February 17th, 2020 at 8:05 am 
by Ron Cervenka During his daily pre-workout media briefing on Sunday morning, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was his normal upbeat optimistic self, and with good cause. In addition to his entire contingent of 31 pitchers and five catchers who were due in camp this past Thursday, every position player on his 40-man roster and the 19 non-roster invitees were already there and had been for a week or more; this even though position players weren’t scheduled to officially report until Monday, February 17.
That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news, although you can’t really categorize it as bad news – not yet, at least – is that three days after pitchers and catchers officially reported on Thursday, three of Roberts’ pitchers are already a little dinged up.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
“Jimmy Nelson had a little kind of something I think with the left groin area, but it’s been nothing to… very benign,” Roberts told reporters. “Obviously, [Brusdar] Graterol, today, is going to be with us as far as activities. I think that’s about it”.
…sort of.
Roberts then added this little tidbit:
“Dustin May, I heard, might have had a little something with his side, I’m not sure what side, think his left side, but just kind of keeping an eye on it,” said the Dodgers skipper. “But nothing… you know, obviously where we’re at right now, any kind of hint of anything we’re very… being ultra-cautious, but I think we’re all good.”
Swell.
As for Graterol, the 21-year-old Calabozo, Venezuela native whom the Dodgers acquired from the Minnesota Twins (along with former Dodgers farmhand Luke Raley) in exchange for popular right-hander Kenta Maeda and minor league catcher/third baseman Jair Camargo (and cash), he had been dealing with a cold and had been sent home (in Arizona). He was, however, in the Dodgers clubhouse on Saturday morning, but didn’t begin baseball activities until Sunday.
To be brutally honest, it is – and will continue to be – unfathomable to expect the Dodgers to make it through six weeks of spring training injury-free; especially pitchers. However, with that being said and according to Dave Roberts, the “hint of anything” with Nelson and May is nothing to be concerned about.
…yet.
Play Ball!
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Ground work being laid for a couple of pitchers to start the season on the IL and left behind in AZ for extended spring training.
Not exactly a terrible problem to have, huh?
Nope. Friedman is an expert at using rules to the advantage of the Dodgers, and putting pitchers on the IL during the season perseveres innings that can be used in post season. He is on path to being the best baseball operations leader the Dodgers have had since Branch Rickey
On a personal note, while watching Kershaw’s bullpen on Sunday, I walked up to Andrew to say hello. Not only did he remember me by name, he expressed his condolences to me on the passing of my wife two and a half months ago. I mean, why on earth would he or should he remember me, a lowly blogger, by name, let alone even be aware of or remember my wife’s passing.
I will now go to blows with anyone who bad-mouths Andrew Friedman. Anyone.
Rare combination; outstanding executive and human being. Thanks for sharing.
Sorry to hear about the passing of your wife Ron. Hang in there!
Thanks for the share Ron. AF is all of that IMO as well. and i’m so tired of defending him with these clueless bloggers.
That said, the important part is what you and your loved ones must be going through. One Dodger fan to another, hope you can celebrate her life and the bond i’m sure you both had. Best wishes….
My deepest sympathy for your loss.
Very sorry to hear about your loss. You can ask Socal, I have defended AF over and over. AF has put the dodgers on a sustainable path to be competitive for a long time.