Notes from Spring Training: Day Two

From the Dodgers official Spring Training media notes for Monday, February 22:

MORE EARLY ARRIVALS: Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, James Loney and Andre Ethier all reported early and took their first swings today.  Nearly all the position players on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster have arrived at camp early with Ronnie Belliard and Rafael Furcal being the final two position players to report before the February 25 deadline.

TOMMY’S TOWN: Dodger Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda also reported to camp today for his 61st season. Lasorda just returned from Colorado Springs where he spoke to 1,300 cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Lasorda was there as a keynote speaker for the Academy’s Center for Character Development’s Leadership Symposium. This marked Lasorda’s 10th appearance as motivational speaker for the Academy.

WORKING IT: Russell Martin was the last Dodger in the batting cage this afternoon taking extra BP under the watchful eyes of Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, Major League Hitting Instructor Jeff Pentland and Manny Mota. Martin performed a series of one-handed swings and other drills after taking part in an Xtreme training regimen this offseason.

ON THE HILL: Today 15 pitchers threw their first bullpen sessions of Spring Training including Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, George Sherrill, Hong-Chih Kuo, Ramon Troncoso and Eric Gagné. Five of the names mentioned for the fifth starter spot also threw today with Scott Elbert, James McDonald, Charlie Haeger, Eric Stults and Carlos Monasterios taking the mound.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: The Dodgers would like to welcome the club’s Director of International Operations Joseph Reaves to Camelback Ranch. Reaves played an integral role in the Dodgers’ historic 2008 trip to Beijing, bringing the World Baseball Classic finals to Dodger Stadium last March and this year’s upcoming Taiwan Trip.

RETIRE THE UMBRELLA: For the second consecutive day, the Dodgers workout schedule was altered on account of rain. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for sun and 66 degrees with a zero percent chance of precipitation.

BACK IN BLUE: Of the 25 non-roster invitees, four have previously suited up for the Dodgers including Eric Gagné, Jeff Weaver, Angel Berroa and Doug Mientkiewicz. John Lindsey returns to Dodger camp this season and while he never wore Dodger Blue in the Major Leagues, he donned the LA uniform during the 2008 China Series against the Padres.

NETWORKING THE RANCH: Camelback Ranch will host its first “Legends and Leadership Networking Event” tomorrow from 5-8 p.m. featuring guest speaker Tommy Lasorda and White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.  The event is hosted by the Phoenix Business Journal and the $25 admission includes baseball-fare food and beverage along with a $25 gift certificate redeemable toward the purchase of tickets for Cactus League games at the facility in 2010.

COLLEGE BALL: With the University of Arizona and Arizona State University nearby, there’s plenty of quality collegiate baseball in the Valley of the Sun and starting tomorrow, Japan ’s Meiji University will work out at Camelback Ranch – Glendale after working out at Dodger Stadium today.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 6: Dodgers single-game tickets go on sale on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. online, by phone and at Dodger Stadium. The team will hold an on-sale event in Lot P at Dodger Stadium with Dodger legends Ron Cey and “Sweet” Lou Johnson, and all fans purchasing at least one ticket will receive two free tickets to the Dodgers’ exhibition home opener against the Indians on April 1.  Discounted Dodger Dogs will be available and merchandise kiosks will be open as well.