The Dodgers came into spring training with a fairly set roster, with 12 of their 13 position player spots on the opening day roster already accounted for, barring injury. It appears the race for the one open bench spot is between four players.
OF/1B Jerry Sands is probably the front runner for the remaining spot, though manager Don Mattingly said the competition was wide open. Sands, 24, hit 64 home runs across three minor league levels over the last two seasons, but he also has just 91 games played at Class AAA.
For Sands to win a spot on the major league roster, there will need to be enough at-bats for him as not to hinder his further development, with the alternative being playing every day in Class AAA.
Mattingly has expressed an interest in benching first baseman James Loney and right fielder Andre Ethier occasionally against left-handed pitchers, though not a straight platoon involving the two left-handed hitters. Sands would presumably get his at-bats filling in for Loney or Ethier, or perhaps Juan Rivera, who will be rested once or twice a week.
If there aren't enough at-bats to keep Sands on the big league roster, non-roster invitee Josh Fields, 29, might be the favorite among the remaining options. Fields, who has traversed back and forth between the majors and minors since hitting 23 home runs for the White Sox in 2007, was signed to a minor league deal.
"He has had success in the big leagues," Mattingly said of Fields. "You know he's not going to be overwhelmed by the situation."
The other two options for the final bench spot are both on the 40-man roster, and provide a contrast in offense vs. defense. Justin Sellers, 26, made his major league debut last season and is versatile defensively, able to play second base, shortstop, and third base.
Ivan DeJesus Jr., 25, was once a top prospect before breaking his leg in a B game in spring training in 2009 but has been passed over for a September callup in each of the last two seasons.
"Ivan can really hit. The problem is finding where (to play him) and how does that fit in with us," Mattingly said.
NOTES, QUOTES
Scully trims travel schedule
--Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will further slice his travel schedule for the 2012 season.
The 84-year-old Dodgers announcer will now call road games in California -- San Diego, San Francisco and a June interleague series at Oakland -- and will go to Arizona. He won't travel to Colorado or to Seattle for a June interleague series.
"There really is no big reason," Scully told reporters Saturday night. "I just wanted to back off a little bit more on the travel. That is basically it. I remember telling (soon-to-be former owner) Frank McCourt years ago, I said I would like to disappear like a Cheshire Cat, where all of a sudden, the only thing left is a smile. Well, this is just a little bit of that disappearing going on, and as long as they are allowing me to do it, then why not?"
In his 63rd season with the Dodgers, Scully will still call more than 100 games this season.
--1B James Loney was held out of the starting lineup for three spring training games with tightness in his calf, which also held him out of workouts for two days. Loney returned to the practice fields on March 15, and was back in the starting lineup on March 16.
--LHP Clayton Kershaw struck out six in four scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers on March 14, and didn't allow a run over seven innings in his first two spring starts. The southpaw also flew to Los Angeles March 15 to accept his 2011 Los Angeles Sportsman of the Year Award from the L.A. Sports Council.
--OF Andre Ethier had six extra-base hits in 20 plate appearances in his first eight games of Cactus League play.
--RHP Matt Guerrier experienced back tightness that has kept him out of workouts and off a mound since March 12.
--RHP Todd Coffey, who has pitched in relief throughout his MLB career but has not had a hit in seven career at-bats, singled on March 15 against the Kansas City Royals for the Dodgers' first hit by a pitcher this spring.
--OF Scott Van Slyke, OF/2B Alex Castellanos, OF Alfredo Silverio, 3B Russ Mitchell, LHP Michael Antonini, RHP Chris Withrow, RHP Josh Wall, RHP Stephen Fife, and RHP Scott Lindsay were the first cuts of the spring for the Dodgers, as all nine players were sent to minor league camp on Mar. 15, trimming the roster in big league camp to 53.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- The number of ownership groups reportedly remaining after meetings with the MLB ownership committee. The groups are led by NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten; Hedge fund investor Steven Cohen and former agent Arn Tellem; St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke; and Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I didn't see the parachute come out and I was a little nervous." -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, on standing on the mound waiting for burly reliever Todd Coffey, who sprints in at full speed from the bullpen when he is called into a game.
