The real last day
Stopped off at Dodgertown before leaving town this morning -- no, I wasn't being extra sentimental, I just thought I could knock out a couple of things in the clubhouse before hitting the road, but I wasn't able to -- and there were suitcases everywhere. That is usually a sign that opening day is just around the corner, but this year, it's just a sign that we're all heading for the desert for a week, so it wasn't all that exciting. ... It's overcast at Roger Dean Stadium, and although there is no rain in the forecast, I'm sure no one in the Dodgers' traveling party would mind at all if this game becomes a casualty of Mother Nature. Or at least they wouldn't have minded if those players who aren't playing in today's game weren't leaving Dodgertown on a later bus that isn't expected to leave until early afternoon. That would screw up any benefits of a rainout. The team is leaving this evening from West Palm Beach, which is just south of here. ... Jason Johnson was reassigned to minor-league camp this morning, leaving 44 players in camp. ... A colleague from the Bay Area, who is covering the Cactus League, emailed me this morning to say that Joe Torre and Bob Eucker were spotted dining last night at Don & Charlie's in Scottsdale, and apparently George Will was in there eating, too.
Tony Jackson has covered the Dodgers for the Daily News since 2004 and has covered Major League Baseball on a regular basis since 1995. He previously covered the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds. He is a native of Springdale, Ark., and a graduate of the University of Arkansas.
Comments
With the Dodgers leaving the Grapefruit League, is there talk of moving their AA franchise out of Jacksonville perhaps back to the Texas League?
Posted by: Mario DiLeo | March 18, 2008 9:31 AM
If I had my druthers this would be the lineup I'd prefer seeing.
1) Milton Bradley cf
2) Hee Seop Choi 1b
3) Brian Giles lf
4) JD Drew rf
5) Willy Aybar 3b
6) Joel Guzman ss
7) Antonio Perez 2b
8) Dionner Navarro c
I'd like to thank you Tony for not banning me.
My constant Dodger hate has gotten me banned from all forums with the exception of Dodger Thoughts. God bless Jon Weisman for giving me a conduit to express my opinions. I've got Weisman and the other regulars fooled into thinking I root for the Dodgers. LOL...
I hate the Dodgers for firing Paul DePodesta. I'll never forgive them for that.
It's hard abiding by Weisman's rules, but I do it. I'm careful not to overstep my bounds in making my Dodger hate too obvious. Fooling those suckers really isnt that hard though.
Posted by: joeyp at dodgerthoughts | March 18, 2008 9:52 AM
Aren't the minor leaguers still training in Florida for another week? So in essence, the Dodger organization has not said its "final" goodbyes.
Posted by: Carlos Navarro | March 18, 2008 12:44 PM
Ethier, playing Juan Pierre's old position of CF today while JP continues to learn left, cuts in front of a camped-out Pierre to field a fly ball and gun down a runner trying to tag from second to third. In a movie, this would be called foreshadowing, I think.
Later Ethier walks, so he's aboard when Sweeney swats a homer for the only Dodger runs in a 2-1 win. If Andre's competition is JP, is the fact that he reached on a walk irony?
Can't wait to see what Tony says about today's game.
Kershaw for 3 good innings today. Nice.
Posted by: El Lay Dave
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March 18, 2008 12:57 PM
I think the Dodgers will keep their Double-A affiliation in J-ville because they have a great relationship with the ownership of that club. And yes, minor-league camp will remain in Vero for the rest of this spring.
Posted by: tony jackson | March 18, 2008 1:03 PM
Why on earth are they sending Kershaw to Double-A? How about triple A?
Posted by: zoeyno | March 19, 2008 8:07 AM