Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers are changing things up in the second game of the season in Australia, inserting two new players into the lineup and switching up the batting order. Scott Van Slyke is sitting for Mike Baxter and Justin Turner is being replaced by Dee Gordon, but perhaps the most interesting move is the decision to bat Gordon leadoff.
The changes are understandable with a switch in handedness of the opposing starting pitcher (though SVS had a reverse platoon split last year), and I think it’s actually a positive sign for the future if this indicates a new willingness to platoon going forward. Here’s hoping Don Mattingly doesn’t give up on it if a few tries are unsuccessful … and that he doesn’t view players like Baxter as a legit platoon option going forward.
Meanwhile, starter Hyun Jin Ryu has high expectations for his 2014.
“Our one and two starters are so strong, but after Zack Greinke was hurt, I started thinking I might pitch,” said Ryu, who gets the ball for the Dodgers on Sunday against the D-backs. “I had a really good spring, and I feel really good. I have high expectations.”
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Diamondbacks
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Dodgers
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7:00pm PT
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Sydney, Australia
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CF
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Pollock
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2B
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Gordon
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2B
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Hill
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RF
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Puig
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1B
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Goldschmidt
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SS
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Ramirez
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LF
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Prado
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1B
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Gonzalez
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1B
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Trumbo
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CF
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Ethier
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RF
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Montero
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C
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Ellis
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C
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Parra
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LF
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Baxter
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2B
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Gregorius
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3B
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Uribe
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P
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Cahill
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P
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Ryu
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In injury news, Chad Billingsley continues to progress in rehab.
Billingsley said he expects to throw a few more BP sessions against hitters, and he remains on track to make the first of at least five rehab appearances in the Minor Leagues starting on April 6. The right-hander estimates that he has already thrown close to 20 bullpen sessions this year.
“My arm felt good, so that’s definitely good, especially being the first time going full bore with the heater and the first time throwing a hard curveball and changeups,” Billingsley said. “I was a little rusty, but I was very pleased with the curveball. The timing was a little off, but I threw some good pitches, and overall, I’m pretty pleased with it.”
And no, Matt Kemp is apparently not banned from getting hits in minor league games.
Kemp finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in a Triple-A game against the a White Sox.
“I’m getting my work in and getting ready for the season,” Kemp said. “I felt pretty good. Today was a good day.”
Have a feeling the Dodgers are really going to need him in 2014, for better or worse.
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–Carl Crawford‘s fiance gave birth to a baby boy. No complications and he should be ready to go when the Dodgers get back. Congrats to him.
