Non-roster invitees to make their cases

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Over the past 10 years, only 12 position players invited to Major League training camp have made the Dodgers' Opening Day roster.

Among them were Olmedo Saenz, who turned it into a four-year pinch-hitting gig, and Ramon Martinez, who is one of the 10 candidates in camp this spring. Martinez pulled it off in 2006 and played well enough to earn a guaranteed contract for '07, but he's back this year fighting for a utility job.

Here's a rundown on the non-roster position players invited to this year's Major League camp:

Danny Ardoin, 33, C: He has the Crash Davis resume of spending at least some time at Triple-A in each of the past nine seasons. He's logged 141 big league games behind the plate for Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Baltimore, and was essentially the Rockies' starter in 2005 until tearing up his knee in a plate collision with Jose Cruz Jr. against the Dodgers. In 2007, he played for three organizations -- Washington, Housto! n and St. Louis.

Angel Chavez, 26, INF: The Panamanian is linked to both general manager Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre, having spent six years in the Giants' system with Colletti and the last two in the Yankees' Minor League system. He played all four infield positions for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year, mostly at third base.

A.J. Ellis, 26, C: Andrew James Ellis is on a return trip to big league camp. He's got a big body (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and is considered a defensive specialist. He started to show some power at the end of last season at Double-A, hitting five of his eight homers in August.

John-Ford Griffin, 28, OF: Anybody who has had Triple-A seasons of 30 and 28 home runs is intriguing, even more so for a 28-year-old former Yankees first-round Draft pick. The left-handed slugger was traded in the Jeff Weaver deal and played in the Blue Jays' organization since 2003. Shoulder problems ruined his 2006 season, but he sa! ys he's healthy now. Last season, he hit .252 with 26 homers a! nd 83 RB Is in 133 games for Triple-A Syracuse.

Gabriel Gutierrez, 24, C: He's smaller than Russell Martin, but he was rated by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the Dodgers Minor League organization two years ago. He was signed by Mike Brito out of Mexico, where he played winter ball after spending the entire 2007 season at Class A Inland Empire. On the organizational depth chart, he seems to have been passed by converted third baseman Lucas May.

By: Debra Gould

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Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and creator of The Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 700+ Graduates worldwide. Deb! ra is the author of two home staging guides and offers a Directory of Home Stagers to help homeowners and real estate agents locate home stagers who will decorate homes to sell quickly and for top dollar. To learn more visit www.stagingdiva.comInternationally recognized home staging expert Debra Go

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