Howie Kendrick compares being a Dodger to being an Angel.

It’s only been six weeks since Howie Kendrick become a Dodger.

More accurately, you might say it’s only been two days. Kendrick took part in the Dodgers’ community caravan Friday, participating in everything from a visit to City Hall to a Brazilian dance routine with elementary school students. Today he’s among the bigger names at the team’s annual FanFest. He hasn’t played in a game or met more than a couple new teammates.

So, first impressions?

“This is my first time ever caravaning,” he said. “We did FanFest, I think, my first year with the Angels and it was a blast. Getting the experience in now doing the caravan — that was my first caravan, yesterday — you feel the love from the community. I think that’s what’s important, is being able to give back to the community. Yesterday I talked about growing up in a small community where everybody knows everything you do. These guys know everything that happens and everything that you do. They know the stats, they know the players, they love their team.”

Yasmani Grandal: Eternal optimist, or just what the Dodgers need?

Yasmani Grandal

Switch-hitting Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has a 105 OPS-plus in his career batting left-handed and an 88 OPS-plus batting right-handed. (Getty Images)

Yasmani Grandal‘s brief major league career is checkered at best. He was suspended for 50 games in November 2012 following a positive test for testosterone. He’s batted just .224 since. His 2013 season ended when he tore multiple ligaments in his right knee during a collision at home plate, an injury that required reconstructive surgery.

And this was the player the Dodgers coveted in a trade for Matt Kemp?
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Dodgers pitcher Chris Withrow doesn’t have a timetable to begin throwing.

Chris Withrow had a rough 2014. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in June and surgery on the herniated L5/S1 vertebrae in his back in December. The original 12-18 month timetable for his recovery is still intact, he said — the back surgery won’t push back his recovery — but he still hasn’t begun to throw.

“I honestly can’t tell you when I’ll start throwing, either,” Withrow said. “I’ll come out to Arizona the 10th of February. The doctor has it laid out day by day, as to what you’re capable of doing. Once I pass the test then I’ll be able to move on to the next step. I kind of gave up on the fact of looking ahead so far in advance, because you lose focus on that day that you really need to focus on. So I take it a day at a time, try to accomplish what I need to accomplish that day and look forward two weeks or two months.”

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Chris Hatcher’s story about getting traded to the Dodgers is the best.

Chris Hatcher

New Dodgers pitcher Chris Hatcher was changing planes on a troops visit in Southeast Asia when he learned he was traded. (Getty Images)


Dodgers pitcher Chris Hatcher wins the award for the best where-were-you-when-you-found-out-you-were-traded story. Certainly this off-season. Maybe ever.

Hatcher was visiting U.S. military troops in Southeast Asia with his Miami Marlins teammates — a trip the team arranged — when he was traded to the Dodgers on December 11. The 30-year-old from North Carolina, speaking with a slight Southern drawl, said he was changing planes walking to an airport when he heard the news.

“We had just landed in Oman. We were getting on a plane to go to Abu Dhabi,” he said. “One of my teammates at the time, (Justin) Bour, was like ‘you just got traded to the Dodgers.’ I told my wife before the trip, ‘it’ll be my luck I’ll get traded.’ I welcome it. It’s a good opportunity. I’m happy to be here.”
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Dodgers sign pitcher B.J. Rosenberg to minor-league contract.

B.J. Rosenberg

Associated Press photo

B.J. Rosenberg, a right-handed reliever who made 13 appearances out of the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen last season, has signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers. He is not listed among the non-roster invitees to the Dodgers’ major-league spring training camp.

Rosenberg, 29, allowed 20 hits, walked seven batters and allowed nine runs in 12 innings last year. He also made 18 appearances with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate and allowed 14 runs in 19 innings. In between, Rosenberg missed time with a concussion (he was struck in the head by a line drive at Triple-A) and a hip injury. It was a bad year.

In 44 appearances with the Phillies from 2012-13, Rosenberg posted a 3.99 FIP with a lower walk rate and a higher strikeout rate than he posted in 2014. The average velocity on each of his pitches has been in decline since his debut, but the Dodgers appear to be taking a low-risk gamble that Rosenberg can reverse his fortunes with a return to health.