Ramon Troncoso had a 5.40 ERA in five appearances for the Dodgers last season. (AP)
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Manager Don Mattingly got creative when it came to lining up a Dodgers roster for the two-hour bus ride to Friday's Christina-Taylor Green charity split-squad game with the White Sox.
"It was Tucsonology. We did it right around bracketology time," Mattingly said, borrowing a draft system from the NCAA tournament. "I knew we had to bring 'X' amount off the big league team. A.J. Ellis was first to volunteer. Then I got the magnets and put them on the board in the middle of the clubhouse and made groups by position so we'd have enough infielders and outfielders.
"I didn't want to pick all of them, so I had A.J. make the first choice and he took Dee [Gordon]. Then I had a draw to decide who would pick the next name, and it was Matt [Kemp], and he picked Juan Rivera. Matt thought that was real funny, until Juan picked Matt to go. Mark Ellis had the next draw and he took [Andre Ethier] from their Oakland days. Jerry Hairston had volunteered because his parents live near there and I needed one more, and Rivera picked Tony [Gwynn].
"I thought it would be fun that way. It was right around tournament pool time. I knew they'd laugh and the guys who'd be taken would drop the hammer on somebody else. It was a fun thing. Nobody complained. They've been really good. People really want to see Matt, 'Dre, and it's good to see the top guys want to be involved."
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Dodgers are hoping reliever Ramon Troncoso gets through waivers so they can keep him in the organization, but manager Don Mattingly said he expects the right-hander to be claimed.
"I think so," Mattingly said. "He's durable, he takes the ball, he's a good teammate. If he keeps the ball down, he's filthy. But last year he didn't keep the ball down on a consistent basis."
Troncoso was designated for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for Ronald Belisario, who was required to be moved off the restricted list that day, 30 days after he reported to camp. Belisario still must serve a 25-game suspension at the start of the season.
"We knew Belie had to go onto the 40-man and somebody had to come off the roster," said Mattingly. "We kind of knew Trono was not going to make the club and he was out of options. If he ends up at Triple-A, that's good for us. Honestly, we want guys to be in the big leagues."
Troncoso was competing for the final long-relief spot in the bullpen. That competition now is among Jamey Wright, Josh Lindblom, John Grabow, Angel Guzman, Wil Ledezma, Fernando Nieve and Scott Rice.
According to general manager Ned Colletti, Wright and Grabow have opt-out clauses they can trigger on Sunday, which gives the Dodgers until March 30 to guarantee their Major League salaries or grant their releases.
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