Notes from Spring Training: Day Seven

From the Dodgers official Spring Training media notes for Saturday, February 26:

THE LITTLEST DODGER: With all that was going on this morning (Photo Day, eye exams, uniform sizing, lab work), the best moment of the day came when Dodger hurler Jeff Weaver returned to camp with news of a happy, healthy baby boy named Drake. Drake was born on Wednesday, Feb. 24 and weighed in at exactly eight pounds on the nose.

GOOD ‘OL OISK: The Dodgers would like to congratulate legendary pitcher Carl Erskine on winning the 2010 Sachem Award, which is the highest honor the state of Indiana can bestow. The award, which will be given to Erskine next week by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, is presented annually to recognize a lifetime of excellence and moral virtue that has brought credit and honor to Indiana . Previous recipients include college basketball coaching legend John Wooden and the Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame. Erskine, 83, pitched for Brooklyn and Los Angeles from 1948-59 and won 122 games, pitched in five World Series, made the National League All-Star team and threw two no-hitters.

IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME: Yes, there is a “B” game scheduled for March 2, but the real Cactus League slate officially kicks off March 5 when the Dodgers play a “road” game against the Chicago White Sox. As of this moment, Vicente Padilla will start the contest for the Dodgers and be followed to the mound by RHP Ramon Ortiz, RHP Charlie Haeger, RHP Luis Ayala, RHP Scott Dohmann and RHP Jon Link. The White Sox are scheduled to counter with LHP Mark Buehrle, RHP Jeff Marquez, RHP Scott Linebrink, RHP J.J. Putz, RHP Santo Luis and RHP Freddie Dolsi.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES: Today was 2010 Photo Day at Camelback Ranch, where KCAL, Sony, Associated Press, Getty Images, MLB Photos, UPI, Photofile, Apple Daily (Taiwan), Liberty Times (Taiwan) and Topps took pictures of all the Dodgers in Major League camp. In addition, members of the Dodger Sports Lab are here from Los Angeles conducting interviews and running the “green screen” video shoots for the DodgerVision scoreboard.  

LITTLE BIG LITTLE: Tomorrow from 6:00-8:00 p.m. James Loney, Matt Kemp, Chad Billingsley, Russell Martin, James McDonald, Clayton Kershaw, Cory Wade, Blake DeWitt, Brent Leach, Trayvon Robinson and Kenley Jansen are scheduled to appear at a fundraiser for the Ahwatukee Little League at 4700 East Warner Road in Phoenix .  Autographs are available for a $5 donation and the event will occur rain or shine. Dodger Assistant GM, Scouting Logan White and Assistant GM, Player Development De Jon Watson are permanent fixtures in the grandstands at Ahwatukee to scout this hotbed of amateur talent which includes their sons Logan Jr. and Michael. 

SANDY AND JOE: Tonight is the night that Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax and Dodger Manager Joe Torre will raise money and awareness for Torre’s foundation “Safe at Home,” by taking part in an event at LA Live’s Nokia Theater. Tickets can still be purchased via ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000. Torre left Camelback Ranch this afternoon along with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, hitting coach Don Mattingly, team photographer Jon SooHoo and his assistant, Chris Romanello . The Dodger manager will fly back to the desert after the event and be back in Arizona late tonight.        

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 6: Dodgers single-game tickets go on sale on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 am online, by phone and at Dodger Stadium. The team will hold an on-sale event in Lot P at Dodger Stadium with Dodger legends Ron Cey and “Sweet” Lou Johnson, and all fans purchasing at least one ticket will receive two free tickets to the Dodgers’ exhibition home opener against the Indians on April 1. Dodger Dogs will be available for $2 and merchandise kiosks will be open as well.

JOE COLLEGE: Tomorrow morning is the inaugural “Dodgertown Classic” at Dodger Stadium, featuring two of our local Pac-10 schools in action on the diamond. The University of Southern California will take on the University of California , Los Angeles in the main event at 2 p.m. The undercard at 10 a.m. will put baseball powers Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State on display. Tickets for the event cost $5 and can be purchased in advance at dodgers.com/classic and in person at USC and UCLA campus box offices. Day of game tickets can be purchased at Dodger Stadium for $10.