The Trolley Dodger

51s Roster, also available as a PDF. If you’re in Vegas this Friday, you might try to get to the game for Russell Martin Bobblehead Night.

Russell Martin Bobblehead Night will be presented on Friday, April 4 at Cashman Field. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a “Martin Bobblehead” in a 51s uniform. The 51s will host the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at 7:05 p.m.

Suns Roster

“2008 Jacksonville Suns Roster Announced”

The 2008 Suns are fielding two top pitching prospects who each saw time in Jacksonville in 2007: right-hander James McDonald and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. McDonald, a 2002 draft selection, is considered to have the best curveball in the Dodgers minor league system. He posted 64 strikeouts in just 52 innings and carried a 1.71 ERA for the Suns in 2007 and will start for the Suns on Opening Day. Kershaw, a first round pick in the 2006 draft, is considered to have the best fastball in the Dodgers organization, along with a drop-off-the table curveball. He finished the season in Jacksonville after posting stellar numbers at Single-A Great Lakes last year, his first full professional season. The 20-year-old Kershaw has been projected as a starter for the Dodgers as early as this season.[...]

Loons Roster

“Loons’ Opening Day Roster Set”

The Great Lakes Loons, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Dodgers, have released the opening day roster for the second season of Loons baseball. The roster is highlighted by nine players who played for the Loons in 2007 returning to action at Dow Diamond and six players ranking in Baseball America’s Top 30 prospect list.

As the Dodgers wrap up Spring Training with a lovely shutout of the Red Sox this afternoon, not to mention an amazing event yesterday, I thought I’d look back in the Trolley Dodger archives to March 2007 to see what was in the news one year ago. Always an interesting exercise.

On 3/25/07, old friend Brett Tomko had won the fifth starter’s spot: “Tomko on tap-ko”. I compared the 2007 rotation to 2006’s as of opening day. Here’s this year as well:

2008

1. Brad Penny
2. Derek Lowe
3. Chad Billingsley
4. Hiroki Kuroda
5. Esteban Loaiza

2007

1. Jason Schmidt
2. Derek Lowe
3. Brad Penny
4. Randy Wolf
5. Brett Tomko

2006

1. Derek Lowe
2. Brad Penny
3. Odalis Perez
4. Brett Tomko
5. Jae Seo

We’ve come a long way.

Happy news and sad news. 3/28/07 — Nomar and Mia’s twins were born (happy belated one-year birthday!). “Captain, there be twins here!”. 3/29/07 Charley Steiner lost his mother, Gertrude.

Last, but not least, was an investigative report on how the Great Lakes Loons were standing up for all that is holy and good, in “Are the Loons fighting evil from Indiana?”

Yesterday, the Great Lakes Loons website had the curious notice that there would be an important announcement during the second inning of today’s game.

Well, it looks like that announcement was that they would be hosting next year’s Midwest League All-Star Game, which is a nice showcase for the club and their new field, Dow Diamond.

“We are extremely intrigued at the prospect of hosting the brightest prospects in the league during next year’s mid-season classic,” said Loons President and General Manager Paul Barbeau. “To have this honor of being named the host facility for next year’s game is a testament to our first-rate facility (Dow Diamond), to the city of Midland and the entire Mid-Michigan region. Most importantly, to the great support we’ve received from our fans. This is an honor that we can all share.”

Congrats to the Loons! I still need to get a pennant or cap.

The inevitable player movement up and down the minors hierarchy is starting to take place. One of the Great Lakes Loons (Low A) pitchers is heading up to the IE 66ers (High A). I’ll have to keep an eye out for his next start in San Berdoo, because he sounds awesome:

Francisco Felix, the Midwest League’s leader in Earned Run Average (0.76), has been promoted by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ to the club’s High-A affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino, CA. Felix becomes the first member of the Loons to receive a promotion by the Dodgers.

With his dizzying array of off-speed pitches and multiple arm angles, Felix allowed just three earned runs in 35 1/3 innings and did not allow any earned runs in 20 1/3 innings as a reliever. He struck out 35 batters during his time with Great Lakes and limited opponents to a .158 average. Felix, along with Loons left-hander Clayton Kershaw, was named the Dodgers’ Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month for April.

And of course, as the Big League roster gets set, so do the others in the hierarchy. Here are links to the roster info on the minor league teams, although not all have been updated completely yet — probably after the weekend.

AAA: Las Vegas 51s roster

AA: Jacksonville Suns roster

A (High): Inland Empire 66ers (not posted yet)

A (Low): Great Lake Loons press release

Rookie: Ogden Raptors roster (not updated)

Rookie: GCL Dodgers (not updated)

Earlier today, I happened upon the website for the South Bend Silver Hawks, rivals of the Dodgers-affiliated Great Lakes Loons. In fact, they are opening the season against each other on April 5th.

The Silver Hawk site has a Flash intro animation. Now, Flash intros as a general rule…what’s the word I’m looking for…ah yes: suck. This one, however, is even more pernicious. Below is a screenshot, but it does not begin to cover the malevolence of the original.

It’s impossible to do it justice with words — go check it out. I feel compelled to support the Loons now, if they’re fighting off menacing demons from Indiana.

The new uniforms for the Great Lakes Loons have been unveiled on their website. You can pick up merchandise in their online store. I might have to grab a pennant for my cubicle.

I love the Loon’s expression. :)

If you’re in Saginaw, Michigan, stop by the Loon Loft at the Fashion Square Mall. And it looks like the new Dow Diamond construction is coming along nicely.