by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

(Final: Angels 7 Dodgers 7)

GLENDALE AZ–Camelback Ranch is a huge Spring Training facility is shared by the LA Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. It is all owned by the Pima Indian Tribe, including the Talking Stick Casino just across the 101 freeway. Anything you buy at these parks at Camelback Ranch, you do not have to pay taxes, courtesy of the ownership by the Pima Indians. A lot of real estate here in the Valley of the Sun, owned by Pima Native Americans, that is one of the advantages, not to mention that a gallon of gasoline here is just a bit over $2 dollars. Locals tell me that the Talking Stick Casino is the best around here, and there are a bunch of them. I went there last year, not on this trip, they do have a great gambling floor and very good professional entertainment and buffets.

This afternoon the Dodgers played the Angels. The rivalry between these Southern California teams is bigger than ever before. In the huge Los Angeles media market, the Dodgers and Angels have partnered on a billboard in
Hollywood to celebrate the 2014 Most Valuable Player Awards of Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout, with the script “Is your MVP Red or Blue?” Then a hashtag so you can send a twitter.

Prior to the game today inside the Dodgers dressing room there was a very nice blue and white cake, celebrating the 27th birthday of Clayton Kershaw. The #1 hurler in baseball turned 27 today. Kershaw is the only pitcher in MLB history to have won three Cy Young Awards before his 27th birthday. Even Tommy Lasorda was in full Dodgers regalia today for the occasion. He was well received by the fans, and that is the usual protocol with Tommy and the fans, unless the Dodgers are playing the Giants.

The game was a sellout, but there were a lot of empty seats. It rained all morning leading to the game, it has been raining here since Tuesday. The game did started on time at 1:04 with a temperature of 64 fahrenheit, and cloudy skies, in previous days this week it has been in the mid 90’s. Ex-A’s ace lefty Brett Anderson is trying to make the Dodgers rotation, and started the game today. He has not been hurt in Spring Training and that is breaking news since this guy has lived in the 60 days disabled list with clubs in both leagues. Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the spring, in the first inning with a 2-2 count from Anderson. The shot went almost all the way to the last row of the left centerfield stands. After the game Anderson said “I threw him a fastball over the middle of the plate and he hit it 500 feet, that is what good hitters do with that pitch”.

For the Angels, ex-Marlin lefty Andrew Heaney got the start and after retiring the three first Dodgers in the first, allowed five runs and six hits in the second. He is a long shot to make the rotation as the fifth starter for the American League Champion Los Angeles Angels. Some of the hottest hitters on these two Los Angeles clubs, for the Angels Mike Trout continues his torrid hitting, today one more hit, he has a .500 average, Albert Pujols after that home run is at .357, lead off hitter Kole Calhoun, born in Buckeye, Arizona not far from this park, is also having a nice spring hitting .357, he is one of those “old school “lead-off hitters, takes lots of pitches, knows the strike zone and gets on for the big boys that hit behind him, Trout and Pujols. For the Dodgers second baseman Jason Turner went 2 for 2 and is hitting .423. Ex Angel Howie Kendrick is the Dodgers regular second baseman, but he, as well as veteran shortstop Alameda’s Jimmy Rollins did not play. Also for the Dodgers, Cuban rookie Alex Guerrero hit a very impressive home run to left field with two runners on, in the second inning.

Tomorrow the Dodgers visit the Athletics at Mesa. I will be at that game, very early to see Bob Melvin and his A’S take practice. On Saturday the Dodgers visit Tempe to play the Angels, and I shall be there for that game. Since I will be doing Angels TV and A’s Radio again, I chose to cover those two teams. Arturo(Arte) Moreno, the Angels owner is in town, he is an Arizona native.

Media Notes: The LA Angels are the only team among all 30 Major League teams that televise every Spring Training game, they do a simulcast on Fox Sports TV and KLAA 830 AM Angels radio, Terry Smith play by play man and Jose Mota as Analyst, who once the regular season gets under way will be back as analyst with me on the Fox Sports West telecast. This Sunday’s game from Tempe, Arizona between the Angels and the Giants will be televised on Comcast Bay Area for Northern California.

The Cuban Connection: At today’s game in Camelback Ranch in Glendale, there were four Cubans in the press box(which is unusual in this part of the country).There was Alanna Rizzo, she works for Time Warner and handles all Dodgers pregame shows, Pedro Gomez(ESPN analyst),Alden Gonzalez, beat writer MLB.COM covering the LA Angels and yours truly. Alden, the youngest of the quartet, could not resist the occasion and took a selfie with all of us.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week on http://www.sportsradioservice.com