Lasorda for President's Spring Training Report

Xavier Paul misplayed a fly ball that cost a couple runs, by running a horrible route to the ball, if Pierre isn't traded I just don't see him making the squad, but his arm is live! He overthrew the catcher on a play at the plate but I told the guy next to me that it sort of reminded me of Mondesi (not quite but close). Even if Paul doesn't make the squad out of spring his stock price this spring is rising through the roof...could be used for another starter via trade midseason or could develop as a fourth outfielder next year. 

Positive note: JOSH LINDBLOM is legit...watched him warm up and he throws gas! He is a big guy 6'5'' and built to match, but throws well, he was making the Royals look bad, something the other Dodgers failed to do that night making him more impressive to me. He throws a hard fastball 92-94 consistently and he has a nasty slider, but he also threw a splitter that buckled one of the royals for a strikeout (think of Sean Casey v Clayton Kershaw last spring training). He just got called up and I was also able to talk to him Saturday morning...he is still in shock about the call up, we saw him shaking hands with Joe Torre and he said it was the second time he has talked with him...EVER!He looks good, drafted last year with the Dodgers second round pick out of Purdue. He was a starter in college his first couple years and then converted into a closer...he is a hard throwing right hander that will take McD's job that he had in the playoff last year as the seventh inning guy...I SEE HIM SETTING UP BROXTON BY NEXT YEAR! I might be really high on this guy cause the other pitchers I watched on Friday were horrible and he gave us the time of day and talked to us for a couple of minutes, but I'm serious about him setting up Broxton...real sharp with better stuff than Corey Wade.

Saturday Morning Pregame Practice: One of the benefits of being in Arizona for the team is that all the stadiums are pretty close to each other and the team can warm up and take BP at their own yard everyday then hop on a bus and play the game.  We arrived early to watch practice and got there just in time to see every Dodger player and coach in MLB camp...real cool! In a non-sexual way, of course, Don Mattingly is a striking man when standing in front of you! A real presence on the field, with the players and the left hander to throw BP. Torre and Mattingly will only sign autographs for the kids which is cool, Blake Dewitt stopped and signed an autograph for me before practice and seems like a nice guy, he was the first one I got to talk to so I was nervous and had no idea what questions to ask him...my friend still playing ball asked him for advice for someone hoping to be in the Majors and he said, "work you ass off everyday trying to get better."

MANNY WILL BE READY! Watched him take batting practice twice and he hit bombs to left and right-center like he could do it in his sleep. You don't have to run fast when you hit it out of the park! He was doing running drills as well...So don't worry Dodger fans I will guarantee that Manny will be ready. This is preventing him from starting on the 15 day DL which is where he might land if he pushed it. At this pace he can DH and get limited time and he would be just fine on opening day. I got to see Mark McGwire hit bp several year ago and I remember how hard he swing the bat, I couldn't believe how effortless and easy it appeared Manny was swinging. The ball was flying off his bat deep out of the park, and one of the security guys told me that the field was the exact same dimensions as Dodger Stadium.         

Bullpen Session: Clayton Kershaw looks great, his pen was fantastic and to try and watch his curveball with the naked eye is damn near impossible. The ball pulled a now you see it now you don't and I was watching from like I was a runner on first base and he was on the mound...you can watch these guys so close up at Camelback Ranch!!! I talked to him after his pen and got his autograph (he is a real nice guy/kid!) I asked what was different from last year and he said he was more relaxed, better prepared for what is ahead, and looking to have a real good season feeling more relaxed with less pressure. Jason Schmidt threw his pen next to Clayton and this guy will not be pitching this year...IMO. He was throwing his fastball (looked like it was 70 mph next to Kershaw) 59 feet, bouncing most of them and having no location. He looked frustrated. I think he knows he is done. He certainly isn't ready now and it will take a lot of work to make it happen. Honeycutt was with both of them but spent the majority of the time with Schmidt and Jason was shaking his head after a lot of his pitches, it didn't look like he threw a whole repertoire like Kershaw did and he certainly threw less pitches in more time than Kershaw...Weaver threw his pen next but Manny stepped into the cage for live BP...Sorry Jeff but its frickin' Manny!

YOU STIFFED ME RUSSELL! Hate mentioning it, but I asked Russell to sign my catcher's mitt for me (was a catcher in my playing days) and he told me he would after practice...however as soon as they were done all the dodgers walked by including the coaches, including Maury Wills (got his autograph...thanks Maury!)  and the players except Russell, Manny, Furcal, ODawg who all hopped on the back of a golf cart and flew past the crowd, they were the only ones who didn't stop...except Schmidt who almost seemed to be running away as if people were going to chase him like paparazzi.  Thanks to Blake Dewitt, Xavier Paul, Josh Lindblom, Clayton Kershaw, and Maury Wills for their autographs.