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Michael Grove walked into the Dodgers clubhouse for the first day of spring training much more at ease than he did last spring.
Understandably so when you consider that Grove, who is a Wheeling Park and West Virginia University graduate, spent basically the entire last full month with the big-league club and made a few other spot starts during the course of the 2022 season.
"I definitely feel like I'm more of a part of the team this year after being up for basically the entire last month of the season," Grove said. "I've definitely got better relationships with the guys and I feel like I can talk to the guys on a more personal level to where we can joke around and just be more comfortable in that sense."
That experience not only helped Grove in the clubhouse, but he's certainly hoping that it carries over to what he hopes will be an even more extended stay in the majors this season.
Though Grove admitted it's far too early in camp to know where or what role he will begin the season, it's definitely worth noting that Grove was chosen as the Cactus League opener starter on Saturday.
Beyond that, however, what the remainder of the spring -- workload wise -- and into the regular season looks like for Grove will be decided by Dodgers brass in the coming weeks.
"We've not had any conversations about my role immediately after breaking camp," Grove said. "There five starters probably penciled in (for our rotation), but I am hoping there's a role as a sixth starter or long-relief guy cause early in the season not everyone is ready to go long right off the rip."
Regardless of how it shakes out in the immediacy, Grove isn't going to become frustrated. He's sticking with the plan and if it means going to Oklahoma City, then he'll make the most of the situation.
"If I am told to go to AAA, then so be it," Grove said. "I'll stick with my schedule, continue to work on my stuff and be ready when my name is called."
Grove felt like he was on a pogo stick last season for as much bouncing up and down as he did during the season. He made his Major League debut on May 15 in a spot start against the Phillies.
He was recalled and then appeared on June 2 out of the bullpen against the Pirates and it wasn't until Aug. 29 when he appeared on the mound again for the Dodgers.
"It was a crazy year for me," Grove admitted. "I did a lot of bouncing around and pitched in a lot of different roles. It was a good learning experience though. Obviously, I was super excited to get to the big leagues and those starts should prove to be quite beneficial down the road."
While the Dodgers clearly still look at Grove as a key piece of their future starting rotation, one of the toughest parts for Grove -- and probably any starting pitcher -- is the way in which he had to deal with sudden changes in plans and schedules.
"Obviously, I was used to pitching every fifth or sixth day, but last year it might have been nine days or even four days before an appearance. I could have been gearing up to make a start in AAA and get a call that I was going to the big leagues. It was tough, but at the same time, you simply have to be ready to compete when your number is called."
That's where the mental part of the game becomes key for Grove. Keeping himself in the proper mindset between starts and opportunities will be critical to his long-term viability.
"It was a mental roller coaster last year," Grove said. "I just have to continue to check all of the daily boxes I need to be ready to pitch the day I am called on. There are no excuses. It's definitely tough not being on a consistent schedule, but you simply have to do whatever you have to do to pitch as well as you can."
Obviously, over the course of a 162-game season, there's going to be some unpredictable things that occur with every club's roster, especially in terms of injuries. Entering the spring training schedule, the Dodgers rotation could include the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May.
Grove finished the season with six starts, but only figured in one decision and it was a win against the Cardinals in late September. He worked 29.1 innings and had an earned run average of 4.60. He had 24 strikeouts, but he did yield six home runs.
"I've spent a lot of the offseason just working on my body because I found out last year how that long season feels on a body," Grove said. "I have to make sure I'm in a good place physically."
Grove, who said he got home to the Ohio Valley for a couple of weeks around the holidays, spent the bulk of the offseason in Tampa where he continued to train and work out.
"I started throwing again in early to mid December with some long tossing and then started doing some bullpen sessions in the first two or three weeks of January," Grove said.
SETH'S SCOOPS
UNION LOCAL grad Dan Carrell has been hired as the co-defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina. He had spent last season working with the Michigan Panthers in the USFL.
MONROE CENTRAL grad Kalista Friday, who just completed her freshman season at Defiance College, was named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Newcomer Team. She averaged 8.6 points, led her team in steals with 43 and shot 85% from the line.
BEALLSVILLE grad Ashlie Louden currently has Chatham College in Pittsburgh on the doorstep of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team plays in the PAC championship game Saturday after upsetting top-seeded W&J on Wednesday. Louden is averaging more than 14 points a game to lead the team.
GET TO WesBanco Arena this week if you're looking to fill your sports appetite. The Mountain East Conference Mens and Women's Basketball Tournament takes to the court, starting on Wednesday. There will be four games a day until Sunday's championships games, which are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com