Minor League update
Here’s the latest post from Assistant Player Development Director Chris Haydock:
Although most of my time is spend traveling throughout our minor leagues, it was nice to be at Dodger Stadium this past weekend for our sweep of the Reds. Great crowds all weekend, and a very festive Mother’s Day atmosphere at the ballpark.
I would like to send a personal thank you to Jeff Kent- who personally autographed a pink bat for a very special cancer survivor who loves the Dodgers and makes it out to the ballpark often. He is her favorite player, and he gladly signed the bat- which was a huge hit with her and her family. Class act.
The series also gave me a chance to congratulate Andy LaRoche on his big league call-up. Since he was called up while the club was in Atlanta, I didn’t get the chance to see him until this weekend. From the day that these young men first sign a professional contract, they become, in essence, one of our "kids". We get to know them from Day 1, and are witnesses to each trial and tribulation they must go through before they make it to the big leagues.
One of my favorite Andy LaRoche stories occurred in Vero Beach a few Spring Trainings ago. Early in his career, there had been some talk in the off-season of making Andy a catcher. The idea had been thrown around a bit, but never communicated to Andy (since we decided against it). On the day that Andy arrived to Spring Training, he went straight to our minor league equipment room to pick up his uniform. I happened to be in the back of the room at the time helping one of our coaches find some batting practice balls. When the equipment manager accidentally gave Andy a set of catching gear, in addition to his uniform, Andy’s response was simply, "Whatever gets me to the big leagues quickest." There were no complaints, rants or raves. Just an honest answer from an honest kid who wanted to fulfill his dream as soon as possible.
Our scouting department has done a terrific job over the past few years signing not only talented players, but great make-up individuals, as well. As many of you may or may not know, Andy received a $1,000,000 bonus when he signed with us. When presented with the catching equipment, he could have complained, called his agent, etc.- since he had signed originally with us as an infielder. However, he gracefully took the equipment back to his locker, ready, able and willing for any challenge we were going to throw his way. It is this type of approach and desire that has no doubt led to his recent call-up and early success in the big leagues.
We wish Andy a long a successful Major League career with the Dodgers. Now, it is simply up to us as the Dodgers’ Player Development Department to go out and develop another one.
Hope all is well Dodger fans wherever you may be!
Inside the Dodgers 
Nice little story about LaRoche, but what will be the fate of James Loney? I know he was tried out in pretty much every position aside from catcher and pitcher and he’s a natural first baseman, but how is he holding up? Will he be staying with the Dodgers? Does he want to be traded?
I wonder if that Haydock guy gets upset with the way the Dodgers treat his kids, signing over the hill re-treads and has-beens rather than giving Loney a shot. Even now it seems like they’re reluctantly giving LaRoche some playing time but desperately hoping Betemit turns his season around. Boring.
Thanks for the story & blog post, Chris!
from my experience, Jeff Kent is NOT a class act. I’ve been a dodger fan for nearly 20 years and a couple years ago was the first time I actually had the chance to meet a Dodger player..that player was Jeff Kent. We were at an airport in Austin and I saw him. I had my special Dodger hat on (one i havent washed in years cause of superstition)…one of my most prized possessions. At first I was a little intimidated to ask him to sign my hat or even take a picture with me. I hestitated, but I still went up to Jeff Kent. As I said, “excuse me, Mr. Kent..” he lifted his hand and waved me away to get out of his face. I was shocked..i didnt even finish my sentence. He didnt even say “not today” or “im busy” or anything of the sort..he just treated me like a peon with simple hand gestures.
Thats not a class act. I dare you to disagree with me. He might be one way when cameras are rolling or to people in the front office… but to the people who pay his salary, the fans, hes actually kind of rude. Thats why the reports of his clash with players on the Giants and on the Dodgers dont seem that far off….
anyways…sorry for going off, but i’ve held it in long enough..and to say Jeff Kent is a class act..that was the tipping point for me.
If you want to talk about class acts..his name is Nomar…not Jeff.
thank you.
Kent has a well known reputation of being an ornery person. He’s the last Dodger I’d ask for an autograph.
nice story on LaRoche, he has been one of my favorites since he signed, really happy he will become our third baseman. AS for Kent, he has a long and HALL OF FAME career,
and anyone who does not like Barry Bonds is all-right with me.
Go Doders, protect the prospects, their future is now.
May be wishful thinking but my guess is that Betemit’s days as a Dodger are numbered. He probably gets traded for a prospect. Bigbie’s call-up deadline is fast approaching and he could spell Ethier and Gonzo from time to time as well as provide a left handed bat off the bench. Laroche is proving his worth and looks secure at 3b. Hopefully, Vegas is a place he’ll only be visiting in the offseason.
a friend played for the astros, and supposedly hes really good at rubbing people the wrong way, and all he cares about is riding motorcycles. and a girlfriend rode in an elevator with him and said it wasnt the most comfortable shes felt thanks to a wierd joke. milton bradley wasnt just coming out of proverbial left field, and I regret that the situation didnt get handled better but hey its in the past. but to paint a picture tht kent is some stand up class act guy is not really reality. i could easily see that happening abuabraham and thats just a sad. hand gestures are pretty low, and wouldnt put that past him. i can understand a restaurant , and being turned down but an airport?
kemp better be up before bigbie or I am gonna jump off a bridge!! : >
heheehe. lol
and no im not dropping names.
Nice story on La Roche the only pet peeve i have with him is that he doesn’t try & go with pitches the other way.
Some good stats for the Dodgers for the upcoming series:
Cardinals – last in the NL with a .234 team batting avg.
– last in baseball with 110 runs scored.
Dodgers – 2nd best team ERA in the NL.
– most strikouts thrown in the NL.
I like the matchup of Dodgers pitching vs. St. Louis hitting. I think in this series, the Dodgers are a definite favorite, esp. if their bats stay hot like they’ve been since Saturday.
Taking this series would be a huge step considering we haven’t beaten this team in 2 years. If that means beating a sub-par Cardinals team so be it. Believe me none of us here, nor anybody in the organization would throw back any victories against the Cardinals. Especially because if we won just one of the seven games against them last season we win the West. It would be poetic to sweep the Cards right out of Los Angeles!
GO DODGERS!
You bet your boots Alex. Would be more than great to sweep the cardinals out of town.
mitleid – I said last year and I have not changed my mind. James Loney will not be a Dodger no matter how badly I(we) want him to be. I loved his Mark Grace type of hitting and smooth fielding. However, for some reason he seems to be the the odd man out. How else can you lead the minors in hitting and not make the big club after performing well last year with the Dodgers? He is having less than a stellar year this year so far and the Dodgers may have have lost considerable trade equity in him.
The 3B situation confuses me a bit. Prospects Blake Dewitt, Josh Bell and Tony Abreu are all playing some 3B. Chin Lung Hu, SS, is playing very well at Jacksonville. He will be backed up behind Furcal. It seems that some of these will have to be traded before equity is lost in them too. Don’t get me wrong. I love young Dodgers and wish we could fill every position with kids but the vets mean we can’t do that. Changing positions always seems to be a risk, eg. Delwyn Young, unless it is to pitcher or catcher.
As it stands now, our pitching is starting to shape up very well. It would be nice to hit with some power but scoring runs is the important offensive stat by whatever means. Some seem to be impatient with our lineup. However, it seems different guys are stepping up each game. It seems a bit early to blame management for not not fielding the lineup we want. What do we criticize, being in first place?
I expect Wilson Betemit will be traded and perhaps Bigbie. Having siad that, I like LaRoche being selective at the plate and not trying to knock everything out of the park. With confidence and playing time some power will come. GO DODGERS!!