Mascot Isn’t Part of the Plans

The Dodgers have scrapped plans to consider adopting a team mascot as part of their strategy to reenergize Dodger Stadium.

“A mascot is not something we’re working on,” said Lon Rosen, executive vice president of marketing.

Rosen had said earlier in the week that the Dodgers were contemplating mascot possibilities, but Wednesday he acknowledged that the team was focusing on other ways to enliven the stadium atmosphere, including recorded music between innings.

“We are focusing on entertainment,” Rosen said. “We want more energy in the stadium.”

The Dodgers have not had an official mascot since moving to Los Angeles in 1958.

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As expected, Dodger owner Frank McCourt has also retained the title of team president.

McCourt shifted his focus to filling other senior management positions in March after Mike Dee, a Boston Red Sox executive, rejected an offer to become president.

“I certainly am prepared to fill that role myself, if need be, for a period of time,” McCourt said in March. Although McCourt said that period would “more than likely” be brief, he added, “I don’t want to eat my words if I’m sitting here doing this five years from now.”

But there was a development in the front office as the Dodgers hired Jeff Ingram as executive vice president of business development. Ingram is expected to split time between Los Angeles and Boston.

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Jeff Weaver was a junior when Simi Valley High last played for a Southern Section baseball title, in 1993, but the lanky right-hander wasn’t a member of the Pioneer pitching staff because he “wasn’t very confident in my abilities” and played only for an American Legion team.

Weaver joined the Simi Valley team his senior year and made his major league debut in 1999. The Dodger starter is thrilled that his alma mater will play Placentia El Dorado for the Division II championship Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s good to get the team back to winning ways,” said Weaver, who has donated $40,000 to the program to help pay for an artificial turf infield. “I had a good time when I had a chance to play there. Any place along the way that’s given me the chance to play baseball, I’ve tried to help and give back to.”

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Reserve outfielder Jayson Werth hit three home runs and drove in six runs Tuesday for triple-A Las Vegas and is closing in on a return from a strained abdominal muscle. Werth is hitting .417 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 48 at-bats.... The Dodgers designated reliever Rodney Myers for assignment to make room on the roster for Edwin Jackson.

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Times staff writer Bill Plaschke contributed to this report.