Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw shows his competitive fire throwing live batting practice.


GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw mixed all his pitches into a 40-pitch batting practice session Saturday, his first of the spring. One, a hanging slider, resulted in a home run by Juan Uribe over the left-field fence on a back field at Camelback Ranch.

Kershaw also faced Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner in what amounted to a two-inning stint. No other balls left the infield (or would have at least, if there were any actual infielders on the field).

“I’m going to have to hear about Uribe hitting a home run off me all season,” Kershaw quipped. “I’m glad I gave him some confidence for the year.”

More than a confidence boost for Uribe, the afternoon was a showcase for Kershaw’s competitiveness. The reigning National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner still has it, even when throwing live batting practice to his teammates in February.
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Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, Clayton Kershaw discuss MLB’s pace of game initiatives.

MLB.com

photo courtesy of MLB.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Don Mattingly and Clayton Kershaw chimed in today on MLB’s pace-of-game initiatives, which will be enforced by umpires beginning with the first Cactus League game Wednesday.

Mattingly is of the opinion that hitters, who must keep at least one foot in the box every time they take a pitch, will be able to adapt quickly.

“Every other situation — a ball gets away, a guy throws over, guy steps off the mound, you can step out of the box at that point,” Mattingly said. “I think the biggest thing with pace-of-play is, they’re announcing the inning break at 40. They’re announcing the first hitter with 40 seconds left on the clock. At 25, the walk-up music’s got to be off. At 20, he’s got to be in the box. Those type of things are things our guys are going to have to get used to.

“I think once they get used to this it’s not going to be an issue. It’s like anything else; guys are going to adjust. You throw 100 — keep throwing 100, keep throwing all fastballs, they’re going to get hit. Our guys are going to adjust to these rules.”

So will pitchers have the bigger adjustment to make?
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Getty Images has posted the Dodgers’ Photo Day pictures, and some of them are awesome.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers held their annual Photo Day this morning, with players showing off for the Dodger team photographers, SportsNet LA, MLB Photos, MLB.com, MLB International, ESPN the Magazine, Topps, USA Today, Getty Images, Baseball Digest and the Associated Press.

I have no idea what the Getty photographer was telling half these guys but, well, see for yourself. The full gallery is here; feel free to caption these gems:

Continue reading “Getty Images has posted the Dodgers’ Photo Day pictures, and some of them are awesome.” »

Erik Bedard, Clayton Kershaw to start Dodgers’ first two Cactus League games.

Erik Bedard

Veteran left-hander Erik Bedard will start the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. (Associated Press photo)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — There are 33 pitchers listed on the Dodgers’ major-league spring training roster. Don Mattingly and his staff have mapped out a plan whereby “you’ll see pretty much everybody those first four days, or most everybody.”

Erik Bedard will start the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. Clayton Kershaw will start Thursday, also against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. They’re both scheduled to throw two innings in the game, plus another inning in the Dodgers’ bullpen after that.

“Even saying that,” Mattingly said, “there will be some type of pitch count that you’re protecting. I’m not going to let a guy go out there if he gets caught in an inning. We’ll stop it.”

Continue reading “Erik Bedard, Clayton Kershaw to start Dodgers’ first two Cactus League games.” »

Watch: The line for Sandy Koufax.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A linked chain of metal fences line the dirt paths at Camelback Ranch, separating fans from the players and coaches who walk from field to field. Most of the players probably don’t need the protection. Demand for autographs is high but the fervor is usually calm. Remember, there are 61 players in camp. Most won’t start the season in the majors, and none of them are Matt Kemp. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly gets his share of autograph requests too, but he’s not exactly fending off the pens and baseballs and hats.

The man who needs the metal fences the most is a slender 79-year-old who lives in rural Pennsylvania. Sandy Koufax, the Hall of Fame pitcher-turned-“special advisor,” is here all week — advising, watching, chatting. Sometimes he signs autographs.

Koufax is not expected to arrive today until later in the morning, maybe noon local time. That — and intermittent rain throughout the morning — did not stop Koufax fans from lining up behind the fence at 5 a.m.

Here’s what the line looked like by 9:30:

We think this story ends with Koufax signing autographs for some of those people, and not signing for others.

That’s how it usually ends at least. If not … updates throughout the day.