Lowe-down for Strong Spring to Gain Job

The Dodgers signed reliever Mark Lowe to a minor-league contract last Friday, but it isn’t stopping him from fighting hard toward gaining a spot on the team’s major league roster.

Lowe, 29, is looking to join a stacked bullpen that includes the likes of Brandon League, Kenley Jansen and Ronald Belisario. It’s sort of a who’s who of the best relievers in baseball.

In his arsenal are a mid-90s fastball, a slider and a circle change, which have helped Lowe to a 3.94 career ERA in seven seasons with the Mariners and Rangers.

Winning teams are made up on winning players, and Lowe has been to two World Series while with the Rangers in 2010 and 2011.

Should he not make the big-league roster, Lowe can opt out of his contract on March 31, which is certain to happen if he gets an opportunity to pitch elsewhere.

Hanley Aiming to Play Shortstop

When Hanley Ramirez moved back to shortstop last season, he had no intentions of leaving his natural position, although he would be open to it now.

With the ability to move Ramirez to third base at any given moment, the Dodgers could be tempted to return Dee Gordon as the team’s shortstop.

While Ramirez feels the challenge of returning to shortstop from third base, but he says his range is coming back to him.

Instead of continuing his workout regimen in the Dominican Republic during winter ball, Ramirez bruised his shoulder in a plate collision. It held him to only two games played.

He is expected to share third base duties with Adrian Beltre during the upcoming World Baseball Classic, with former teammate Jose Reyes playing shortstop once again.

If it means winning a championship, Ramirez will do whatever it takes, even if it’s returning to play third base for the Dodgers.

Kemp: Team’s Chemistry Will Be Good

Matt Kemp responded to a comment made by Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who says the Dodgers can not buy team chemistry.

“Exactly,” Kemp said to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com about Belt’s tweet. “If I was the World Series champ, I don’t have to say anything about somebody else’s team. I’m not worried about our chemistry. I keep hearing we don’t have any. I can tell our chemistry will be good. We built it at the end of the year, so I don’t care what people say or how they feel.

Kemp says that chemistry is about playing with his teammates. If everybody wants to win, what’s the problem?

He enters camp 12 pounds lighter than he was a year ago, stating that the extra weight might help him to slug more home runs. Obviously it wasn’t the case.

He’s still two pounds lighter at 208 than he was in 2011 when he hit 39 home runs and stole 40 bases. But don’t expect a prediction from Matt, he’s keeping quiet on that front.

The one thing he is saying though, he will remain as physical as ever on the field.