Los Angeles Dodgers Announce 2008 Spring Training Schedule

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary of moving West, have released their tentative Spring Training schedule for 2008. The schedule is likely to cover two countries, three states and begins with their home opener on Thursday, February 28 against the Atlanta Braves at Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, FL. All games are subject to change and the on-sale date for tickets to all spring contests will be announced at a later time.

The 2008 season marks the Dodgers’ 61st year at Dodgertown and the 56th season of play at Holman Stadium. The team is tentatively scheduled to play six Cactus League games in Arizona from March 20-25 and is currently under consideration by Major League Baseball to take part in a two-game series in Beijing, China.

During Grapefruit League competition, the Dodgers will play 10 games at Holman Stadium including a home game on Sunday, March 9 against the World Champion Boston Red Sox. Other popular opponents to visit Dodgertown are the New York Mets (March 2) and St. Louis Cardinals (March 7 and 14).

In the team’s first-ever spring slate in Arizona, the Dodgers are expected to work out of Oakland’s Phoenix Municipal Stadium and will host the Chicago White Sox on March 20. The two teams are currently building a state-of-the-art Spring Training facility in Glendale, Arizona. Los Angeles will travel to Tucson, AZ to face the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies on March 23.

The Dodgers will face the Angels twice during 2008 Spring Training – on March 22 in Phoenix and on March 27 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

The Dodgers will face at least 14 different teams during Spring Training, including five meetings with the Red Sox. In addition to the March 9 game at Holman Stadium, the Dodgers will travel to Fort Myers on March 6. The two teams will close out the exhibition season with a three-game series in Los Angeles from March 28-30, with the first and last game taking place at Dodger Stadium and the middle contest, Saturday March 29, to be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum which was home to the Dodgers when they first moved to Los Angeles from 1958-61.

Still under consideration by Major League Baseball is a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres on March 15-16 in Beijing, China.

Dodger pitchers, catchers and players rehabilitating from injuries are scheduled to report on Feb. 14 and have their first workout on Feb. 15. Position players will report on Feb. 19, with the first full-squad workout on Feb. 20.