Category: Dailies

The Rat Pack is Back – Josh Rawitch

How about those undefeated Las Vegas 51s?  The “Jacksonville Five,” a group of prospects that helped the Double-A Suns to the Southern League championship last year, are mostly now in Las Vegas and are wowing the crowds in their first stint at Triple-A.

Even though James Loney is in the Majors and Andy LaRoche is in Double-A, Chad Billingsley (1-0), Jonathan Broxton (1-0), Joel Guzman (.440, HR, 7 RBI), Russell Martin (.333), Andre Ethier (.389) and Willy Aybar (.333, 2 HR, 12 RBI) are among the Dodger prospects that have helped Las Vegas win their first six games of the 2006 season.

Wilson Valdez, who was recently acquired in a minor league trade, has been playing shortstop for the Dodgers in Vegas and has had a great start, too.

We are all hoping it won’t be long before these guys will be in Los Angeles with us. Well, we won’t be in Los Angeles for another couple of days, but we’ll hopefully head back from Pittsburgh with two more wins than we’ve got right now.

Late scratch works out

Jose Cruz was scratched from tonight’s lineup with the flu and what do you know? Ricky Ledee just homered in his first at-bat.

Lineup is now Furcal, Repko, Drew, Kent, Ledee, Mueller, Loney, Navarro, Seo

A Pittsburgh staple – Josh Rawitch

We’re at the ballpark early today and it’s safe to say that of all the new ballparks around the league, PNC is probably the best, if not second-best in my opinion. The view from the press box and stands is unreal, with the Allegheny River right behind the outfield and all of the city’s skyline just beyond the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

A few of us took a side trip to West Virginia last night to a horse racing track where one of Rich Donnelly’s sons works. It was an interesting road trip to the middle of nowhere, but with a night game following a day game, we had some time to kill.

Today, we went to Primanti Brothers for lunch, which is the Pittsburgh staple I referred to in the headline. Angelenos probably wouldn’t go for a sandwich that has eggs, cole slaw, french fries, turkey and all sorts of other random things thrown between two slices of bread, but the people here love this stuff.

Otherwise, it’s just another day at the yard. Will post the lineup shortly.

Managing History – Mark Langill

Jim Tracy today becomes the first ex-Dodger skipper to manage against his former team within one year of his departure since Leo Durocher in 1948. Durocher began that season with the Brooklyn Dodgers until July 16, when he was released by Brooklyn and became the manager of the rival New York Giants.

Chuck Dressen, who managed the Dodgers from 1951-53, returned to the National League as a manager with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960-61. Of the five Dodger managers between Dressen and Tracy, none managed in the Major Leagues after their respective tenures with the Dodgers: Walter Alston (1954-76); Tommy Lasorda (1976-96); Bill Russell (1996-98); Glenn Hoffman (1998) and Davey Johnson (1999-2000). 

A sunny day on the Allegheny

Lots of reunions down on the field today. It’s a little chilly, but the sun is out and PNC Park is ready for its Opening Day 2006.

It’s funny, we’ve hit so few homers this year that Grady said before the game he could actually remember the last four – Dioner Navarro yesterday, J.D. Drew back in L.A., Sergio Garcia’s walk-off shot on the last day in Vero Beach and Brett Tomko’s in Port St. Lucie during the second-to-last day of the Grapefruit League. At least we’ve all got a sense of humor about it, knowing that with a team that has Jeff Kent, Drew, Nomar and Jose Cruz, we’ll hit our share of homers this year.

Anyway, today’s lineup is: Furcal, SS; Repko, CF; Cruz, LF; Kent, 2B; Saenz, 1B; Ross, RF; Navarro, C; Martinez, 3B; Perez, P

Touchdown in Pittsburgh – Josh Rawitch

No, I’m not talking about Antwaan Randle El’s Superbowl pass…we just landed in Pittsburgh and it’s only 11 p.m. Not bad, considering there were two games today.

First off, kudos to the reader who noted the incorrect factoid on our last double header. We actually played one at the end of the ’03 season in San Francisco. We caught that mistake just before KCAL went on the air today, so hopefully no one got too confused. Still, double headers are pretty rare for West Coast guys like me, so keeping track of them is a little confusing.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have had great success here in Pittsburgh over the last six years, but Jim Tracy has now swtiched sides in this "rivalry," so we’ll see how that affects things. It will be an interesting series, as Trace made a lot of friends with the Dodgers over the years and we’re all looking forward to seeing him, John Shelby, Jim Lett and Jim Colborn.

In fact, it’s actually a little strange how similar the personalities of Trace and Grady are. They’re both extremely well-respected, down-to-earth guys who got to their positions through good old fashioned hard work. I feel privileged to have worked with both of them and I know I speak for a lot of people in the Dodger organization when I say that we all wish him and the Pirates well. Just not when they’re playing the Dodgers!

Freezing in Filly

It’s cold outside, but the sun is shining and as Ernie Banks would say, "Let’s play two."

Lineup for game one is the same as yesterday. Furcal, Cruz, Drew, Kent, Loney, Mueller, Repko, Navarro, Lowe.

For Game 2, Kent will get the game off and Martinez will play second base. Cruz will move to center field and Ricky Ledee will get the start in left field. Sandy Alomar Jr. will catch the second game of the double header.

Tomorrow, Grady said that if all goes as planned, Martinez will play third and give Bill Mueller the day off. J.D. Drew will also get the day off and Cody Ross will get the start, as will Olmedo Saenz in place of James Loney.

Here are some notes on double headers and Fernandomania.

DOUBLE DIP HISTORY – The Dodgers have not played a double header since Aug. 25, 2000 at Chicago when they won both games against the Cubs. The Dodgers’ last double header in Philadelphia was July 15, 1994 when the two teams split a twin bill at Veteran’s Stadium. In fact, splits seem to be the norm, as the Dodgers are 3-3-10 in their last 16 double dips.

SEEING DOUBLE – Though the Dodgers have not played a twin bill in more than five years, the phenomenon is not that rare. Since 1990, they have played 16 double headers, including three in 1991 and four in 1992. The 1992 double dips were due to the riots in Los Angeles from April 30 – May 3, which postponed a three-game series against Montreal and one game against the Phillies. The Dodgers proceeded to play four double headers in a span of six days, including three straight days against the Expos from July 6-8, 1992 at Dodger Stadium.

DOUBLE DUTY FOR NEWK – The last Dodger pitcher to start both games of a double header was Don Newcombe on Sept. 6, 1960 at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium. In the first game, Newcombe blanked the Phillies, 2-0. Newcombe pitched seven innings in the second game and received a no-decision in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory.

…AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM – Today marks the 25th anniversary of the start of Fernandomania. On this date in 1981, Fernando Valenzuela made an Opening Day start in place of Jerry Reuss (both men are now Dodger broadcasters). Valenzuela responded with a complete game shutout and sparked an international phenomenon en route to a world championship. Coincidentally, that game came on the fifth birthday of another Mexican Dodger, Oscar Robles, who turns 30 today. Robles is 4-for-11 this year for Triple-A Las Vegas.