Dodgers News: Silent Bats, Elbert's Demoted, and Blake is not Back

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Chicago White Sox 6-1, their 16th loss of the spring. Manny Ramirez and Rafael Furcal both had two hits and a walk, and Andre Ethier reached base twice. There were no extra-base hits for LA. Randy Wolf pitched five solid innings before cracking under pressure and allowing four runs in the sixth. Guillermo Mota struck out two to relieve Wolf, and Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless inning.

Doug Mientkiewicz is turning heads in the organization. So much so that he could make the opening-day roster as a backup. Joe Torre has expressed his desire to have versitility on the bench, which helps Mientkiewicz. He can play all corner infield and outfield positions.

The Dodgers optioned Scott Elbert to minor-league camp. Elbert is a left-handed prospect who joined the team last year in mid-season and acted as a reliever. He will be a starter in Triple-A.

Casey Blake was not in today's lineup. He left Arizona on Thursday to go home for the birth of his third child. There is no real timetable for his return, though he is expected to be back by tomorrow.

Clips No Match for Healthy Spurs

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 111-98, their 55th loss of the season. LA could not handle San Antonio's full lineup, including the long-awaited return of Manu Ginobili. The Clips shot .513 from the field, but the Spurs shot .561. San Antonio committed only five turnovers. Mike Taylor started for Baron Davis who was out with the flu, and led the Clippers with 23 points. Marcus Camby sprained his ankle in the first quarter, and is expected to miss one to two weeks. Eric Gordon had 18 points, and Zach Randolph and Al Thornton both added 16. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 18 points, and Ginobili had 14 with 7 assists. Tim Duncan added 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Pau Shines and Kobe Falls in Lakers' Clincher

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets 103-95, clinching the top spot in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs up to the Finals. Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle after getting wrapped up with Devin Harris near the end of the second quarter, but returned in the second-half. New Jersey crept closer to the Lakers, at one point cutting a 22 point deficit to just 3 in the fourth. The Lakers pulled away every time the Nets got close, shooting .471 from the field. Jersey committed 22 turnovers and went 8-for-17 from the charity stripe, contributing to the loss. Pau Gasol had a season-high 36 points to go with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Derek Fisher scored 18 points, and Kobe had 14 with 9 assists, scoring 12 points in the second-half. Vince Carter led the Nets with 20 points, and Harris had 13 with 14 assists.

Dodgers News: Manny's Perfect, Gagne Makes Appearance, and Billingsley has Session

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Kansas City Royals 4-1, their 15th loss of the spring. Hiroki Kuroda pitched more than five innings despite giving up four runs on eight hits. Jeff Weaver struck out the side in his only inning of work. Manny Ramirez had three of the Dodgers' five hits in three at-bats. Doug Mientkiewicz had the only RBI for the team.

Chad Billingsley pitched a full bullpen session and feels fine. Billingsley suffered a strained right groin while pitching in a game. He expects to pitch in a simulated game and still be ready for his April 8th start in San Diego for the regular season.

Joe Torre has decided Manny Ramirez will bat third in the regular-season lineup. Manny will bat cleanup after Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson.

Eric Gagne made a brief appearance at the Spring Training complex today. Gagne is a free-agent recovering from a tear in his right rotator cuff. He signed a minor-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, but was cut due to his consistent health problems.

Kings Stay Alive With Win

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Dallas Stars 1-0 in a shootout, and can still make the playoffs as long as they don't lose. Jonathan Quick had 29 saves for LA, while counterpart Marty Turco had 30. Anze Kopitar put the Kings on the board in the shootout, and after Jere Lehtinen tied the game, Justin Williams scored the winning goal. The Kings have eight games left in the regular season.

Lakers Keep Rolling with Win

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 92-77, keeping them one game behind the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers faced a scare after losing the second quarter 30-14, but came out of halftime to take the third 31-13. Detroit had only 25 points in the first and third quarters combined, shooting just .395 from the field overall. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points, and also grabbed 8 rebounds and had 7 assists. Derek Fisher followed with 15 points, and Lamar Odom had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Will Bynum scored 25 points and had 11 assists off the bench to lead the Pistons in both categories, but Antonio McDyess was the only other Piston to score in double-figures, getting 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Dodgers News: McDonald Shines, Billingsley's Held Back, and Vargas is Sore

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-6, their 13th win of the spring. James McDonald improved his claim to the fifth starter spot with three scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out three. Eric Milton took a step back as he allowed 6 runs on seven hits in less than three innings. Xavier Paul had a three-run triple, and both James Loney and Blake DeWitt had two hits and two RBI's. Juan Castro had two hits, one run scored, and an RBI.

Chad Billingsley will be held back from his scheduled start on Sunday because of a strained groin. Billingsley expects to pitch in a bullpen session on Friday.

Claudio Vargas's elbow became sore after Wednesday's outing. Vargas is a candidate for the fifth starter spot.

Jonathan Broxton and Corey Wade both pitched in simulated games rather than their expected bullpen sessions.

Editor's Note: Clippers Should Enjoy Time

It's over. All over. There's nothing left to play for, except the game. The Clippers have been on a downward spiral since the start of the season that there was never any hope of exiting. But there have been some bright spots. There was the acquisition of Zach Randolph, who has quickly become the star of the team. Al Thornton continues to prosper in his second season. Then there's Eric Gordon. The first-round pick out of Indiana, Gordon has both amazed and astonished everyone who actually pays attention to the Clips. So much so that he deserves some recognition for Rookie of the Year. Chris Kaman returned from a long, painful absence, and Baron Davis and Marcus Camby both are healthy and in top form. The Clips have one of the best lineups they ever had, but they can't enjoy it. With too much pressure to perform and make up for lost time, the Clippers can't gel and get into a rhythm. But in tonight's win against the Knicks, they showed their potential. This is a team capable of killing giants like Boston and Cleveland. But they can't play with those expectations just now. They have to spend the next few games of the season enjoying their time and getting ready for next season. That way, they can become the team that no one can say they saw coming.

Clippers Win in Knick of Time

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the New York Knicks 140-135 in overtime, their 18th victory of the season. New York held a 19-point lead early in the first quarter, but lost nearly all of it heading into halftime, leading only by one. The Clips scored at least 30 points in each quarter after the first, and had a .577 shooting percentage through the entire game, including 10-for-19 from 3-point range. Mike Taylor had his best game of the season for LA, scoring 35 points off the bench, and Zach Randolph had 33 points against his former team. Al Thornton had 21 points and 9 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 19 points. Baron Davis had 13 points and 6 assists. Al Harrington led the Knicks with 38 points, and Wilson Chandler added 22.

Dodgers News: Hitting Gallery, Injury Bug, and Manny's in Left

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Milwuakee Brewers 12-8, their 14th loss of the spring. Andre Ethier had 3 hits and three RBI's, and Orlando Hudson had two hits and a run scored. Russell Martin had a two-run double, and Manny Ramirez had a hit and scored a run. Eric Stults struggled, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks in less than three innings. Claudio Vargas also struggled, surrendering four runs in just one inning of work. Not one of the Dodgers' pitchers had a scoreless outing, giving up a total of five home runs.

More Dodgers have entered the infirmary. Jason Repko left last night's game after feeling a twinge in his left hamstring. A.J. Ellis left the complex after suffering from flu-like symptoms. Delwyn Young's right shoulder flared up, but an MRI showed no damage. Young had his elbow surgically repaired during the offseason.

Manny Ramirez returned to left field for the first time since aggravating his left hamstring.

Kings Sing Blues in Loss

The Los Angeles Kings fell to the St. Louis Blues 2-0, and are now 8 points out of a playoff spot. Both teams were scoreless entering the third period, but St. Louis scored two goals, each from Patrik Berglund. Jonathan Quick made 21 saves for LA, while counterpart Chris Mason had his fifth shutout of the season with 22 saves. The Kings are just 2-9-1 in their last dozen games.

Lakers Thunder Past OKC

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-89, their 56th win of the season. The Lakers shot 50% from the field despite resting their starters for most of the second half. With the extra time, the Los Angeles bench outscored Oklahoma City 39-22. OKC committed 18 turnovers and only went 3-for-18 from three-point range. Kobe Bryant had 19 points in his decreased playing-time, and Lamar Odom scored 18 points. Pau Gasol had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Josh Powell came off the bench to score 14 points, and Luke Walton had 11. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points.

Dodgers News: Manny Being Manny, Schmidt Gets Work, and J-Bro Has Bad Return

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Seattle Mariners 8-6, their 13th loss of the spring. Clayton Kershaw pitched five-and-a-third innings, giving up only two runs and three hits while striking out six. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a scoreless inning. Manny Ramirez had his first home run of Spring Training, and Casey Blake and Brad Ausmus also hit solo shots. Doug Mientkiewicz had a two-run double, and Andre Ethier and Orlando Hudson both hit doubles.

Jason Schmidt and Shawn Estes both pitched in a minor-league game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Schmidt threw three innings and gave up two runs. Estes relieved and allowed two unearned runs in one inning.

Jonathan Broxton returned to camp after spending the last few weeks with Team USA of the WBC. Broxton gave up four runs in less than an inning of work, getting the blown save and the loss.

Since the Brewers will not use the DH rule in tomorrow's game, Manny Ramirez is expected to start in the outfield.

Clippers Unable to Repeat Upset

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Boston Celtics 90-77, their 54th loss of the season. The Clips could not hold on and take the lead as the entered the second half trailing only by two. LA held Boston to just 13 points in the second quarter, but scored only 18 in the first and third and 17 in the fourth. Boston grabbed the win thanks in part to their 7-for-11 shooting from three-point range. Zach Randolph led the Clippers with 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Baron Davis had 13 points and 8 assists. Al Thornton scored 11 points off the bench. Ray Allen led the Celtics with 20 points, and Rajon Rondo had 14 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals.

Dodgers News: Manny's Back, Billingsley's Hurt, and Estes Makes Decision

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 10-4, their 12th loss of the spring. Chad Billingsley was roughed up in his two innings of work, giving up four runs on 4 hits and three walks. Jeff Weaver also struggled, giving up two runs in two innings, including a home run. Scott Elbert pitched a scoreless inning, and Ramon Troncoso was touched for two runs. Of the nine Dodger hits, none were for extra bases. Matt Kemp had two RBI's, and Russell Martin and Andre Ethier both had two hits and a run scored.

Manny Ramirez made his return to the lineup after suffering a left-hamstring injury. Manny played in the DH position, and struck out twice in three at-bats.

Chad Billingsley left the game after he began to feel a mild right groin strain. Billingsley left after pitching two innings, but is not too concerned with the injury.

Mark Loretta also suffered a strained groin three innings after Billingsley suffered his. Loretta is set to make the roster as the team's primary pinch-hitter.

Blake DeWitt joins Billingsley and Loretta as slightly injured. DeWitt took a knee in the right quad muscle after trying to take out Chone Figgins before he could get a clean throw.

Luis Maza returned to the Dodgers' lineup after spending the last few weeks with Team Venezuela in the WBC. Maza had a hit in two at-bats.

Shawn Estes has elected to enter the Dodgers' minor-league camp, where he will pitch as a reliever. Estes has only pitched in relief twice in his career, but sees a golden opportunity to join the club by changing his role. The Dodgers are struggling to find a left-handed pitcher to join the fragile Hong-Chih Kuo in the bullpen. Estes is expected to pitch with the minor-league camp for a few days, then return to the big-league club for the last week of Spring Training.

WBC Semifinal: Japanese Ensure Return Trip

JAPAN 9 - USA 4: Team Japan defeated Team USA to defend their World Baseball Classic title tomorrow against Korea. Japan scored 5 runs in the fourth inning off Roy Oswalt, and to secure their win, scored 3 more runs in the eighth. Brian Roberts hit a leadoff home run off Daisuke Matsuzaka in the first inning, and Jimmy Rollins had four hits, including a triple, and scored a run. David Wright, Ryan Braun, and Mark DeRosa each had a double. Jonathan Broxton did not enter the game for Team USA. Akinori Iwamura had a triple for the Japanese, and Ichiro Suzuki had an RBI and a run scored. Japan and Korea have already played four times, twice in each pool, and have split their matchups, both winning twice.

Clippers Continue to Plummet

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Toronto Raptors 100-76, their 53rd loss of the season. The Clippers shot just .387 from the field, going 29-for-75. Toronto took 100 shots, and out-rebounded LA 57-34, including 12 offensive rebounds as opposed to the Clips' 2. Zach Randolph led the Clippers with 20 points and 7 rebounds, and Steve Novak scored 11 points off the bench. Chris Bosh had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, and Anthony Parker had 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and two blocked shots.

Trojans Near Upset Results in Elimination

The USC Trojans fell to Michigan State 74-69, and were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. USC nearly defeated the second-seeded MSU, but could not take the lead during the second half. The Trojans left at halftime trailing only by three, and shot .404 from the field for the entire game, including just 1-for-10 from three-point range. Dwight Lewis led USC with 19 points, and DeMar DeRozan had 18 points. Daniel Hackett added 13 points and 5 assists. Travis Walton led the Spartans with 18 points.

Kings Lose Ground with Loss

The Los Angeles Kings fell to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1, preventing them from rising in the standings. Patrick Sharp and Martin Havlat both scored two goals for Chicago, who snapped a 5-game winless streak. Drew Doughty scored the lone goal for LA, as the Kings were out-shot 32-15. Jonathan Quick made 28 saves for the Kings, but could not arrive soon enough as two of the Blackhawks' goals were empty-netters. Nikolai Khabibulin made 14 saves for Chicago.

Dodgers News: Hungry Like a Wolf, Estes is Upset, and Manny Might Be Ready

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 11-4, their 12th win of the spring. Randy Wolf pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six. Wolf also had a two-run double and scored a run. Jason Repko had a three-run home run, and Matt Kemp hit a solo blast. Rafael Furcal had a double and two RBI's, and Juan Pierre scored two runs and stole two bases. Guillermo Mota pitched a perfect inning, but Hong-Chih Kuo and Corey Wade struggled; Kuo giving up one run in one inning and Wade surrendering two doubles and a home run.

Shawn Estes is very frustrated with his release. He believes that he still is capable of pitching in the majors, and was somewhat annoyed that Ned Colletti was not present at the meeting that decided his fate. Estes has also shown reluctance at the idea of pitching in Albuquerque for the Dodgers' Triple-A minor-league affiliate, in part because of a crowed rotation and also because of the altitude.

The Dodgers sent five players to minor-league camp after the game. Nick DeBarr, Stephen Randolph, Hector Luna, Valentino Pascucci, and Mitch Jones all were reassigned. Charlie Haegar was reassigned earlier in the day as well.

Manny Ramirez is close to returning to the lineup. He could return as early as tomorrow against the Angels in the DH position. Ramirez has sat out all week with a tight hamstring, taking batting practice but limiting fielding exercises. He is now participating in all practices. There has been no word as to what will become of Manny over the next week as the Dodgers play against NL teams without the DH rules.

Dodgers Offer Estes Ultimatum

The Los Angeles Dodgers cut veteran LHP Shawn Estes from their major-league roster according to Tony Jackson of the LA Daily News. Estes has two options: he can join the Dodgers' minor-league camp and start the season in Triple-A Albuquerque, or he can be released and become a free-agent. The decision came after James McDonald had an impressive outing to put his name up for consideration for the fifth-starter spot. Estes signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers early in free-agency, and competed for the fifth-starter role during Spring Training. However, Estes pitched poorly, and his spring ERA was at 8.44. Estes has not come to a decision yet.

Editor's Note: WBC Needs USA

As USA advances through the World Baseball Classic, more and more heads are turning. Just not enough to give the tournament a real following. While the ratings are sky-high in Korea and the Netherlands, they continue to be abysmal in the States. The lack of real stars on the team is a contributing factor. It's a dark and scary day when the face of America is Kevin Youkilis or Adam Dunn (both above). Players are focused on their teams, not their countries, and while superstars like Ichiro Suzuki play, guys like Ryan Howard sit it out. Injuries are also a factor. Team USA has more hurt men than any other team, and must rotate players around so there are no holes in the field (See Adam Dunn at first base). But for the WBC to survive in America, it needs America. Like with all other championships, nobody wants to watch cinderella-stories and giant-killers. Those teams are often little-know and play basic fundamentals, not flashy-strikeout-homer-strikeout-homer baseball. Just look at the ratings for the World Series with Tampa Bay and Philly, or the 2007 NBA Finals with San Antonio and Cleveland. The WBC needs a big team to stand up and be the face of the tournament, and the US needs to be that big team.

Dodgers' WBC: Korea Headed to Finals

KOREA 10 - VENEZUELA 2: Team Korea knocked off Venezuela to advance to the finals of the World Baseball Classic. Shin-Soo Choo hit a three-run home run, and Tae Kyun Kim had a two-run bomb. Hyun-Soo Kim had three hits. Carlos Guillen hit a solo-homer for Venezuela. Luis Maza did not enter the game. Korea will play the winner of today's Japan/USA game.

Luis Maza is a utility-infielder for the Dodgers