Coming to a ballpark near you: Goofy camera angles.

Joe Torre

Joe Torre was holding court in the Dodgers’ home dugout Tuesday afternoon in full uniform. In a way, it was like he never left — save the Team USA threads, the team of all-stars on the field, and the stakes of a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox.

The range of topics he addressed with the media was befitting a man with one hand in Major League Baseball’s executive offices and another in the WBC. Torre is managing the United States entry in the international tournament, in uniform for the first time since he last managed the Dodgers in 2010. In the meantime, he’s worked out of MLB’s Manhattan offices as the league’s Executive Vice President, Business Operations, a job he briefly vacated to explore a purchase of the Dodgers.

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Dodgers WBC roundup: Hanley Ramirez goes deep in win, Nick Punto 0-for-3.

They might be able to play a little baseball down there in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican entry into the World Baseball Classic didn’t need to establish itself as a contender in an exhibition game Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. It did anyway, winning 15-2. The Dominicans had 28 hits as a team, including seven extra-base hits.

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez had three. He served as the designated hitter and went 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs. You can watch video of the home run here.

Nick Punto went 0-for-3 with a strikeout for Team Italy in an exhibition game against the Oakland A’s. Punto was replaced with the Italians trailing 4-1.

Team Mexico, featuring Adrian Gonzalez, Luis Cruz and Javy Guerra, has an exhibition game scheduled for 6 p.m. PST tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Shawn Green’s thoughts on the Hall of Fame, Sandy Koufax, and the Dodgers’ new owners.

Shawn Green

Former Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green was in camp and in uniform as a special instructor this weekend. We got his thoughts on a variety of topics Sunday, including Sandy Koufax, the Hall of Fame, the Dodgers’ new owners, and his playing ambitions.

Green still has playing ambitions — more WBC ambitions than MLB ambitions — but he isn’t pressing the issue. At age 40, he’s content to be a father to his 7- and 10-year-old daughters. I’m saving that story for tomorrow’s editions.

Here’s what else Green had to say:

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With some exceptions, Dodgers won’t audition minor-leaguers during WBC.

Javy Guerra gives the Dodgers six players who will be gone for anywhere between eight and 18 days for the World Baseball Classic. That doesn’t mean six minor-leaguers will get called up to take their place.

“What we’ll do,” Don Mattingly said after the Dodgers’ loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, “is use the guys who are here for the most part.”

Some exceptions will be made.

Mattingly said he wanted to get a look at Scott Van Slyke at first base. Van Slyke didn’t do much in 54 major league at-bats last season, collecting nine hits and 14 strikeouts. But the manager has been underwhelmed by Dallas McPherson‘s defense at first base (“it’s not been great for me” were Mattingly’s exact words) and might be looking for a new emergency first baseman if Adrian Gonzalez gets injured. Word is that Van Slyke has slimmed down since last season.

Van Slyke was in the Dodgers’ major-league camp a year ago but was removed from the 40-man roster in December.

Dodgers’ Javy Guerra on WBC opportunity: ‘It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.’

When Adrian Gonzalez was traded to the Dodgers last August, no one could have known what that would mean for reliever Javy Guerra.
Javy Guerra
Gonzalez asked Guerra if he would join Team Mexico on Saturday after reliever David Hernandez was ruled ineligible and switched teams, from Mexico to the United States. Guerra readily accepted after getting permission from Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

It’s something he might not have been able to do without Gonzalez, the team captain for Mexico.

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