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Dodgers: Thursday morning spring training notebook

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PHOENIX -- Rafael Furcal and Ronnie Belliard reported for spring training Thursday, which is the day by which position players have to check in.

Belliard’s contract won’t become guaranteed unless he weighs in at 209 pounds or less at some point this spring, but the second baseman said that shouldn’t be a problem, estimating that he weighs 210 or 211 pounds now.

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When Belliard was being asked about the clause, locker mate Manny Ramirez expressed his disapproval about it by using a profane term for cow manure.

Cactus League rotation

Vicente Padilla will start the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox on March 5 at Camelback Ranch.

Eric Stults will start the second game, Clayton Kershaw will start the third, Chad Billingsley the fourth and Hiroki Kuroda the fifth.
Giles the jokester

Among the players to report Thursday was outfielder Brian Giles, a 39-year-old non-roster free agent.

Asked what kind of role he envisioned for himself, Giles said, “Probably Manny’s job, play left field.”

Giles, who missed a significant part of last season because of a knee injury, said he is curious to see where he is physically.

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He said retirement is a possibility.

“If I’m physically not able to do it, I’ll walk away,” he said.
-- Dylan Hernandez

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