Advertisement

Breaking news: Team might leave 980

Share
Times Staff Writer

The Dodgers could have their fourth radio home in 11 years next season.

The team’s contract with 980 expires this season. Three radio stations -- 980, 710 and 570 -- are bidding to sign the Dodgers for next year and beyond.

The Dodgers face a different issue in negotiating with each station, aside from how much revenue each deal might generate.

On 980, the Dodgers’ current home, the pregame show mixes news and traffic reports with baseball coverage. The news focus there has left the Dodgers unable to air most weekday spring training games.

Advertisement

The other two stations offer the all-sports format ideal for spring broadcasts and extended programming before and after games, but the Dodgers could be bumped elsewhere on the dial in case of conflicts. The Lakers have priority at 570, and USC football has priority at 710.

The Angels plan to move their broadcasts from 710 to 830, a station bought last year by Angels owner Arte Moreno.

Marty Greenspun, the Dodgers’ chief operating officer, declined to discuss how the club could best serve its fans in a new radio deal, citing the ongoing negotiations. Bob Koontz, general manager at 710, and Pat Duffy, general manager at 980, each confirmed his station’s interest but declined to comment further. Don Martin, general manager at 570, did not return a call.

The Dodgers’ flagship station for English broadcasts moved from 790 to 1150 in 1998 and to 980 in 2002. The Spanish-language flagship, 1330, has not changed since 1987.

*

Infielder Tony Abreu did not start for the first time since May 31. Abreu, one of five Dodgers to start at third base this season, has one hit in his last 16 at-bats. He has 65 at-bats and two walks, with an on-base percentage of .289.

“He’s an excited, anxious young person, very talented, probably a little on the aggressive side,” Manager Grady Little said. “He’ll be a good player here for a long time.”

Advertisement

*

Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect, has not appeared in a game in 10 days.

Not to worry, minor league director De Jon Watson said. The Dodgers are trying to minimize the strain on young arms by ordering minor league pitchers to skip a start, ideally once in June and again in August.

“We want to make sure we’re keeping everybody fresh,” Watson said.

Kershaw, 19, the Dodgers’ top draft pick last year, is 6-2 with a 2.13 earned-run average at Class A Great Lakes.

*

Jose Lima, whose shutout in the 2004 playoffs marks the Dodgers’ only postseason victory in the last 18 years, is trying to earn another major league opportunity by pitching in the Mexican league. Lima is tied for the league lead in victories, with a 9-2 record and 3.87 ERA.... Outfielder Larry Bigbie, who left the organization June 1 after the Dodgers had not promoted him from triple-A Las Vegas, signed to play for the Braves’ triple-A Richmond affiliate.... The Dodgers are offering $20 reserved tickets to military personnel for $5, if those tickets are available on game day, starting next homestand and extending through the end of this season. The offer is not valid Fridays or Saturdays.

--

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Advertisement