Category: Dailies
Kim Ng Leaving Dodgers
Kim Ng, Dodgers vice president and assistant general manager, is leaving the franchise to become senior vice president of baseball operations with MLB, according to a baseball source. The Dodgers could not confirm the report. Before joining the Dodgers 10 years ago, Ng was vice president and assistant general manager of the Yankees, where she worked with former Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who recently was hired by MLB as executive vice president of baseball operations. — Ken Gurnick
Loney has MRI on Knee
Dodgers first baseman James Loney is having an MRI on his left knee after experiencing stiffness following Friday night’s game, manager Don Mattingly said Saturday. Loney first felt discomfort Thursday while stretching, Mattingly said, but added that the injury is believed “minor because he “has no pain.” “It seems minor, he played last night and had no pain,” Mattingly said. “He knows his body. It’s precautionary, so he knows how to deal with it. Once you know what it is, you can strengthen other areas.” Loney had knee issues in high school, but nothing to impact playing time since the Dodgers drafted him in the first round of 2002. — Ken Gurnick
Kershaw Signs Contract
Opening Day starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract for 2011. Kershaw earned $440,000 last year and will not be eligible for salary arbitration until after this season, when his salary figures to multiply. However, with his current service time of two years and 105 days, he had no leverage in negotiations. He received $404,000 in 2009. The Dodgers payroll this year will be approximately $115 million, up from $95 million last year. — Ken Gurnick
Dodgers Sunday Lineup
Furcal, SS
Blake, 3B
Ethier, RF
Kemp, CF
Uribe, 2B
Loney, 1B
Thames, LF
Gimenez, DH
Barajas, C
Ely, P
Padilla Returns
Vicente Padilla, who underwent surgery Thursday on his throwing arm, returned to Camelback Ranch-Glendale Saturday to begin his rehab and said he hopes to be pitching for the Dodgers by May 1. Padilla had surgery to release a radial nerve entrapped in a muscle in his forearm, a very rare injury for a pitcher. He had a bandage covering a three-inch scar from the bottom of his elbow down and across his forearm, covered in a gauze sleeve, with a removable sling.
“I’m relieved, because I’m sure I can come back 100 percent,” said Padilla, who added that he’s had discomfort for three years. “It feels better.” — Ken Gurnick
Redding Still Pitching
Non-roster pitcher Tim Redding, sick on Friday, is still expected to make the start Saturday against the Giants in Scottsdale. — Ken Gurnick
Today’s Dodgers Lineups
At Giants:
Gwynn, CF; Carroll, SS; Loney, 1B; Barajas, C; Thames, DH; Paul, LF; Kapler, RF, DeJesus, 2B; Denker, 3B.
At Angels:
Hoffman, CF; Navarro, C; Ethier, RF; Kemp, CF; Gibbons, DH; Mitchell, 3B; Sands, 1B; Sellers, 2B; Castro, SS.
Padilla Surgery Goes Well
Pitcher Vicente Padilla could be throwing in three to four weeks after undergoing surgery Thursday to release an entrapped radial nerve in his throwing arm. Doctors found what they expected in the brief operation, making a small incision to release the nerve from a muscle. Padilla, who had the surgery in Los Angeles, will return to the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch-Glendale complex Friday to begin his rehab. Padilla has been bothered by the nerve for years and missed two months last year after bruising the nerve. — Ken Gurnick
Throwback Voting Ends Thursday
Fan voting ends Thursday for the Brooklyn uniform the Dodgers will wear in six Throwback home games this year. Fans can vote for one of three uniforms — the 1911 road uniform, the 1931 road uniform and the 1940s alternate road uniform. To vote, click http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/fan_forum/throwback.jsp.
— Ken Gurnick
Yeager a Guest Instructor
Steve Yeager, a Dodgers catcher for 14 of his 15 Major League seasons, is in camp as a guest catching instructor. Yeager previously served as a hitting coach in the Dodgers’ Minor League system. — Ken Gurnick