Chad Moriyama Dodgers, Sabermetrics, Scouting
The Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch today, on Feb. 12, which officially kicks off the baseball season for the team, and tomorrow, on Feb. 13, they’ll have their first workout, in which I like to imagine Aaron Harang lumbering through conditioning drills like a monkey.
The rest of the team will report to camp on Feb. 15, and Spring Training will be in full swing the following day, on Feb. 16, as they get their first team workout in, which hopefully includes Josh Beckett running around a lot, so he doesn’t look like this:
The team’s first Spring Training game will take place a week after the whole team reports, on Feb. 23 against the White Sox, who they share the facility with. On March 5, the minor-league portion of pitchers and catchers report, while everybody else comes in on March 11.
The last game of Spring Training will come on March 29 against the Angels (ANAHEIM!), with Opening Day following shortly at home against the rival Giants on April 1. I’m eternally glad that the Dodgers open with them at home, because I would puke all over myself if I was forced to watch the Giants having a celebration or something.
—–
The daily schedule on game days, via Dodgers press release:
Afternoon Games (1:05 p.m. starts):
Dodger BP: Until 11:15 a.m.
Visitor BP: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Visitor Infield: 12:20 p.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dodger Infield: 12:30 p.m.-12:40 p.m.Night Games (7:05 p.m. starts):
Dodger BP: Until 5:15 p.m.
Visitor BP: 5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
Visitor Infield: 6:20 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Dodger Infield: 6:30 p.m.-6:40 p.m.
That’s not all that’s going on during this spring though, as on March 1 the World Baseball Classic will start with Australia playing Taiwan. The tournament is primarily relevant to Dodger fans because of players like Adrian Gonzalez (Mexico), Luis Cruz (Mexico), Hanley Ramirez (Dominican Republic), Ronald Belisario (Venezuela), Nick Punto (Italy), and Paco Rodriguez (Spain).
Not sure it affects Punto or A-Gon much, and it’s a miracle that Belisario is even in America at this time, but I doubt Cruz or Paco will benefit from not being in camp for their first Spring Training ever with real expectations, plus Hanley not ever playing shortstop the spring after playing horrible shortstop in 2012 is bad news (as has been said over and over).
—–
Additionally, via Roberto Baly of Vin Scully Is My Homeboy, here are the Dodgers home and away Spring Training caps.
Loving the home caps.
Spring training bitches!!
Those home caps are pretty nice. Might have to pick one up.
Interesting tidbit of info from an article today…
“Obviously, the team is different than when I signed,” Harang said. “Before I signed, they told me they wanted to put together a team that had a chance to win on a limited budget.”
Nice to know that was the plan going in. So glad the team was sold.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130213&content_id=41607220&vkey=news_la&c_id=la
Aren’t we so glad that shit is over with?
Yes. :o
If Neddy keeps stalling on trading one of our starting pitchers for a right-handed hitting OF to platoon with Ethier and/or Crawford, he’s going to miss out and we’ll be praying for Castellanos to come through. Seriously, Drew Stubbs is on the trading block and Cleveland needs starting pitching. Trade Capuano and pay of 1/2 his salary, and throw in one of our AA relievers. That gives us an excellent fielding outfielder who mashes lefties and can play all three OF positions. What are you waiting for, Neddy?
Drew Stubbs would cost a lot more considering he’s currently penciled in as a starter for the Indians.
I read that he’s on the trading block. They have Bourn, Brantley, and Swisher as their starting outfield. Even if Stubbs is not on the block, Seattle has two righty outfielders that could be on the block as well. Either way, I don’t see how a corner outfielder who had an OPS of .610 last season is going to be all that expensive.
Swisher can play first.
I’m sure he’s on the block, but he does have upside.
But he’s an excellent fielding outfielder who mashes lefties and can play all three OF positions. Would you trade him for a year of Capuano and change?
They look like they’re trying to contend. With our backlog of relievers, one of our AA or AAA prospects (Ames, Wall, etc.) could pitch in the majors right now for another team. The thing is, looking at the Cleveland depth chart and they probably don’t need starting pitching. Bauer and Dice-K are already battling for the #5 spot. So we should probably look to Seattle.
Should’ve signed Swisher and Bourn instead of throwing $75mil at Ethier. Water under the bridge now.
The Indians need starting pitching. :o
The issue is that Capuano/Harang don’t hold a ton of marginal value and a reliever isn’t going to put the Indians past the Tigers.
For example, how many wins do you think Harang/Wall would generate for the Indians? How many do you think Stubbs would? Now factor in the money and team control. That’s how I generally approach trade scenarios.
I have no problem with the Dodgers acquiring Stubbs, but if I was an Indians fan I would be incensed if they dealt him for Harang and Wall.
Grrrr…who said anything about Harang? I said Cap, and their choice of Ames or Wall, and then I looked at their depth chart and saw they didn’t need rotation help anyway so I moved on to Seattle. Grrrrrr
They’re similar in terms of value anyway.
Cap $2m cheaper if 2014 option is declined, but probably only $1M cheaper over 2013-14 if both his and Harang’s 2014 options are picked up.
3.95 FIP, 3.97 X-FIP, 2.1 WAR for Cap in 2012
4.14 FIP, 4.95 X-FIP, 1.5 WAR for Harang in 2012
Cap is better trade bait, IMO.
As the stats show, it’s largely splitting hairs. Cap is better trade bait but not by much.
That’s what I mean though. It’s not a difference that is going to get somebody to change their mind on flipping a starter to us.
Not looking for a starter…aren’t we only looking for some average RH-hitting fourth outfielder who can OPS above .750 vs LHP? Can’t hit righties at all?
Prior to 2012, he was a ~3 WAR player.
Casper Wells should be someone we can get. Can’t hit righties worth a lick, lights up lefties. Platoon corner outfielder at best.