Dodgers Web musings: Somehow there are still things unknown about the rise of Fernando Valenzuela
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Out there on the Web, three days from the season opener:
-- The Times’ Jerry Crowe shows there are yet elements to the legend of Fernando Valenzuela that are little known.
-- The Times’ Dylan Hernandez looks at infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr., who may at least open the season as the Dodgers’ starting second baseman.
Here’s hoping he makes the best of it, it would solve several problems.
-- Hernandez also profiled newbie manager Don Mattingly and told how the Dodgers were responding to his relative youth (relative to Joe Torre, anyway) and his enthusiasm.
-- Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal tweets that reliever Lance Cormier, who did not want to accept a minor-league assignment, has made the club.
That likely puts an end to Scott Elbert’s immediate chances of starting the season on the roster, leaving Hong-Chih Kuo as the bullpen’s lonely lefty.
-- 2011 predictions are rolling in, and Rosenthal also has the Dodgers pegged at third, their popular preseason designation.
-- LA Dodger Talk’s Mark Timmons thinks Jonathan Broxton would benefit by being a tad bolder about his pitching inside.
-- Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness’ Mike Petriello offers his updated prediction on the Dodgers’ opening 25-man roster.
-- Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verdicci (via Sons of Steve Garvey) notices that only two of the top-20-selling baseball jersey’s are from players on the West Coast (both Giants) and wonders if that’s not because there are no premier sluggers out here.
-- Vin Scully Is My Homeboy’s Roberto Baly offers up a sampling of his favorite team TV commercials.
-- Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick said Vicente Padilla could be a month ahead of schedule in returning from his February arm surgery after throwing off the mound Sunday. Since he’s returning as a reliever, he could be back within weeks.
-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson said the Dodgers at least broke camp Sunday with a sense of harmony and purpose.
-- And because you know how we worry about your waistline: NBC Los Angeles’ Jonathan Lloyd said a ‘Doyer Dog’’ will debut at Monday’s game at Dodger Stadium against the Angels. It boasts chili, nacho cheese, chopped tomatoes, onions and jalapeños. You bring the Rolaids.
And, sadly, say goodbye to Canter’s Deli. It has been replaced by Dodgertown Deli, which is apparently airlifting its pastrami in from Vero Beach, Fla.
-- Steve Dilbeck