Category: Dailies

Broxton’s Tight Schedule

Jonathan Broxton, penciled in as the replacement for closer Takashi Saito, will probably have three opportunities to face hitters before he leaves Camelback Ranch-Glendale March 1 for World Baseball Classic competition, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. Broxton is tentatively set to pitch in Monday’s intrasquad game. Honeycutt said Team USA pitching coach Marcel Lachemann plans for no reliever to pitch on back-to-back days. — Ken Gurnick

Furcal to Rest, Schmidt to Pitch

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he plans to give Rafael Furcal a day off a week early in the season to avoid overworking the shortstop, who is coming off back surgery.

Torre also said Jason Schmidt is tentatively scheduled to pitch Monday in an intrasquad game and next Friday in a “B” game against the Chicago White Sox. That would put Schmidt way ahead of last year, when he suffered a quick setback in the Spring and never faced batters coming off his first shoulder surgery, then required a second procedure in September. — Ken Gurnick

 

Furcal Reports

Shortstop and leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal reported to Camelback Ranch-Glendale for Thursday’s first full-squad workout, saying he’s healthy and hoping the Dodgers sign Manny Ramirez to drive him in. Furcal said he hasn’t spoken to Ramirez since the season ended. He said playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic reassured him that his surgically repaired back is fully healed. Despite missing most of last season with a bulging disk, the free agent received a three-year, $30 million contract to stay with the Dodgers. — Ken Gurnick

Torre on Retirement

Joe Torre, entering the second year of a three-year contract, said he plans to retire as a manager after next season.

“I don’t envision going beyond this contract managing,” said the 68-year-old Torre.

He said he hoped to remain in the game in some capacity.

“I don’t think I’ll disconnect from baseball,” he said. “I hope somebody will deem me useful.”

— Ken Gurnick

Torre on A-Rod

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he caught news reports of Alex Rodriguez’s Tuesday press conference, but was on the practice field as it took place and hasn’t seen a complete replay. He deflected a question about the controversy impacting his former Yankees team.

“That’s run-of-the-mill stuff,” he said. “I don’t want to make light of it, it’s very serious, but as far as distractions go there, they have it on a regular basis.”

As for Rodriguez’s situation, Torre remained supportive.

“I just know how important his baseball is ot him and I hope he handles it allright,” he said. “When you see how many players and staff were there, that’s what the Yankees are all about, they’ll all help.” — Ken Gurnick

Wade’s Shoulder Sore

Dodgers reliever Cory Wade reported a sore shoulder and had a cortisone injection Wednesday that will sideline him several days, but manager Joe Torre said the condition wasn’t serious enough to warrant an MRI.

“We caught it early,” said Torre. “It’s in the same place as last year when he went on the DL. He’s down for a few days.”

Wade was a surprise last year, not even making the Opening Day roster, but became an unsung rookie workhorse that led the bullpen with 71 1/3 innings pitched. But he also missed 18 games in August with shoulder inflammation. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers Talking to Hudson

The collapse of the free-agent market has dropped second baseman Orlando Hudson’s contract demands to a level that interests the Dodgers, and general manager Ned Colletti confirmed Wednesday that talks are ongoing.

Colletti said he has payroll “flexibility” unrelated to efforts to sign Manny Ramirez which Colletti said continue, He added that interest in Hudson does not mean he lacks confidence in Blake DeWitt, who came into Spring Training as the incumbent second baseman after the retirement of Jeff Kent.

“I’m big on inventory,” Colletti said.

Hudson is coming off a season shortened by a broken wrist. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers Spa–Glendale

Not exactly. But manager Joe Torre said one of the “big parts” of moving into an Arizona training facility for the Dodgers is having a year-round base where injured players can rehabilitate, instead of remaining with the Major League club and diverting the medical staff’s attention away from the active roster. Torre said it worked well for the Yankees with their year-round complex in Tampa, Fla. The Dodgers will have a full-time medical coordinator and therapist on site year-round at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

Torre said the tentative plan is to have Jason Schmidt pitch in an intrasquad game Jan. 23. Torre said after watching Schmidt throw two bullpen sessions that he “appears 100 percent healthy.” Schmidt never pitched in a Spring game last year.

The club’s exhibition schedule has three days off, but Torre already decided that’s too many and is trying to add a game March 2.

Torre said he wants to limit Russell Martin to 140 games behind the plate this year, which won’t be much of a breather from last year, when he appeared in 149 games as catcher (138 starts). — Ken Gurnick

Penny vs. Bowa

Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny told Yahoo.com that Dodgers coach Larry Bowa talked about him to other players behind his back last year and Bowa responded with a colorful critique of Penny’s work ethic, body type and leadership skills.

Manager Joe Torre wanted no part of that volleying.

“Let’s get the games started so we have something else to talk about,” Torre said. “I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll write it in my next book.”

General manager Ned Colletti, who paid Penny $2 million to leave rather than $9.25 million to stay, was equally evasive.

“I choose not to respond,” said Colletti. “I choose to wish him well.” — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers, Ethier Avoid Arbitration

The Dodgers and outfielder Andre Ethier reached a settlement on a one-year contract for $3.1 million just before the scheduled start of an arbitration hearing Tuesday morning.

 

Ethier, who received $424,500 last year without the leverage of arbitration, was seeking $3.75 million this year with the club offering $2.65 million, with the midpoint at $3.2 million. He also received performance bonuses “at very high levels,” according to general manager Ned Colletti.

 

“Neither side was tremendously happy with it, the earmark of a successful agreement,” Colletti said.

 

The start of the hearing was delayed 45 minutes while the two sides negotiated the agreement. — Ken Gurnick