Dodgers camp report
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Los Angeles Dodgers:
1. Jason Schmidt's rehabilitation from shoulder surgery continues, albeit without a timetable. "I'd like to be ready on opening day," said Schmidt, who was 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA last season in the first year of a three-year, $47 million deal that so far ranks as general manager Ned Colletti's worst move. "Is that realistic? I don't know. Probably a couple weeks into spring training we'll figure it out."
2. All-Star catcher Russell Martin spent part of a second consecutive offseason in Phoenix training at the Athletes' Performance Institute. "I knew what I was doing this year," said Martin, in what could be a scary hint to opponents. Martin last season batted .293 with 19 homers, 87 RBI and 21 steals. "Russell looks great," Colletti said. "He looks better than he did at any time last season."
3. Most interesting position battle this spring sets up at third, where creaky veteran Nomar Garciaparra will attempt to hold off hard-charging prospect Andy LaRoche. Garciaparra's power diminished significantly last year, when he hit only seven homers in 121 games. The Dodgers say they have no preconceived notions going into camp. "We're open-minded," Colletti said. "I don't have to view it with any slant right now. Let's see how it goes."
4. Right now, the Dodgers have a surplus of outfielders and are talking like they might keep it that way. Juan Pierre will move to left field because of Andruw Jones' presence in center, though Andre Ethier could win the left field job. Meantime, Matt Kemp will play right, unless Ethier wins that job and Pierre earns playing time in left. Best bet? Jones in center with Ethier moving through left and right field while Pierre and Kemp share time at the corners, too. Manager Joe Torre already has talked to Jones about not trying to prove too much. "I've mentioned to him that he's shown us enough, we have enough of a sample," Torre said. "We know what he's capable of doing."
5. The Dodgers have 35 pitchers in camp even though there are few open jobs. Why? Because of their exhibition games with San Diego in China on March 15 and 16. It's part of baseball's outreach into China, and the Dodgers intend to send three or four position players from their lineup but leave their rotation home so the starters don't lose crucial work time and fall behind. They'll send a squad to China while the rest of the club remains in Florida through March 17. Then the Florida contingent will meet the Dodgers returning from China in Arizona, and the Dodgers will train in Arizona for the spring's final 10 days. So not only is this their final spring in Vero Beach after 60 years, they're turning out the lights early on the complex in mid-March.
#1TrojanSoldier 
