Spring Training has arrived for us here in So-Cal with pitchers and catchers reporting today in Glendale, Arizona ‘aka’ the new Dodgertown. And as with every team this time of year, the hopes and dreams of winning a World Series are fresh in the minds of the new-look Dodgers under rookie skipper Don Mattingly. But as he takes over for the retired Joe Torre with his own refreshing approach and a positive attitude that Dodger fans hope will prove to be contagious, there are many question marks surrounding this team besides how Donny Baseball will run the club with only a few weeks of managerial experience behind him in the recent Arizona Fall League. Remember that the Dodgers are coming off a very disappointing season where they finished at 2 games under .500 and 12 games behind the ‘Hated’ Giants, who really stuck it to ’em with the ultimate last laugh-their first World Series title on the Westcoast. I got the opportunity to meet the Dodgers annual pre-spring training caravan around L.A. and I tried to cover as much as possible with the personable Mattingly about much of what he’s about to face just hours before leaving for his new spring office in the desert, and it’s fun to see Don as THE man in charge from here on…

Don Mattingly:

All the best to Don and to the guys that he used to just coach including Dodger right fielder Andre Ethier and first baseman James Loney who I also got a few minutes with each…

Andre Ethier:

James Loney:

So baseball season is here and the long grind begins for the Dodgers with a pair of split squad spring games on Saturday Feb. 26 against the Angels and Giants and the ‘Hated’ world champs will open the real season at Dodger Stadium with a 4 game series beginning on Thursday March, 31. As always I’ll be covering the local baseballers like a tarp this season so I hope to see you out at the ballpark and don’t be afraid to let the No-Cal guys know how you feel about them winning it all when you’re there. Come to think of it, sometimes it just doesn’t seem right without those ‘Barry Sucks’ chants anymore!