who saw him pitch (or try to field his position) this spring, and veteran reliever Mike Myers was released. Myers was in camp on a non-roster invitation, so releasing him doesn't clear a roster spot. ... If you're coming to tonight's lone installment of this year's abbreviated Freeway Series, bring a jacket. It's going to be chilly.

The move was made last night when the team arrived in Los Angeles. This is a bit of a shocker. He wasn't having a great spring. He had a 7.71 ERA in five appearances, but most of us had simply assumed he was on the team. Rudy had considered retirement a year ago before the Dodgers signed him to a minor-league deal, and he was going to retire last spring if he hadn't made the team, so my guess is that's what he'll do now. He's 38 and has had a nice career, in the majors off and on since 1989. ... I'm GUESSING this was done to clear a 40-man roster spot because the roster was full, and there probably will be another spot or two cleared in the next couple of days. Chan Ho Park is going to make the team as a long reliever, so he'll need to be added, and Ramon Martinez has a shot, too. But this still leaves one more bullpen opening that could go to any one of a number of guys, including Brian Falkenborg, Mike Myers or Mike Koplove. It could mean a trade is coming. Or, it could just mean they're planning on beginning the season with an 11-man staff because they won't need a fifth starter until April 8, the eighth game of the season. In fact, that is probably the most logical explanation for now. That probably means Chin-lung Hu makes the club as an extra infielder and a hedge in case both Nomar and Kent start the season on the DL. ... Rudy had a $550,000 base salary and a $150,000 roster bonus, which basically meant it would cost the Dodgers only $550,000 if they released him before opening day. But because they released him before Friday, the deadline for requesting unconditional release waivers, the club only owes him 45 days' pay, which according to my calculations is $137,500.

For the first time since last Thursday, the Dodgers didn't lose. They stopped after nine, what with it being getaway day and all. Clayton Kershaw was brilliant again, pitching three shutout innings and allowing one hit against one of the best lineups in the league. Penny walked five in three innings in his final start of the spring, but one can hardly blame him for looking ahead to Monday, when he gets the ball for the opener. Scott Proctor retired all four batters he faced. The boys come home 9-17-3 for the spring. I come home tired and with a really bad cold, but otherwise ready for action. See you Thursday night in Anaheim.

The visiting clubhouse here at Marvale Baseball Park is, shall we say, a bit spartan ... and a bit small. When the three buses carrying the roughly 42 Dodgers players plus coaches, support staff and broadcast personnel, pulled up to the ballpark this morning, with most already dressed in their getaway garb of dress pants, dress shirts and dress shoes, most players walked into the clubhouse and walked right back out again. Many of them actually got back on the bus and changed into their uniforms there, with a large gaggle of autograph seekers waiting behind an iron fence just outside. This is an unfortunate reality of spring training, where you can't always count on the most plush of accommodations when going on the road. These are, in reality, minor-league parks, with most of them hosting minor-league teams during the summer months. But the Dodgers might want to put in a request to the league office to NOT play the Brewers in Maryvale on getaway day EVER AGAIN.

Internet went down in the press box last night, so I never posted after the game, but the Dodgers lost to the Royals 10-9 after mounting a ninth-inning comeback. ... Team is headed back to Los Angeles after the game and will get a much-needed off day tomorrow before playing the Angels in Anaheim on Thursday night. ... Dodgers will close out this part of spring training with a perfect day in the desert, just a gorgeous morning. Brewers complex is in kind of a bad neighborhood, but the complex itself is beautiful, and there is a great view of the mountains beyond center field. This game is NOT a sellout. I checked last night, and they were still about 3,000 short. But you can already tell the Dodgers are going to be HUGE draw down here. This move in long overdue.

Saito had been slated to pitch in tonight's game with the Royals, but instead, he was left back at PHX Muni with tightness in his right buttocks. Allegedly, he would have been able to pitch if this were a regular season game, but this is a precaution. Not sure what it means for his schedule the rest of the way, but I'll try to find out. ... Jeff Kent had a good day running sprints on the outfield grass and rounding the bases. He also too batting practice and ground balls. He still has an outside chance of being ready for opening day, so we'll see. ... Beautiful complex here in Surprise.

Chad Billingsley struggled, mostly because he tried to use his changeup more than he has in the past, something he plans to do during the regular season. He was touched for five runs over four innings and now has an 8.31 ERA for the spring. Esteban Loaiza gave up three runs on six hits over three innings, but Chan Ho Park struggled his last time out, too, so the fifth spot in the rotation still belongs to Loaiza, even though Torre has yet to officially bestow it upon him. ... James Loney went 3 for 4 with a double. Juan Pierre went hitless in four at-bats, his average dropping to .188. ... Dodgers fall to 9-16-2. At the Royals tomorrow night.

The fact both of them are out of options appears to be working in their favor. Kuo is having a good spring, with a 2.35 ERA in five appearances (7 2/3 innings). Delwyn is hitting just .146, but he has cut WAY down on his strikeouts since early in camp.
This is Torre:
``I think (being out of options) has to be (a factor). To me, you have to think in terms of that. It's a matter of `Who do you take instead of ... ?' and it has to make sense. If it's an equal playing field, why lose somebody of value? I believe those two guys have value. They're both young, and Kuo is left-handed.''

And hi from Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, the quaint little home of the N.L. champion Colorado Rockies. This isn't the most modern facility in the Cactus League, but it sits in a beautiful setting, with a lush golf course behind it and a lot of palm trees and other foliage beyond the outfield wall. It used to be a dump when the Cleveland Indians trained here, but the Rockies had it redone shortly after they came into the league back in the mid-90s, and they did a great job with it. The ushers and security people here are among the best anywhere, very friendly and professional, which is also true of Coors Field in Denver. I don't know that I appreciated that when I was covering the team back in the late '90s. It was the first team I had ever covered, so I probably thought things were done that way everywhere. But as a visiting writer, it's a very nice thing to encounter when you walk into a strange ballpark, and I haven't been here since 1999. ... Chin-lung Hu is in the lineup playing third base today, with Tony Abreu at SS and Ramon Martinez at 2B. Everything else is basically the same, with an outfield of Pierre, Kemp and Ethier. Gary Bennett is catching, Billingsley pitching. Off to the clubhouse. Check with ya later.

The Dodgers might be blazing new trails in the Cactus League, but one thing hasn't changed: they still can't beat the Angels. This one fell apart in the seventh inning, when Reggie Willits started a rally by dropping a bunt single on Chin-lung Hu, who had just entered the game for his first inning of the spring at 3B. Mike Napoli homered later in the inning, and Nathan Haynes singled home Kendry Morales, who had doubled. All that happened against Saito, but no one was concerned. It was just his fourth appearance of the spring, and he is slightly behind some of the other relievers. He also was next to unhittable his first two times out. ... D-Lowe looks like a guy who is ready for the season to start. He was perfect through three and held the Angels to a hit and a walk through five before running into trouble in the sixth, when he gave up a run on three hits. ... No one did much at the plate, but Tony Abreu had a spectacular game at second base, making three great plays in the span of four batters in the fourth and fifth innings. ... Kent was ``disappointed'' in how he felt when he tried to do some light running, manager Joe Torre said. He still got a few at-bats in the simulated game, but he is beginning to appear doubtful -- my words, no one else's -- for opening day. We'll see. ... Dodgers lose their second in a row and fall to 9-15-2 for the spring.

A guy just spent about 30 minutes touching up the Athletics logo in the grass behind home plate, painting the green-and-gold trim around it, because it had started to fade in the desert sun. Never mind the fact the A's have left for Tokyo and their opener with Boston. Never mind the fact that the Dodgers are playing the Angels today. Never mind the fact this is the last game in this ballpark this spring. That guy's job was to paint that logo, and he was going to paint that logo, by golly. ... Beautiful day in PHX. Kent is going to get at-bats in a simulated game on a back field beyond right field DURING THE REGULAR GAME. He'll hit off Broxton and Beimel, who will pitch back there to get their innings in. They won't start until about the fifth inning of this game.

That's a sign that is posted all over Phoenix Muni. And really, why would they stock the place with Dodgers gear for a whopping two games, the last of which is this afternoon against the Halos. I'm assuming this game counts as the home half of this year's Freeway Series, which will include a single game at Angel Stadium next Thursday night. ... Just talked to Kent. He asked Ken Gurnick -- who covers the Dodgers for mlb.com and is a horse racing enthusiast who has actually owned race horses -- what they do to a horse that has a hamstring injury. I thought he was asking rhetorically, like he already knew the answer, but he wasn't. ``They shoot them,'' Gurnick said, and Kent just started laughing incredulously. Anyway, he says he is still shooting for being in the opening day lineup. As for any concern that he doesn't have enough time to get enough game action, he pointed out that he only played in one or two games in the spring of 2002, then played on opening day. Asked what the result of that was, he says, ``the 2002 World Series.'' Asked what the more immediate result was, as in how he had played coming out of the gate, he said, correctly, ``it doesn't matter ... but I think I did hit a home run in one of my first at-bats.'' ... Couldn't resist calling Josh Rawitch, an Indiana grad, last night to gloat about Arkansas' victory. Normally, I pay NO attention to the Razorbacks whatsoever. I'm only interested if they beat some school that some friend of mine went to, so I can gloat. It's kind of a no-lose situation for me. If IU had won and Josh had called ME to gloat, it wouldn't have made much of an impact because I DON'T CARE. Besides, the Woo Pig Sooie Nation is going to get crushed by the Tar Heels tomorrow anyway.

The boys blew a five-run lead in the late innings, but Andruw Jones went 3 for 4 with a double, a two-run homer and a stolen base. Chan Ho Park pitched three solid innings, shutting out the D-backs on two hits. Problem is, he actually pitched FOUR innings, and the fourth one wasn't too good. He gave up back-to-back, one-out walks, then a three-run bomb to Chris Snyder, the first earned runs Park has allowed all spring. Snyder hit another three-run jack later in the game, and Rudy Seanez's gopher ball to Justin Upton turned an 8-7 lead into a 9-8 deficit. Dodgers fall to 9-14-2 for the spring. Home against the Angels tomorrow.

Joe Torre admitted as such this morning -- not because Kent's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out that long, but because it might keep him out just long enough that he won't have time to get the requisite number of at-bats to be ready. It's beginning to look like the Dodgers will open the season with a bunch of light-hitting, utility-infield type guys, not only on their roster but in their lineup. Because minor-league camp is still in Vero Beach, the club no longer has the option of sending Kent there to get some at-bats. ... Great scene in the dugout this morning as we completed our daily pregame with Torre. Joe Garagiola walks in and says, ``Hey, it's Frank Torre's brother.'' Then Garagiola spots Nick Piecoro, a former Daily News sports intern who is now the Diamondbacks beat writer for the Arizona Republic and who has the physique of Ichibad Crane. So Joe G. goes up and grabs Nick's upper arm and says, ``Heeeyyyy, Muscles.'' Then Joe G. turns to Torre and says, ``Hey Joe, you got $25 so we can send him to camp?'' ... Chan Ho Park is dominating again, scoreless through three. But the best part is, he also doubled off Randy Johnson, then scored the only run of the game on a single by ... well, I don't want to say his name because every time I mention him on this blog, it starts a big rant, so let's just say it was a light-hitting left fielder who runs well.

Ned says the spring-training trade market probably will heat up starting Monday, but he also said there is nothing out there that especially sparks his interest at this point, at least where a 3B is concerned. He also now says that Blake DeWitt will be given a chance to earn the job, but no more of a chance than Hu, Abreu or Martinez, and that is all assuming Nomar begins the season on the DL, something Ned isn't about to concede at this point -- even though, IMHO, it looks like a strong bet.
On another note, I have to say I already like Arizona better, after having been here a shade over 24 hours. I was here for a week with the Rockies back in 1999, but this is my first time back. It's just a totally different feel

Eric Stults and Greg Miller were optioned to minor-league camp today, leaving the overall roster at 42

Doesn't appear he's going to play tomorrow, which was goal. It showed a microfracture in a small bone of his right wrist, which trainer Stan Conte likened to a small bone bruise. Nomar got a cortisone shot in the soft tissue to avoid swelling and will be re-examined in a couple of days. It is beginning to look like Ned is going to have to go get a 3B somewhere. ... Beautiful day in the desert. I'm taking the day off, my first once since Feb. 11, but back at it tomorrow.

Mark Sweeney hit a two-run HR off Burke Badenhop in the seventh inning, erasing a 1-0 deficit that had existed since the first. Hiroki Kuroda had easily his best outing of the spring, going five strong innings and allowing only that first-inning run, three hits and no walks. He then went to the bullpen and threw 23 more pitches just to get to his allotted 85. Takashi Saito followed with a perfect sixth inning and now hasn't allowed a batter to reach base or a ball to be hit out of the infield in either of his two appearances. Clayton Kershaw pitched the final three, allowing two hits. He was called for a balk, but the first-base umpire making the call was Angel Hernandez, so take that for what it's worth. Honeycutt said he has been working with Kershaw on holding down other teams' running games, which appears right now to be the closest thing he has to a flaw. He'll stay with the team through Arizona and California before returning to Double-A Jacksonville, which means Honeycutt and Torre have to get him enough innings to get him properly stretched out for the start of the minor-league season. ... This one was over in two hours, 12 minutes, which would normally be a good thing because it was getaway day. But half the club stayed back in Vero to work out, then left on a bus at 2 p.m. for the West Palm Beach airport, where the whole team was to meet up for its charter to PHX. The game ended so quickly that the guys who played are going to have to wait at the airport for the guys who didn't. ... Dodgers finish Grapefruit League play 8-13-2, Tommy goes 2-6. No game tomorrow, ``home'' against the White Sox on Thursday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium -- or Phoenix Muni, as the cool Cactus League veterans like to call it.

Stopped off at Dodgertown before leaving town this morning -- no, I wasn't being extra sentimental, I just thought I could knock out a couple of things in the clubhouse before hitting the road, but I wasn't able to -- and there were suitcases everywhere. That is usually a sign that opening day is just around the corner, but this year, it's just a sign that we're all heading for the desert for a week, so it wasn't all that exciting. ... It's overcast at Roger Dean Stadium, and although there is no rain in the forecast, I'm sure no one in the Dodgers' traveling party would mind at all if this game becomes a casualty of Mother Nature. Or at least they wouldn't have minded if those players who aren't playing in today's game weren't leaving Dodgertown on a later bus that isn't expected to leave until early afternoon. That would screw up any benefits of a rainout. The team is leaving this evening from West Palm Beach, which is just south of here. ... Jason Johnson was reassigned to minor-league camp this morning, leaving 44 players in camp. ... A colleague from the Bay Area, who is covering the Cactus League, emailed me this morning to say that Joe Torre and Bob Eucker were spotted dining last night at Don & Charlie's in Scottsdale, and apparently George Will was in there eating, too.

The boys mounted a furious rally that fell short when Furcal grounded out with the bases loaded, capping a day in which he went 3 for 6 with a home run and two triples. When it was over, the entire team walked into the rightfield corner and gathered, while a camera crew held Tommy up at home plate. When they were done, Tommy walked up the rightfield line, with several cameras following him, and the players gathered in the RF corner, made an arch with their bats, and Tommy walked through it as Tina Turner's Simply the Best blared on the public address system. This was officially Tommy Lasorda Day, even if it wasn't the official sendoff for the team because Dodgers officials still aren't 100-percent certain (they are 99.9999999 percent certain) their complex in Glendale will be ready by next spring. ... As for the game, Ethier went 4 for 5 with a triple and a HR and three RBI. Pierre did go 0 for 5, but contrary to a comment posted on this blog, he did NOT strike out twice, or even once, for that matter. But those five consecutive groundouts -- including yet another failed attempt to bunt his way on in the first inning when he yet again dropped his bunt about three feet in front of the plate -- certainly doesn't look good. But my last Dodgertown meal was NOT crow. It was grilled chicken. Billingsley got knocked around for five runs on six hits over five innings, with three home runs, but the wind was blowing HARD out to center field. ... Dodgers fall to 7-13-2, and despite all the pomp and circumstance, they still have another game in Florida tomorrow at the Marlins.

It's a bit of a zoo already here today, New York Times, USA Today and ESPN are here, and one of the parking lot guards told me this morning that he heard a piece about it on NPR this morning. Looks like it's going to be be a perfect day, about 80 degrees, no clouds, and I'm sure there will be a lot of pomp and circumstance for the game, both pregame and postgame. I'll update later. ... Kyle Blair, whom the Dodgers drafted in the fifth round last summer but didn't sign, struck out a school-record 16 batters for the University of San Diego yesterday in a 15-0 win over Hawaii-Hilo. Before that, the freshman right-hander was 0-3.

Yhency Brazoban pitched in a minor-league intrasquad today, threw 40 pitches. Once a lock to the make the team, he is now on the bubble, what with his 14.73 ERA in four appearances. ... Dinner at Bobby's tonight, for the second time this spring and probably the last time ever. Now THAT is something to shed a tear over, as any of you who has ever eaten there can attest. Hasta manana.

Tony Abreu actually played FIVE innings at 2B, went 1 for 2 at the plate, went first-to-third, scored a run (after which he appeared to limp back to the dugout), handled his only grounder flawlessly and tagged out a runner attempting to steal. Bob Schaefer said afterward that Abreu did fine and won't play tomorrow, but will play on Tuesday at the Marlins. ... The Jason Repko/Delwyn Young race for the fourth OF spot, which wasn't supposed to be a race at all because DY is out of options, is beginning to heat up. Repko went 2 for 3 with a walk today, including a two-run homer to key a furious three-run rally by the boys in the ninth that fell just short, and is now hitting .313 for the spring, with two HRs. DY has managed to cut down on his strikeouts -- he has now gone 16 consecutive plate appearances without one -- but he still isn't hitting much, and his average now stands at .154. Derek Lowe had a so-so outing, striking out seven in five innings, but he gave up four runs, including a bomb to Dan Uggla. At the risk of incurring everyone's wrath, JP went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. Blake DeWitt continues to build his own bridge to nowhere. He was 2 for 4 with two doubles, giving him five for the spring, but the only place he is going after the season is back to the minors for more seasoning. ... I'm told there might be some more cuts coming tomorrow. ... Dodgers lose twice today and fall to 7-12-2. Final Dodgers game ever at Dodgertown tomorrow. vs. the Astros.

Tony Abreu will play 2B, and is expected to see some 3B action in the next few days. Nomar is leaving either tonight or tomorrow, and says he is shooting for the first Cactus League game on Thursday against the White Sox as his return date. Jeff Kent is taking the day off at the request of Stan Conte, but he has NOT had a setback. He took a lot of swings yesterday, both in the cage and in a minor-league game, so he'll rest today.

He didn't make the earlier list. That means there were nine players cut this morning. The Dodgers now have 45 players in big-league camp, including late add-ons Clayton Kershaw and Blake DeWitt. ... Lucas May is likely to begin the season at Double-A Jacksonville, so the fact he is flying all the way from China to Arizona as we speak and then must fly back to Vero Beach isn't that big a deal. But all those other guys who are on the China trip and were cut this morning are probably going to Vegas, so they get to fly from Beijing to PHX, from PHX to Vero for the rest of minor-league camp, and then, in about two weeks, from Vero back to Vegas. ... By the way, in case you didn't know, Dodgers lost to the Padres 6-3 this morning. Matt Kemp drove in all three Dodgers runs. Paul had two hits.

Pitchers Eric Hull and Cory Wade, catcher Lucas May and outfielder Xavier Paul were all optioned to minor-league camp this morning. Pitcher Matt Riley, infielder Terry Tiffee and outfielder John-Ford Griffin and George Lombard were all reassigned to minor-league camp. For the uninitiated, the difference between optioned and reassigned is simple: guys on the 40-man roster are optioned, while non-roster invitees are reassigned. ... Jimmy Kimmel just walked in the front door of the complex. The final two games at Dodgertown must be a big deal

I'll save admitting I was wrong for sometime during the regular season. This is, after all, SPRING TRAINING. But yes, for now, Andre Ethier, having just gone 3 for 4 with an opposite-field HR and four RBI, is hitting .300 to Juan Pierre's .186 (he went 0 for 4, one ball hit out of the infield). Kemp is hitting .308 after going 1 for 5 as the DH in the People's Republic.
This is Bob Schaefer after the game on the fact the club now APPEARS to have three OFs competing for two spots:
``It's better than having two. It's a good problem to have. It's going to be tough to make out the lineup, and Joe realizes that. We have four solid outfielders. But Joe will work it out. We're always going to have a good guy on the bench, put it that way. You're better off with too many that not enough.''
Penny was spectacular over five shutout innings, allowing one hit and recording 10 groundball outs. Saito made his spring debut with a perfect inning, three straight ground balls, threw 10 pitches, six of them strikes, and later said he felt fine physically.
Tommy finally wins a game, and as he walked from the dugout into the clubhouse, he revived the old ``How sweet it is, the fruits of victory'' mantra from 1988. Despite playing two games on two different sides of the globe, the Dodgers got through an entire day without losing and are now 7-10-2 for the spring. As for the Nationals, they don't appear very good at all. But then, I predicted they would lose 110 games last year, and they didn't come close to that, going 73-89 (can you say moral victory?). And again, this is SPRING TRAINING. Home against the Marlins tomorrow, the Dodgers penultimate game at Vero Beach.

Chan Ho Park pitched five innings, allowing one hit and an unearned run, and he now hasn't given up an earned run in 12 innings this spring. And yet, if Esteban Loaiza keeps pitching the way he is, there probably won't be a spot for Park on the opening-day roster. ... Hong-Chih Kuo pitched two shutout innings, allowing one hit, and threw 27 pitches. ... George Lombard homered and went 1 for 4, his average falling all the way to .529 for the spring.

... but just for the day. They'll play in a game on the minor-league side back in Vero Beach, and the loose structure of those games will allow both of them to get as many at-bats as possible, maybe even to hit in every inning. ... Meanwhile, here in the real game, the Dodgers are facing Odalis Perez. He is making his spring debut for the Nats.

Yep, after taking 18 hours to jet to the other side of the globe, the Dodgers and Padres played to a 3-3 standoff last night/this morning/tonight in Beijing. I'm sure the good folks in the People's Republic had to be pleased with what they saw, though -- even if they weren't exactly sure what it was they were seeing. For the moment, that would put the Dodgers' record for the spring at 6-10-2. ... Beautiful day for the Dodgers' last ever appearance at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne/Viera/antisepticville, which has really been built up in recent years. You no longer see cows beyond the outfield fence. There is a brand new high school across the street, complete with its own stadium (they don't use this minor-league ballpark for football games, the way Hoover, Ala., did in that MTV show Two-a-Days). The horizon is totally flat, so you can see all the new condo complexes that have gone up in the distance, and there is this little cluster of chain restaurants between here and I-95 that I might have to stop at on the way back to Vero (Chili's, Cracker Barrel, etc.). This really is a great place to watch a game, if you're ever on a spring-training trip to the Atlantic Coast, a great ballpark with really good sightlines and plenty of parking. You just won't be able to watch the Dodgers play here. ... Tony Abreu didn't make the trip after all. Not sure why yet. But Saito will pitch today.

The Cardinals have two players in their camp named Brian Barden (infielder) and Brian Barton (outfielder). That has to be terribly confusing for La Russa and company, as well as for the team's PR director, a guy named Brian Bartow. ... I know La Russa isn't terribly popular, but to me, for all the things he has accomplished in his career -- two World Series titles, four pennants, more division titles and wild cards than I can remember and I don't care to look it up right now -- the most impressive is this: Other than the roughly three-week period in 1986 when he was out of work, after he was fired by the Chicago White Sox and before he was hired by the Oakland A's, this guy has been a major-league manager continuously since August 1979, when he was hired by the White Sox. More or less,this will be his 30th consecutive season as a big-league manager, a job in which it is often said that guys are hired to be fired. I'm guessing no one will EVER do that again.

Tommy falls to 0-4 after Greg Jones uncorks a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth that allowed TWO runs to score. Russell Martin hit a three-run HR for the Dodgers. Delwyn Young went 2 for 4 to raise his avg. to .162 and didn't strike out once. Esteban Loaiza became the first Dodgers to pitcher this spring to go five innings and could have gone more, he said. Afterward, Rick Honeycutt hinted that the fifth starter's job is Loaiza's to lose, which means that if he keeps pitching like this, it won't matter whether Chan Ho Park ever gives up a run this spring. Dodgers fall to 6-10-1 for the spring. ... Tony La Russa on managing against Lasorda, whose Dodgers upset La Russa's heavily favored Oakland A's in 1988, when a reporter from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asked if managing against Lasorda would be like old times: ``I hope not. He has the ring. He has OUR ring. If they get a guy on third base, we'll be watching ... for the squeeze. I know he'll do it. He'll be competing. You can't ever take that away from him.''

He will pitch an inning in tomorrow's game, and Honeycutt says he'll have time to pitch seven innings between now and opening day, which should be enough. For now, those innings are scheduled for March 15 (tomorrow), 18, 20, 22, 24, 27 and 28, after which he'll have two days to rest up for the opener on March 31. ``That's the best-case scenario,'' Honeycutt said. And if he has a setback of any kind? ``I'm not even going to go there,'' Honeycutt said. ``I'm trying to think positive.''

Not sure what that means, but it almost always means they'll play in the game. My understanding was that Saito would need another session throwing live BP, but apparently not. I'll try to get to the bottom of this and report back

There is a video clip floating around the internet from the Wednesday episode of Pardon the Interruption in which Michael Wilbon seems to indicate that famed Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver, who is still very much alive, is dead. But what led into the conversation was the topic of Tommy managing the Dodgers again, and no one seemed to notice that Tony Kornheiser made a similar gaffe early on in the discussion in which he said Lasorda was managing the Dodgers' ``B team.'' I guess that would imply that the team Torre took the China, a team that includes Matt Kemp, Andruw Jones and few others with any chance of being on the opening-day roster, is the ``A team.'' ... Not a lot going on so far today. But Dodgertown as we know it is down to its final five days. Cardinals in town today for what probably will be the last spring-training game ever played between what have historically been the National League's two most successful franchises.

DeWitt clearly isn't a candidate for the opening-day roster, even with Nomar still sidelined and LaRoche unavailable until May. I spoke with Mike Easler after the game -- and game in which DeWitt went 3 for 4 with a walk, a triple, his second HR of the spring, to raise his average to .333 (6-18) -- and Easler couldn't stop gushing about him and how much potential he has.
``I first saw him three years ago when he was (19),'' Easler said. ``He had all the makings, the body, the sweet swing. You could see there was some power there. It was just a matter of time before he put it all together. He is looking good, isn't he?''
But then, when I asked if DeWitt was ready for the majors, Easler didn't hesitate.
``Not yet,'' said Easler, who pointed out that most of the pitchers DeWitt is facing are saving their nastiest breaking pitches for the regular season. ``But him being here now and playing in these games is a great experience for him, and that will do wonders for his confidence. He is one of those guys you don't want to rush. He is a little different from Andy (LaRoche) or Matt Kemp. He just needs to develop nice and slowly.''

Also, I went over to the Astros clubhouse before the game and spoke briefly with Wesley Wright, the lefty the Astros took from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft. Said he was really excited when the Astros took him, and that he is optimistic they're going to keep him. He has given up just two runs (one earned) on three hits in five innings over five appearances, so he has a shot. The Dodgers strongly considered putting him on the 40-man roster this winter, but ultimately decided not to. For the uninitiated, Rule 5 picks must be kept on the 25-man roster all season or offered back to their original clubs, a decision that can be made at any point during spring training or the season. Dodgers would love to have this kid back, but he's an easy guy to root for, so here's hoping he makes it with the 'Stros.

The boys made four errors, two by Delwyn Young, and DY could have been charged with TWO errors on one of them, a grounder that he bobbled, then threw away, allowing Miguel Tejada to get all the way to second leading off the third inning. He wound up scoring an unearned run to put the Astros on top to stay. There was also a series of plays that weren't made and double plays that weren't completed. Ivan DeJesus bounced a throw to the plate trying to cut off a run on a bouncer with the bases loaded. Russell Martin threw a ball into center field, leading to another unearned run. After the game, Larry Bowa had some pointed comments.

On the game
``We made errors, and you can't make errors. You can't give the other team 32 outs. You can't do it.''

On DY, who presumably is a lock to make the club as a fifth OF because he is out of options, but is now hitting .121 for the spring, with 13 strikeouts in 33 at-bats
``Young is not an everyday player, but he has to get better than he's doing, I know that. He isn't swinging the bat, and he isn't making plays, and you have to do one or the other.''

On Blake DeWitt, who has no chance of making the club but is now hitting .333 for the spring after going 3 for 4 with a triple and his second HR of the spring, plus a walk
``He is swinging the bat good, no question. Other guys are getting opportunities and not doing anything about it. He is getting opportunities and showing he is legit.''

I think Bowa is going to have a MAJOR impact on this team that goes WAY beyond deciding whether to hold runners or wave them around. He's going to be fun to cover, too.

Dodgers fall to 6-9-1. Tommy falls to 0-3 and isn't hiding the fact he is seriously bummed about it. This temporary managerial stint isn't something he is taking lightly, and as long as Bowa is around, the players had better not take it lightly, either.

Home against the Cardinals tomorrow.

Dr. William Meyers told Dodgers medical officials that Tony Abreu was fine and cleared him to resume his baseball activity without restriction, which he did by taking batting practice and some ground balls. His running has improved, but there is still no timetable for his return to Grapefruit League play. Frankly, it's looking more and more like Ned is going to have to go get a 3B from somewhere else. My money's on Joe Crede, who would presumably become the primary guy with Nomar then becoming a super sub who could play all over the infield and thus could count on a reasonable number of starts.

Sitting in the press box at Osceola County Stadium (Astros) right now swapping old Vero Beach stories with a veteran out-of-town writer who is a longtime close buddy of mine, and I'm starting to realize that this is all going to be over in less than a week. No more Bobby's. No more Ocean Grill. No more Ay Jalisco. No more Villa Nova. Tonight, when I go back, it will be my last trip ever down the Florida Turnpike, except for that short leg 200 miles south of here that I have to take to get to Dolphin Stadium three days a year. No more Dodgertown. And no more Vero Beach. I'm trying to be sad. I'm trying to feel the way I felt the last few days before I graduated high school, or the last few days before I left Denver and Cincinnati for what at the time were greener pastures. But somehow, I just can't muster it. Somehow, I just can't cry for Dodgertown. And the funny thing is, after being down here for four weeks now, I don't get the impression the good people of Vero Beach are crying for it, either. What I have noticed is a lot more people from Los Angeles coming down to take advantage of their last chance to see the place, and that's a wonderful thing to see. But I also know I'll see a lot MORE of those people in Glendale, and that will be even better.

This won't fit in tomorrow's notebook, so I'm putting it here. Tony Abreu went back to the doctor in Philadelphia, Dr. William Meyers, who surgically repaired Abreu's sports hernia last Oct. 3. The visit was scheduled because Tony continues to experience abdominal issues, as well as the right buttocks strain he suffered in the one game he played this spring. Club officials aren't sure how to respond to this because Abreu, according to sources, isn't very good at communicating what he is feeling physically, and that goes way beyond the fact that he doesn't speak much English. At any rate, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Dodgers need to get a 3B from outside the organization, especially with Nomar still not able to play and with Blake DeWitt having failed to make two plays in today's game, one a liner over his head that he didn't really jump for and the other a hot one-hopper that skipped past his glove and up the line for a double.

Juan Pierre drew three walks (yes, you read that correctly), stole two bases and scored a run ... and before anybody jumps on me, Andre Ethier homered, his third of the spring. The Dodgers had just two hits, both of them home runs by Ethier and minor-league outfielder Jamie Hoffman. Cory Wade pitched two innings, allowing one hit and facing the minimum, and has now pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings this spring while allowing two hits. He won't make the club, though, because he has only 14 appearances at Double-A Jacksonville, and he'll likely start the season there. ... Dodgers fall to 6-8-1, Tommy to 0-2. At the Astros tomorrow.

A source just came out of the clubhouse and said Tommy just gave one of his Patton-esque pregame speeches to the team about what it takes to win. Thankfully, I'm told it WASN'T in response to yesterday's loss, although Tommy has made it very clear in his media sessions thus far that it's important to actually win these monotonous, interminable Grapefruit League games.
``I stress it a great deal, because they better start preparing themselves to win,'' Lasorda said. ``They have to start getting that winning attitude now.''
He said that yesterday, before the loss. That winning attitude had better start soon, because this team is a game below .500 (6-7-1) for the spring. Or is that TWO games below .500, because there are two more games that weren't wins than games that were wins? I have never figured out how ties play into that equation.
In fairness to Tommy, though, Joe Torre also said a few days ago that it's important to win, especially when you have as many young players as the Dodgers have, because it's a confidence builder. ... Gotta run. Almost time for Tommy's pregame presser.

Crazy day here, sorry it took me so long to post. Other than Tommy's return to managing -- which didn't make it past the second inning before he came out to argue a call, eliciting the biggest cheer of the day from the crowd -- the biggest thing that happened today was that Rafael Furcal went 3 for 4 with two singles, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. But the second biggest thing that happened was that Blake DeWitt, who was promoted to big-league camp after LaRoche and Nomar got hurt, went 2 for 3 with a double, a HR and a walk. He is now 3 for 10 in the Grapefruit League. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. Dodgers blew a 5-3 lead in a four-run Marlins seventh in which a key play was an infield single by Hanley Ramirez. The ball was a little tapper to the right of the mound, but when the ever-expanding Yhency Brazoban went to get it, he couldn't bend over to pick it up, and it trickled past him. Honeycutt said after the game that Brazo is working hard to get his weight down, doing a lot of cardio and stuff like that. But it's conceivable that an inability to field his position could cost him a spot on the team. ... Dodgers fall to 6-7-1. Home against the Nats tomorrow

So I set the alarm for 2:20 this morning so I could go outside and hopefully see the space shuttle launch. I had the digital camera set on video and everything. I mean, I was ready. But the cloud cover was so low I couldnt see anything. The pad is about 70 miles away. I looked in that general direction, and I DID see, right about eye level, the sky light up in this orange glow. But the glow lasted for about 10 seconds, and after that, nothing. Oh, and I also heard a rumbling sound, but I'm not even sure that was it. I normally wouldn't get out of bed in the middle of the night for something like that, but I figured that was the last chance I would ever have to see such a thing, and I'm a little down about missing it. ... Nomar is taking BP in the cage today. No update on him yet.

It's going to be really, really tough for him to make the club as a non-roster outfielder, but he is a good guy who seems to have a firm grasp of things. He is hitting .615 with a triple and two homers, the triple coming in his only at-bat today. We talked with him for a few minutes after the game, just before he got on the bus. This guy turned down football scholarships to Georgia, Florida State and Notre Dame to pursue baseball. He is now 32, and he has a decent amount of big league service time -- two years, 146 days, spread over parts of six seasons with Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington. But he had a real shot last spring to make it with the Nats, then he suffered a severe thumb injury in the fourth game of the spring and wound up playing only 54 games, all in the minors. He credits hitting coach Mike Easler, his manager several years ago in the Dominican Winter League, with helping him find his stroke this spring.
``I'm an older guy now, and I think I appreciate the game a little more,'' said Lombard, 32. ``I want to play long enough for my kids to be able to see me play. (The outfield situation) is just the way it is. It's fun to see these young guys coming up. ... (But) I can still do a lot of the things I did when I was younger, and I think I'm a better player and a smarter player now.''
As for choosing baseball over football all those years ago, when the Braves drafted him out of the Lovett School in Atlanta back in 1994, Lombard is philosophical now.
``You never know how (football) would have worked out,'' he said. ``But I'm very content with where I am. because I have a wife and two beautiful kids.''

Andruw Jones broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run homer in the eighth inning off Jon Leicester. Chan Ho Park pitched three perfect innings for the Dodgers and now has seven shutout innings for the spring, during which he has allowed a total of two hits. That would seem to put Park smack in the middle of the race for the fifth starter's spot. Eric Stults, a fringe candidate for the role, struggled, allowing two runs on a hit and four walks over 1 2/3 in relief of Park. Both pitchers will go to China, but Esteban Loaiza remains the odds-on favorite to win the job. George Lombard, a non-roster outfielder with little chance of making the club, had an RBI triple in his only at-bat and now is hitting .615 (8 for 13) for the spring with a triple, 2 HRs and four RBI. Dodgers go to 6-6-1 for the spring. Versus the Marlins tomorrow.

For those scoring at home, those four pitchers WERE optioned, as well as reassigned.

Nomar's hand is still swollen, so there is no point in him going on the trip. Sweeney has been battling a sore left knee all spring, and club officials decided not to subject him to a long airplane flight. Nomar has been replaced by minor leaguer Kevin Howard, Sweeney has yet to be replaced. ... The Dodgers released veteran lefty reliever Tom Martin this morning when it became apparent he had no shot of making the club. The move was made to give Martin more time to hook on with another organization before opening day. Joe Torre said Martin did NOT ask for the release. ... Also, four 40-man roster pitchers -- Mario Alvarez, Jon Meloan, James McDonald and Justin Orenduff -- were reassigned to minor-league camp. Apparently, they have NOT been officially optioned yet, but those moves would have to come sometime between now and opening day.

Also known as Fort Lauderdale Stadium. This place is so old and decrepit that the Orioles are moving TO Vero Beach. I'm sitting in one of those old, crow's nest style press boxes, and I'm typing this while using DIAL-UP INTERNET. I was trying to remember the last time I used dial-up, and then it occurred to me that it was the last time the Dodgers played here last spring. ... Not much in the way of news so far today. I spent the morning driving down I-95 because I was too cheap to take the turnpike, but the drive wasn't too bad. Lot of orange cones through West Palm Beach though. The boys are coming out to stretch now, so I'm going to head down for the daily Torre meeting.

This after he set down Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew and Sean Casey in order in the fourth inning, Lowell on a popup, Drew on a broken-bat grounder. Actually, the decision was made this morning, but Clayton wasn't told about it until Honey (that's clubhouse speak for Rick Honeycutt) told him just after he came out of the game that it was probably going to happen. Then, just after the game, DeJon Watson popped into the clubhouse to tell him it was official. Joe Torre wouldn't go so far as to say that Clayton is now competing for a spot on the opening-day roster, and Esteban Loaiza took a step toward cementing the fifth spot in the rotation today with three shutout innings during which he allowed only two hits. But Clayton clearly is in the running now to be in the majors sometime this season, possibly even before September. ... Matt Kemp hit a three-run HR, against the wind and over the berm in left, off Dice-K in the first inning. Dodgers added a manufactured run in the eighth when JP (that's clubhouse speak for your favorite left fielder) walked, and pinch runner George Lombard stole second, took third on a Lucas May groundout and trotted hom on a wild pitch by some Boston pitcher named Hansack. ... Dodgers go to 5-6-1. At the Orioles tomorrow

If Melissa Manchester were here, Baby would be crying today (2,000 bonus points to anyone who can tell me what that means -- and if you're under 40, don't waste your time, because you have no chance). Anyway, the Red Sox are flying here from Fort Myers this morning, then flying back tonight. When the Dodgers went to Fort Myers to play them the other day, the Dodgers went the same way they go to every road game: they bussed the three hours across the state. I remember a couple of years ago when the Sox came, Curt Schilling, who was pitching that day, chartered a small plane and brought a couple of freeloading teammates with him. But this is the first time I have ever heard of a TEAM flying to an in-state spring-training game. This would appear to be just another way of saying to the world (and to the Dodgers and several other big-league clubs) ``We're the Boston Red Sox, and you're not.'' Dice-K is pitching in this game for the second year in a row, but Hong-Chih Kuo pitched yesterday against the Cards, so there is no chance of him walking Dice-K again. But between the unusually large traveling media contingent that covers the Red Sox and the Japanese media contingent that follows Dice-K around, it's going to be a zoo here today. But on a positive note, this will be easily the Dodgers' biggest home crowd of the spring -- even if the atmosphere will be that of a Red Sox home game, with the crowd overwhelmingly dressed in red and navy blue.

You already know most of the key details. Only thing of note that happened since my last post was that Goerge Lombard went 3 for 4 with a HR. Cardinals ran some seroius stiffs to the mound today, as the final score would seem to suggest. By the way, Blake DeWitt is NOT a serious candidate to be the backup 3B. He has only spent half a season at Double-A. But this was a big day for him, and Joe Torre now knows a little something about his game. Dodgers improve to 4-6-1 for the spring.

... that Matt Kemp just left the game after his SECOND TRIPLE OF THE GAME. And that he and Ethier are a combined 3 for 6 with two walks and three RBI today. JP is back at the ranch today. ... Dodgers have drawn seven walks, and have scored 15 runs on just 12 hits. ... Dodgers 15, Cardinals 6, top 6

He just entered as a pinch runner and stayed in the game at 1B. Guess they just wanted to give DeWitt a chance to show what he can do. He is still in the game, is 1 for 3 with a run scored and just made a fantastic diving catch of a smoking liner off the bat of Ryan Ludwick to rob Ludwick of a hit. Kuroda got roughed up after pitching four scoreless innings in his first two outings. Today, he gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and didn't get past the second inning on a day when he had been slated to go three. But the Cardinals have been throwing the ball around like the Bad News Bears. They committed three errors in the third inning, including two by former Gold Glove shortstop Cesar Izturis, and the Dodgers scored seven runs in an inning for the second time in three days. ... Loney is having an incredible spring, which he usually does. He went 2 for 3 with a double today before leaving the game and is now hitting .423 with four doubles. ... Dodgers 13, Cardinals 6, bottom 5, and that's after Adam Kennedy just hit a two-out, three-run double off Kuo

Tony Abreu, who yesterday played in his first game after being out of action with an abdominal injury, now has a gluteus injury (a pain in the, well, you know). It isn't thought to be serious, maybe just a day-after injury from his having finally played in a game. Torre said he felt it the first time he took a ground ball. LaRoche's surgery is Monday in L.A. Nomar is fine, but will be out of action for a couple of days. Joe and Ned met this morning, and pursuing a 3B from outside the organization was discussed, but don't look for it to happen until later in the spring, after all other options are explored -- and those options DO include trying Delwyn Young and Chin-lung Hu at 3B.

He has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb and will need surgery, which Ned said will take place in the next couple of days, probably in Los Angeles. No word yet on how this will affect the roster makeup, other than it pretty much guarantees Nomar will begin the season as the everyday 3B. As for a backup, could be any number of guys: Tony Abreu or Ramon Martinez, both of whom have extensive experience at the position, or Delwyn Young or Chin-lung Hu, neither of whom has ever played there but have good enough hands that they likely could adjust quickly. At any rate, this is devastating news for LaRoche, a really good guy who has had his share of bad breaks and injury issues during his career.

X-rays were negative, which I assume means he is day to day. Still waiting for LaRoche's results.

Within 15 minutes of each other, both Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche had left the game with hand-related injuries, and both were taken for X-rays, the results of which we are awaiting now. Nomar got hit by a pitch between his right hand and wrist in the fourth inning (after hitting a HR in the second) and was in obvious pain. LaRoche pinch ran for him and stayed in at 3B. In the top of the fifth, with runners on first and third, catcher Danny Ardoin tried to pick D'Angelo Jimenez off third. But LaRoche, who might have been screened out by Jimenez trying to get back to the bag, was hit in the right wrist by the throw. LaRoche was then on the ground for a few seconds before getting up and walking off. Will let you know when we have the X-ray results. ... James Loney, Andruw Jones and Andre Ethier, who today comprised the three, four and five spots in the order, were a combined 6 for 12 with a double and two home runs today. Each was 2 for 4. Loney had the double. Jones and Ethier had the homers. Chad Billingsley was roughed up for three runs on five hits over three innings. Dodgers fall to 3-6-1.

Takashi Saito tried to throw off a mound, but still felt something very, very tiny in his right calf. ``The good part is, he can throw of flat ground (and feel nothing),'' Joe Torre said. ``My advice was ... he has to be totally free of any discomfort. We just need to make sure we protect him.'' Torre said relievers typically need 9 or 10 innings to be ready for the start of the season. But closers sometimes need less than that. Eric Gagne never needed more than eight. So I'm guessing Saito will be fine, although the clock is ticking. Even if he isn't, Jonathan Broxton has closer stuff, so he could fill the gap if Saito isn't ready at the start. ... Tony Abreu makes his spring debut today after battling abdominal discomfort most of the spring. Joe said he'll play at least two of the next four games, possibly three of them. ... Thanks to Chad for saying hello out on the back fields today, and for tell me he loves this blog. I encouraged him to post his thoughts. I encourage ALL OF YOU to post your thoughts. As I stated earlier today, that is what is going to make this a great blog.

By all indications, this blog was a pretty big hit with you, the readers, last year. My editors always told me not to be discouraged by the fact that it wasn't receiving that many posted comments, because the real proof was in the pudding of the number of hits it was getting, which was good. But this year, you guys have taken this thing to a whole new level. And while number of hits has (I have been told) doubled over last spring, the thing I am most excited about is the number of comments that are being posted. That Pierre thread the other day got 24 responses THAT DAY, which if I remember correctly is an all-time high for this blog. The other thing I find really encouraging is that a lot of these posts are receiving comments within minutes of me them posting them. Anyway, my point is, you guys and your comments are what are making this blog great. I try to respond to your comments when I can, but it's much more interesting when you guys talk among yourselves and argue among yourselves. I'll throw my thoughts out there, with a little hard news thrown in when there IS hard news, but your responses are what matter most -- even when Paully Pocket is calling me a ``tool.'' And I got a HUGE kick out of the fact that someone is now posting under the name ``seriously tony.''

Keep posting. Post early. Post often. And thank you.

The boys exploded for seven runs in the ninth, all of them scoring on a three-run, pinch-hit homer by Lucas May to tie the game and a grand slam by Jason Repko to break it open, Repko is now 4 for 11 for the spring. Red Sox left the bases loaded in the ninth, which ended on a sliding catch in LF by George Lombard. Derek Lowe started and struggled, giving up five runs on six hits in two-plus innings. Torre later said Lowe wasn't locating well and speculated it might have something to do with emotion Lowe felt by pitching against the Red Sox and in front of Red Sox fans. Eric Stults, who is likely to start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas but might be the first in line if the Dodgers need a starting pitcher, pitched two perfect innings, striking out one. Ramon Martinez was on base five times, walking twice, singling twice and reaching on an error. Dodgers win this game for the fourth year in a row and go to 3-5-1 for the spring.

If you're watching the game on ESPN, you have no doubt noticed it. He is 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a bunt single and has made two nice catches, one of which was a spectacular diving catch over by the line. Not sure who that is playing out there today ... wait, let's see, let me just check my scorecard here ... looks like it's ... hey, wow, it's Juan Pierre. Imagine that. ... Dodgers are hitless in six ABs with men in scoring position, but none of those ABs were by Pierre. Only run came on a homer by Kemp. ... Red Sox 5, Dodgers 1, top 6

However, Joe did talk this morning about possible alternatives at 2B if he were to lose Jeff Kent for an extended period -- something that doesn't LOOK like it will happen with this injury, but the guy is turning 40 tomorrow so you never know. Anyway, Joe seemed to indicate that Tony Abreu would be first in line to replace Kent if it came to that. Delwyn Young has been getting a lot of playing time there, but Abreu has been battling an abdominal injury and hasn't appeared in game yet -- he is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut this weekend. Joe also said Ramon Martinez wouldn't be a candidate, calling him ``more of a supporting guy.'' But Joe didn't rule out asking Nomar to play 2B, even though it hasn't come up yet. ``I never rule anything out,'' Torre said. ... The not-so-scenic byways of central Florida were as unscenic as ever this morning, but the drive was nice and relaxing. Only got stuck behind a truck a couple of times -- and actually got stuck between the Dodgers' two buses on one stretch of Highway 70. But I still made it in about three hours.

Jeff Kent did something to his left hamstring while running sprints before the game. Torre surmised it had something to do with the fact the team took batting practice back in Vero, so Jeff got his muscles loose there, then had to take a bus ride down here and perhaps tightened up again. At any rate, he will be out for a week -- or at least that's the prognosis for now. Not sure what this team will do if he is out for a prolonged period, including into the start of the season. ... Anyway, Brad Penny pitched two shaky innings, allowing a run on three hits with two walks, then set down the side in order in the third. Chad Ho Park followed with two shutout innings, giving him four shutout innings for the spring, during which he has allowed only two hits. Jason Repko and George Lombard each went 2 for 2 with an RBI. The game ended on a walkoff double (officially scored a single) by Anderson Hernandez in the ninth off Tom Martin. Dodgers fall to 2-5-1. At the Red Sox tomorrow. That's a three-hour trek across the less-than-scenic byways of central Florida, but at least it's just one day this year. It's usually an overnight stay, with a game against the Twins the next day.

Apparently, we aren't going to find out until after the game. He definitely made the trip down, because I saw him in the clubhouse. ... First round of cuts came this morning. All were non-roster guys getting reassigned: pitchers Brian Shackelford, Fernando De La Cruz, Rick Asadoorian and Alfredo Simon (who still hasn't reported because of visa problems in the Dominican) and catchers A.J. Ellis and Gabriel Gutierrez. Camp roster now down to 57.

... even though I know I'm not going to get one. But here's the deal: after posting a response to some comments that were posted overnight about Pierre, I am now placing a moratorium on myself. I will no longer respond to your comments bashing this guy. While you are still welcome to post, and encouraged to post, your thoughts -- this is, after all, a blog, and your thoughts are what make it work -- I'm no longer going to engage in this debate. It is for the same reason that I don't believe staunch Democrats and staunch Republicans should ever discuss politics with each other -- they are NEVER going to change each other's minds. And you and I are never going to change each other's minds about Juan Pierre. You know where I stand, and I know where you stand. But there is one fact that can't be disputed, and that is this: JUAN PIERRE IS GOING TO BE THE DODGERS' EVERYDAY LF IN 2008. You aren't going to change Joe Torre's mind, either. The only thing that will change his mind is if he watches Pierre play and draws the same conclusion so many of you have, and I don't think that is going to happen because, well, as you know, I think Pierre is going to be a key piece of this lineup, and I think Joe Torre is going to love what he brings to this lineup. There are things about his game I don't like. I wish he would get better at bunting his way on, or else stop trying it so often. I also wish he would draw more walks, but I don't believe that is so much a shortcoming on his part as it is the way he is pitched to. But I still believe the Dodgers are better with him in the lineup. And, as I promised in a previous post, I WILL admit it if I turn out to be wrong. ... And while we may disagree, I do want to say that I appreciate all of you posting your opinions -- and I especially want to thank Mr. Weisman, not only for his well-stated comment he posted here last night making the case against Pierre, but also for his taking the time to grant me a phone interview last week on the topic for a print story I wrote about Pierre than ran in yesterday's Daily News. I thought his comments really helped to balance the story. ... And finally, I want to say this: I KNOW there have to be some JP supporters out there somewhere, people who actually like his game. If you're one of those people, don't be afraid to post your thoughts on here, as well.

A long day of baseball is finally over, but not before Clayton Kershaw came over from minor-league camp for his first taste of a major-league game ever. His inning was far from perfect, but it was in every way impressive. He started by giving up a towering home run to the first batter he faced, Luis Jimenez, then after striking out Felipe Lopez looking, Kershaw gave up a single to Ronnie Belliard and a double to Elijah Dukes before hitting Alex Escobar to load the bases with one out. Kershaw, who will turn 20 in about two weeks, then showed the poise of a big-league veteran, striking out Kory Casto and Humberto Cota in succession to leave the bases loaded. He froze Cota on a nasty breaking ball. Welcome to the big leagues, Clayton Kershaw.
``He has a (heck) of a curveball,'' Joe Torre said. ``He has a really good changeup, too, but he didn't get it down (to Jimenez). After the home run, he just sort of smiled. It was like, welcome to the big leagues. It's wonderful to see that kind of enthusiasm.''
Andy LaRoche went 2 for 4 with a HR and now is hitting .385 for the spring. Greg Miller struggled again, walking his first batter on four pitches, but he then got a GIDP from Chad Moeller (remember him?) and got Frank Diaz to fly to left. It was encouraging, but in the words of Torre, he still has a long way to go.
Finally, Torre decided to swap bullpens for what is believed to be the first time in the 60-year history of Holman Stadium. The Dodgers pitchers warmed up in the rightfield corner, just off the visiting clubhouse, while the Nats pitchers had to use the pen down the LF line. Joe said it was simply because he asks ALL of his pitchers to stay at least five innings, and he didn't want this mass exodus of pitchers walking across the field after the fifth inning.
With the split, the Dodgers go to 2-4-1 for the spring. At the Mets tomorrow.

John Lindsey hit a two-run, tiebreaker home run off Collin Balester in the sixth inning. Before that, Andre Ethier went what should have been 3 for 4, but the official scorer gave 2B Peter Orr an error on a ball that absolutely smoked, so Ethier wound up 2 for 4with a home run and also gunned down a runner trying to score from second on a single in the fifth inning. This RF battle is starting to heat up. Ethier raised his average from .182 to .267 in a single afternoon. Kemp is hitting .462, and I assume will play tonight. Adkins is fine. So is Ethier, who left the game after stealking second base in the seventh inning when the throw from the catcher hit him squarely in the back. But back in Vero, Hong-Chih Kuo has been shut down from pitching in a game (but not off a mound) for precautionary reasons because he felt something strange in the back of his left elbow. Stan Conte stressed that it is nothing serious. Conte also said Saito would be pitching now if this were the regular season. Oh, and Tony Abreu is expected to be ready to play in a game by this weekend. ... Oh, almost forgot, perhaps the most important thing that happened in this game was the Esteban Loaiza bounced back from his rough outing against the Braves on Friday to pitch two hitless innings, facing the minimum. He hit a batter in the first inning, but quickly erased that by getting Ryan Zimmerman to GIDP. Loaiza struck out the final two batters he faced, whiffing Austin Kearns and freezing Wily Mo Pena. Having covered the Reds for four years, it seems like Jim Bowden has brought all his old Reds players to Washington. They didn't win then, and I can't imagine them winning now. But whatever.

James Adkins, the Dodgers' first-round sandwich pick in last year's draft who was borrowed from minor-league camp for today's game, was four batters into his first career Grapefruit League game when he was hit in the left leg by a line drive comebacker. He limped to the ball and threw to first, too late to get the batter, then collapsed onto the turf, writhing in pain. He eventually was able to walk off under his own power, which was a good sign. Adkins, whom the Dodgers drafted out of the University of Tennessee, went straight to low Single-A Great Lakes last summer, bypassing Rookie level Ogden, and held opposing hitters to a .181 average in 11 starts.

There were four of us -- FOUR OF US -- there for Torre's pregame session today. Going to guess he hasn't had that few people for a media session since he was managing the Cardinals in 1995. Someone asked him if this reminds him more of his days managing the Braves and Cardinals, where only a handful of daily beat guys would gather around him and ask him nuts-and-bolts questions about the team. He said yes, it did, and that it is a welcome sign. ... No changes on any of the injuries. Joe said Saito won't pitch in a game ``until I leave town,'' meaning the departure for the China trip next Tuesday, but that's just a precaution. Closers never need as many spring-training appearances as other pitchers, anyway.

The spring-training version of the show, which will run nightly from 6:30-7 Los Angeles time, debuts on KABC tomorrow night, according to Josh Suchon, the show's new host. It will discontinue when the team leaves for China next Tuesday. ... Long day today, Day-night doubleheader with the Nats, the first one in Viera and the second one in Vero. Frank McCourt is expected for his annual spring-training presser with the writers in just a few minutes, so there should be news on Glendale and possibly on construction at Dodger Stadium, which I'm told is basically complete. One thing you will notice if you come to the park this year is that the lighting has been upgraded and is now 50 percent brighter. It is also, allegedly, more directly focused onto the field, so you might not see the bright halo above Chavez Ravine anymore if you happen to be driving up the 110 or the 5 on a game night. And, the added brightness notwithstanding, the bill for the lighting is actually expected to go DOWN. Kudos to whoever came up with that plan.

The boys rallied with three in the ninth to tie, starting with a leadoff walk from Hu followed by a two-run homer by the X-man, Xavier Paul. Andy LaRoche followed with a single, took second on a passed ball and raced home when Andre Ethier dropped a two-out blooper into shallow left field. Dodgers left the winning run on third in the 10th when LaRoche struck out, but just before that, Paul drew an impressive eight-pitch walk that included fouling off two 3-2 pitches. Afterward, Joe Torre talked more about that than the home run. Chad Billingsley gave up a run on three hits over two innings, but Jason Johnson followed with two scoreless innings and has not pitched four scoreless innings for the spring. James Loney went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and now is hitting .500 (6 for 12) for the spring. Dodgers go to 1-3-1 in the Grapefruit League and play a day-night, road-home doubleheader tomorrow with the Nationals.

... but before you start thinking common sense has prevailed, it has only been postponed for one day. Because of an airline snafu (the first company MLB contracted with failed to secure landing rights with the Chinese govt.), the Dodgers won't leave Florida until March 12, not March 11 as originally planned. For those of us who took preventative measures with our bosses early in the winter to ensure that we wouldn't have to make this ridiculous trip, this means absolutely nothing. The traveling team is still leaving Vero on March 11 (to spend a night in Orlando), so Tommy's return to managing won't be impacted in any way whatsoever. See ya in Phoenix, boys. ... They also released the roster of guys making the trip. The words ``skeleton crew'' come to mind. The list includes three guys from minor-league camp, including the immortal Wilkin Ruan.

Nomar went 2 for 3 with three RBI, and James Loney and Matt Kemp also had two hits apiece. Derek Lowe pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit. But Mike Koplove blew a 5-3 lead in the ninth after issuing a leadoff walk, and he was helped along by a dropped fly ball by John-Ford Griffin in right field that was ruled a hit. Fernando De La Cruz actually gave up the game-winning hit on a two-out blooper to center by Angel Pagan, but all the runs were charged to Koplove. Mets sent a team that barely met baseball's requirements of at least four ``regular'' players, but they still managed to drop the Dodgers to 1-3 for the spring.
It might have been a meaningless exhibition, but Joe Torre didn't take kindly to the loss given the way it happened.
``I don't care where you lose games, it's not fun to lose games,'' Torre said. ``If somebody beats you, it's not fun. But if you beat yourself, that's something you can't allow to happen, and we did that. We walked a couple of leadoff hitters, and they scored. Our defense didn't make a play. These are things that are hard to swallow, but in spring training. Everybody is trying to make an impression, and sometimes, that leads to problems.''

Finally got my copy this morning, which allows me to throw away my 2007 media guide, my 2007 postseason media guide (yes, every team has to print one whether they go to the postseason or not) and the slapped-together player bios we were given when we got down here (every non-roster player had Derek Lowe's photo on his bio -- they were just dummied in until the PR staff could get the photos of the actual players). Anyway, this year's cover is fairly basic, which is a tendency of the Dodgers, and I happen to like that. It isn't loud and it doesn't offend the senses. It has a home-plate shaped collage of photos from the club's first 50 years in Los Angeles, with the one across the top of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax flanking Roy Campanella in his wheel chair at a game many, many years ago at Dodger Stadium. There are also photos of Don Drysdale having just thrown a pitch, Fernando in mid-windup, Hideo Nomo in mid-windup, Kirk Gibson thrusting his right arm skyward as he nears first base after hitting that famous home run in the '88 Series and, of course, a smiling Tommy Lasorda. And then, for some reason, there is a photo of Chan Ho Park in mid-windup. Funny that he's on the cover, but to find his bio, you have to go to the non-roster section.

Rick Asadoorian, a non-roster right-hander, had a rough ninth inning, giving up a one-out single to Michel Abreu followed by Daniel Murphy's double. Asadoorian then walked Ezequiel Carrera on four pitches to load the bases (the first pitch was a pitchout) and hit Brady Clark to force in the winning run. Other than that, it was a good day for Dodgers pitching, as Brad Penny, Chan Ho Park and Hong-Chih Kuo each pitched two scoreless innings and allowed a total of two hits, and Justin Orenduff and Jonathan Meloan followed with a hitless inning each. The Dodgers played great defense, especially 3B Andy LaRoche, SS Chin-lung Hu and 2B Delwyn Young, who made a series of great plays all afternoon. Dodgers had just two hits on the day, both of them in the fourth inning, and one of those might have been caught if Marlon Anderson and Ryan Church hadn't collided chasing Andruw Jones popup just inside the rightfield line. Both left the game, Anderson with a bruised chest and Church with a concussion. Torre says Dodgers need to be more selective at the plate. ... Saito had a right calf cramp back in Vero this morning, but he still is slated to make his spring debut on Tuesday. ... Dodgers fall to 1-2.

David Yerena, who doubles as a producer for Dodgers on Demand and a security guard at Dodger Stadium, just made a spectacular catch of a foul ball off the bat of Mets catcher Ramon Castro, who is DH'ing today (yes, the DH is being used in a game between two NL clubs). Dave caught it on the fly with his bare hands while sitting in one of the broadcast booths high above home plate. ... Delwyn Young, who is playing 2B, made two lunging plays to his left in the first inning, then made a spectacular play behind the bag in the third, getting the runner at first each time. He is expected to see some 3B action soon, too. But even if he is able to play five different positions, the Dodgers still will need a backup shortstop (my guess is Hu), and it's hard to figure out right now how they're going to fit that extra person in. At any rate, DY is already having a great spring with the glove. What I can't figure out is how this guy has stayed under the radar for so many years while coming up through the minors. He can really play. ... Scoreless game, bottom 3. Penny went two innings, allowing a hit and a walk.

Torre's pregame presser this morning was a crush of New York media wanting to ask him about New York, the Yankees, Hank Steinbrenner, etc. We knew it would be like this, given that this was his first trip into the home ballpark of either NY club. He handled it, as usual, with ease and grace. But for the Dodgers beat reporters, it is getting a little old. We were tempted to upset the apple cart this morning by actually asking a fairly question about the Dodgers, maybe something about Tony Abreu's abdominal injury or some such thing, but we never did. Or at least no one ever did while I was around. I finally gave up and wandered over to the back fields. ... Congrats to a longtime friend of mine, Wayne Hagin, who has been hired as the Mets' radio play-by-play man. Wayne previously did pxp for the Rockies and Cardinals. ... Right now, 18 minutes before game time, Joe Torre and Willie Randolph are exchanging pleasantries on the warning track near the Dodgers dugout. Those two guys accomplished a lot together while wearing the Yankees uniform. Now, they are both wearing different ones, but the mutual affection is obvious. ... The conversation just broke up, and th entire stadium erupted in applause as Willie jogged back to the Mets side. Not sure who the applause was meant for.