Dodgers' Gordon -- a former Raptor -- wants to follow Larkin's footsteps

LOS ANGELES -- From the seat in front of his locker, Dee Gordon looked up at the television set in the middle of the Dodgers clubhouse.

Barry Larkin, whose election into the baseball Hall of Fame was announced Monday, was being interviewed.

"One day," Gordon said, "I want to feel like he's feeling."

All winter, Larkin has offered Gordon advice on how to get there.

Larkin, a former Cincinnati Reds shortstop, lives in Orlando, Fla. Gordon's father, former major league pitcher Tom Gordon, lives down the street.

Larkin has worked out the 23-year-old Gordon a few times a week at a nearby high school.

Gordon is in Los Angeles this week to work with minor league infielder coordinator Jody Reed at the annual winter development program the Dodgers hold for their top prospects.

Gordon batted .304 with 24 stolen bases in 56 games over two stints with the Dodgers last season.

In recent weeks, Gordon said, he resisted talking to Larkin about the Hall of Fame.

"I didn't want to jinx it," Gordon said. "He's a great dude. You can't get a greater guy selected to the Hall of Fame. I'm pumped for him."

MOUND REBOUND

Rubby De La Rosa pulled up the protective sleeve covering his right elbow, revealing a 6-inch scar.

"It's beautiful, huh?" he said.

De La Rosa, who had a 3.71 earned-run average as a 22-year-old rookie starter last season, said he is confident he will regain the 100-mph fastball he had before he underwent Tommy John surgery in August.

De La Rosa is throwing on flat ground from 60 feet. He said he expects to be throwing bullpen sessions by the end of March and to pitch in a game in early July.

MATTINGLY OPINES ON BRAUN

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he hopes outfielder Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers wins his appeal to overturn his positive drug test.

But if Braun fails to do so, Mattingly said, it "makes sense" to strip him of the National League most-valuable-player award, for which Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp finished second in voting.

"It's not 10 years later," he said of the timing of the test, which was during the playoffs, about a month before the MVP voting was announced. "It's a month later."

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