DODGERS : Teams Fly North to Toronto--for the Weather

Why two teams that train in Florida would spend three hours to fly here to play an exhibition is a question that begs an answer.

“Good weather,” reasoned Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president. “The weather in the SkyDome is more predictable than the weather in Florida.”

It was 26 degrees with a mild wind and snow outside when the Dodgers’ split squad and the Blue Jays took the field Friday night. The weather in Ft. Lauderdale, where the remaining squad lost, 6-0, to the New York Yankees, was windy with rain and mud.

In Toronto, 36,209 saw the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays, 11-4.

“At this point in the spring, it’s good for us to get in a major league stadium and under the lights on artificial turf, because this is where we are going to be soon,” Claire said. “It’s a nice change.”

*

The Dodgers continue their search for a left-handed stopper and a solid long reliever. Though left-hander Steve Wilson has pitched consistently, the club has holes in the bullpen.

Claire said there are no major trade discussions going on, but outfielder Tom Goodwin, who has been showcased recently by the Dodgers, was one of only three starters to play the entire game. “Fred told my brother (Hugh Goodwin, also his agent) that there are a couple of teams interested in me, one being the Marlins, but I guess they couldn’t agree on the trade and it fizzled,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin said his brother is calling Claire every other day to inquire about his status.

*

Jose Offerman led off the game with a home run and hit a bloop single to drive in a run before he suffered a sprained right ankle running out a ground ball. He was replaced by Juan Castro, one of several minor leaguers the Dodgers brought along.

Castro was thrilled to play in the SkyDome. “After he hit the ball deep to center field, Juan said to me, ‘Carlos, don’t say anything, but feel my heart,’ ” Carlos Hernandez said. “It was pounding so hard. He almost cried he was so excited.”

The statuses of Offerman and Darryl Strawberry, who was the designated hitter but is still suffering from a groin strain, are listed as day to day.

Pedro Astacio was impressive in five innings, giving up one run.

Pedro Martinez will start today’s game in Toronto, which will begin at 10:05 a.m.

In Vero Beach today, reliever Todd Worrell and shortstop Kevin Elster are expected to make their first appearances when a Dodger split squad plays Montreal.

*

The Dodgers’ losing season and the economy have taken their toll on season-ticket sales. For the first time in memory, the Dodgers are below 27,000 season tickets.