Spring training plan takes a hit

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, July 19, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

No news may not be good news for Stars president Don Logan and his dream of turning Las Vegas into a third spring training mecca.

Logan, who hoped to have a spring training deal hammered out by last week's All-Star break, said Tuesday night he has not spoken with representatives of the Los Angeles Dodgers or Texas Rangers "in almost a month."

Still, Logan hasn't given up hope that he can entice the Dodgers, Rangers and four other major league teams to begin training in Las Vegas beginning in February of 2002.

"I think the longer time goes by without something happening, it is cause for concern," Logan said during the Stars' 6-4 loss to Sacramento on Tuesday night. "But does that mean the deal is dead? I don't think so."

Still, a report Tuesday out of Vero Beach, site of the Dodgers' spring training facilities for the last 52 years, couldn't have offered Logan a whole lot of hope.

The Vero Beach Press Journal reported that Indian River County Administrator Jim Chandler had set up a tentative meeting on Monday between Indian River County and the Vero Beach City Council to consider a "memorandum of understanding" that would keep the Dodgers at Dodgertown for at least another 20 years.

Craig Callan, managing director of Dodgertown, said approval of such an agreement is the only thing standing in the way of a sealed deal with the Dodgers.

"It's clearly a sign that we want to stay in Vero Beach," Callen said. "We are committed to Vero Beach; that's why we submitted the (memorandum). Vegas is not out of the picture. If the County Commission and the City Council don't approve it -- which I hope doesn't happen -- we still have an option."

Logan has made it no secret that he must bring in the Dodgers to anchor his spring training plan. When asked Tuesday night if he viewed the Monday meeting in Florida as key, he replied, "I don't know."

Zito, 22, who is scheduled to start tonight's game for Sacramento and threw seven shutout innings in an earlier start against the Stars, resides in Las Vegas in the off-season and plans to do some house-hunting on Thursday.

"I like it out here," said Zito, who attended Ronzonne Elementary School. "We lived out on Smoke Ranch Road when it was almost a dirt road. I went back there recently and it's a big four-lane road now. This town is growing fast."

Alvarez hit his first home run for the Stars in the eighth inning on Tuesday night.