Some of the Dodgers Head to Phoenix for Third Spring Game

In the Dodgers’ first away game of their Cactus League schedule, some players will stay behind at Camelback Ranch and continue with workouts and drills. Some of the players who will not be playing today against the Oakland Athletics are: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon, Juan Rivera, Juan Uribe, and Mark Ellis. Those going are A.J. Ellis, FedEx, Wallach, Erickson, Ivan De Jesus, Hairston, Kennedy, Loney, Mitchell, Sellers, Baisley, Cruz, Fields, Zawadzki, Angle, Castellanos, Gwynn, Oeltjen, Sands, Sullivan, Van Slyke, Elbert, Castillo, Guerra, Harang, Jansen, Savage, and Chris Withrow. The game will be held at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, which is about 20 minutes from Camelback Ranch in Arizona.

Aaron Harang is slated to start against the A’s, but he is still recovering from a foot injury. We will see how this affects him out on the mound. Tyson Ross will start for the A’s.

Hairston SS

Gwynn CF

Sands RF

Loney 1B

Mitchell 3B

Kennedy 2B

A.J. Ellis C

De Jesus DH

Sullivan LF

After we were Lillyfied yesterday, I’m left to wonder if the black eye he showed up to Spring Training with (supposedly caused by his brother’s elbow in a basketball) game affected his pitching or not. He said it didn’t. Much like last season, especially during the first half, I’m not looking forward to Lilly’s homerun happy starts. Mattingly shrugged off Lilly’s awful Spring debut, and added that he is notoriously a slow starter. That’s strange, because it seemed to me that his entire first half last season was off to a slow start. I shouldn’t get too down on the five runs he served up in two innings yesterday, since after all it is only March 7th.

Andre Ethier’s homerun against left-handed pitching yesterday and strong Spring start makes me smile and look forward to his season. As you know, Dre is my favorite current Dodger. I realize what his shortcomings were last season due to his knee injury, but I know he will have a strong 2012 and hopefully garner a contract extension. When Dre is healthy and connecting with his beautiful swing, he is so exciting to watch. Don Mattingly said he plans to hit Ethier fourth against right-handed pitching and fifth against left-handed pitchers. So Far Dre has had two hits in four at-bats this Spring (a double and a homerun) and one RBI.

Don Mattingly should feel comfortable at Phoenix Municipal Stadium since he was the manager of the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the 2010 Arizona Fall League.

Manny Ramirez will be on hand to greet the Dodgers to Phoenix as well.