Dodgers Diaries

The Dodgers announced today that they will be hosting a four-team NCAA baseball tournament at Dodger Stadium on February 28. Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State play in the opener at 10 a.m., with USC and UCLA squaring off at 2 p.m. Both games count in NCAA standings.

All proceeds from the games will benefit the Dodgers Dream Foundation, which helps build ballfields in Los Angeles. Tickets are $5 in advance or ($10 day of game) and parking is free. There are promotions that allow you to ally yourself with either of the two hometown universities in regular-season Dodger games later in the year.

I’ve been to a few UCLA home baseball games, and highly recommend the experience of Jackie Robinson Stadium. It almost never sells out, and the caliber of baseball is about the same as AA or AAA. I imagine the players, most of whom never even get a sniff at the major leagues, will get a real charge out of playing at Chavez Ravine. Given typical attendances, I’d say you can probably get tickets for seats that usually cost three figures. If nothing else, it’ll allow you to sample Canter’s Deli.

Here’s the UCLA starting lineup from the first game I went to in 2004. Six years later, I can’t say that any is a household name, though some may have had cups of coffee. Tampa Bay Rays flamethrower Matt Garza was on the roster of the opposing Fresno State Bulldogs, but I didn’t get to see him pitch in this game.

Chad Concolino CF undrafted.

Ryan MCCarthy SS never advanced past A ball.

Billy Susdorf RF last played for Lake Elsinore in 2006.

Wes Whisler 1B became a full-time pitcher for AAA Charlotte in 2009.

Matt Thayer LF never advanced past A ball.

Brett McMillan DH never advanced past A ball.

Brandon Averill 3B never advanced past A ball.

Chris DeNove C reached AAA with the Reds, where he hit .307 in 2009.

Preston Griffn 2B never advanced past A ball.

-- JOHN ROSENTHAL