During his morning media session, Joe was asked about Nomar, and all his answers seemed to be pointing to Nomar coming off the bench. He talked about how veteran players tend to adjust to it better than younger players and mentioned Nomar’s ability to hit in the clutch (he batted .370 w/RISP over the past two seasons), etc. So I asked him that if all things are equal, meaning both Nomar and Andy LaRoche have good springs, would he lean toward LaRoche as the regular 3B? In other words, is it Andy’s job to lose? But Joe wouldn’t bite. “Nomar’s experience will certainly play into this thing,” he said. “I definitely wouldn’t say it’s (LaRoche’s) job to lose. Nomar, with his experience, we’ll look at how he can best help the club and go from there.”

There is a saying about spring training: Every day is Tuesday. What that means is that every day is exactly the same, with no differentiation between weekends and weekdays and no breaks. This year, we don’t even have any night games down here, except for one on March 4 that is part of a day-night, split-squad doubleheader. So basically, I’m getting up at the crack of dawn every morning for the next five weeks, which I realize most of the world does every day, so I’ll stop complaining. Hey, it beats working for a living. … Those of you who have been following this blog for a while might recall that last spring, I trumpeted the fact that Vero Beach finally got a Starbucks. Well, in keeping with the widely known fact that Starbucks outlets multiply more quickly than rabbits, Vero Beach now has FOUR Starbucks (that I know of). I can’t imagine any more definitive proof than that to indicate the demographics of this town have changed dramatically over the years. It’s tough to imagine even one Starbucks surviving in what is basically a retirement town, and the fact that there are several of them, and they appear to be thriving, means this isn’t a retirement town anymore. It’s also another indication of just why, with a few exceptions, there aren’t that many people around here who are going to care that much that the Dodgers are leaving town. … On my way back from lunch yesterday, I heard Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story on the radio. It started out with Dodgers GM Buzzy Bavasi calling a young pitcher named Tom into his office to send him to the minors, and Tom responding by saying they should keep him and send that left-handed kid with the control problems to the minors instead. I didn’t have to listen any further. I immediately recognized the story as one I had heard a hundred times from Tom himself.

George Lombard, a non-roster outfielder who is a long shot to make the club, suffered a strained left calf during a conditioning drill and will be out for a few days. … Also, the Dodgers’ exit agreement with Indian River County was ratified today, clearing the way for the team to leave Vero Beach after this spring, assuming everything in Glendale, Ariz., proceeds on schedule.

Officially, it was three hours and 15 minutes because they didn’t really, technically start working out until about 11. But they were on the field stretching a few minutes after 10, and the position guys didn’t come off the field until almost 2:30. I know it’s the first full-squad workout, but you have to wonder if it’s going to be like this every day. … Pitchers will start throwing live batting practice tomorrow (except Schmidt and Brazoban, who will continue to throw bullpens). Rick Honeycutt said that once pitchers start throwing BP, they’ll split into three groups and throw every third day instead of two groups throwing every other day in the bullpen.

Asked him the same question we asked him at the Caravan, that of whether he plans to retire after this season. Got basically the same answer. “That will come out at another time and another place,” he said. … By the way, Joe Torre DID ask Joe Beimel to cut his hair, which Beimel did, although it’s still long in comparison with today’s style. “He said it didn’t have to be a crew cut,” Beimel said. As for troyfromwestvirginia, who took the time to post a comment on this blog after I posted a link to his Beimel tribute videos on youtube, Joe said he is aware that Troy is on the way to Vero Beach in a few days. “I might give him a wave or something, but I don’t think I’ll be going to dinner with him. … Jason Repko is leaving camp tonight to fly home to Richland, Wash., where his wife, Traci, is scheduled for induced labor tomorrow. This is the couple’s first child, a boy, and they plan to name him Tyler Jason Repko. Best of luck to all. As many of us already know, and as Jason and Traci will soon find out, becoming a parent is the single greatest experience life has to offer.