DODGERS REPORT

As Florida scrambles to remain a viable option in the Dodger spring training sweepstakes, club executives are scheduled to meet today with officials from Indian River County and the city of Vero Beach.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush last week vetoed a bill that included $7.5 million in state funding for a proposed $20-million package designed to allow the city and county to buy the Dodgertown training complex from the team, make renovations, and lease it back to the Dodgers. While the remaining money is still available, the city and county need far more than $12.5 million to buy the property and improve it to the Dodgers’ specifications.

The Dodgers face a similar dilemma in Arizona, where officials of the Fort McDowell Indian Community no longer believe they can afford the original $50-million proposal that satisfied the team’s desire for a new training complex, housing and recreational facilities.

The Dodgers do not want to sign a long-term lease, either to stay in Vero Beach or move to Arizona, without significant upgrades in their spring facilities. At this time, neither Vero Beach nor Fort McDowell appears financially able to fulfill the Dodgers’ wish list. However, the team has rebuffed overtures from Las Vegas officials hopeful that the Florida and Arizona troubles might cause the team to look to a proposed training complex in Nevada.

TODAY

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (5-3, 5.02 ERA)

vs.

PIRATES’ TODD RITCHIE (4-3, 3.71 ERA)

Three Rivers Stadium, 4 PDT.

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).