Notes from Spring Training: Day One

In addition to our ongoing posts and commentary throughout Spring Training, we thought you’d like to read the Dodgers’ official Spring Training notes in their entirety.  We’ll go ahead and post these each day, beginning with today.  Enjoy!

THE FIRST TALK OF THE SPRING: Joe Torre is beginning his 51^st season in professional baseball, which includes time playing in the minors, Majors (18 years), as a big league manager (28 years) and as a broadcaster (six years). He spoke to his 2010 team for the first time today and his message was simple: “Pitching is the basis for any success you’ll have, so don’t try and over-impress people and make sure you tell someone if you’re not feeling well.” The future Hall of Fame manager has seen his teams reach the playoffs for a record-tying 14 times from 1996-2009.

THE FIRST TOSS OF THE SPRING: After Dodger Manager Joe Torre addressed the team, the players worked on bunting, among other drills, and 16 pitchers threw bullpen sessions, including Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla, Clayton Kershaw and Jeff Weaver. It’s a short 42 days until Opening Day, April 5, when the Dodgers visit PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

EARLY ARRIVAL: Among the position players arriving today was infielder Blake DeWitt. Torre remains impressed with his versatility and added that he’s handled the back-and-forth nature of the second base situation “with a lot of class.”

NON-ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: Russ and Ramon Ortizeach threw bullpen sessions today and are vying for spots on the roster. Russ, a Van Nuys native and attendee of Montclair Prep, led the National League with 21 wins in 2003 and has a 113-88 record in 11 big league seasons. Last year, he went 3-6 in 23 games (13 starts) for the Astros and 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA in six minor league games (five starts). Ramon, who was born in Cotui in the Dominican Republic , also had his best year in 2003, winning 16 games for the Angels that season. He has an 84-80 mark and last year he went 5-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 35 minor league games (16 starts) for Triple-A Fresno in the Giants’ organization.

YOUTH IS SERVED:Nineteen players — nearly half of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster — are 26 years old or younger, including 11 who have Major League service time with the Dodgers under their belt.  Who is the youngest player in camp?  For the second consecutive spring, that distinction goes to lefthander Clayton Kershaw, who turns 22 on March 19. The youngest position player in camp is Trayvon Robinson, who won’t turn 23 until Sept. 1. On the flip side, the most-experienced player in camp is Brad Ausmus, who turns 41 on April 14. 

TAIWAN TIDBIT: The Dodgers will depart for Taiwan in 17 days and among those making the trip are Manager Joe Torre, Taiwan natives Hong-Chih Kuo and Chin-lung Hu, infielders James Loney and Jamey Carroll and pitcher George Sherrill. The most likely tourist stop on the trip will be Taipei 101, also known as the Taipei Financial Center , which was the world’s tallest building until it was surpassed in 2007 by Burj Khalifa in Dubai . Taipei 101 has 101 floors above ground and five below ground and measures 1,670.6 feet in height from the base to its spire, or the equivalent of more than four times the distance from home plate to center field at Dodger Stadium.

THE WORLD OF DODGERTOWN: Thirty-one pitchers and seven catchers have arrived at camp and among that group, 14 were born overseas representing seven different countries: Canada (Russell Martin, Eric Gagnè), Dominican Republic (Ramon Ortiz, Juan Perez and Ramon Troncoso),  Japan (Hiroki Kuroda), Mexico (Francisco Felix and Juan Castro), Netherlands Antilles (Kenley Jansen), Nicaragua (Vicente Padilla), Taiwan (Hong-Chih Kuo) and Venezuela (Carlos Monasterio, andArmando Zerpa).  Do note, early arrival Ivan DeJesus Jr. was born in Puerto Rico, which is a territory of the United States . Overall, of the 65 players that will eventually be in Major League camp, more than one-third (22) were born outside of the 50 United States. 

JOIN US AT THE RANCH: Among the new additions at Camelback Ranch in 2010 are Dodger Dogs and free parking. Season tickets, mini Plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can purchase Spring Training tickets for Dodger home games by going to dodgers.com or by calling 800-745-3000.