MAJOR BLOGS -www.majorblogs.net-  The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are already reaping the benefits of their new affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Inland Empire Vice President Paul Stiritz says attendance was up 23% during the 2007 California League season. 

Seven offseasons ago, the Dodgers parted ways with Inland Empire after a six year relationship that spanned from 1995-2000.  Southern California's marquee baseball team moved their advanced Single-A club to Vero Beach at the time.  The change meant Dodgers fans did not have access to one minor league affiliate in their home state.

Bucking tradition, the Dodgers eventually decided to move their spring training headquarters out west to the Cactus League in 2009, which severed their ties with Vero Beach that dates back to 1948.  Those long-term plans brought two old friends back together in fall of 2006. 

"It works out well," says 66ers GM Loren Foxx.  "There's a lot of Dodger fans in our area.  We get a lot of players on rehab from the Dodgers.   Not that we want players to get hurt, but it is an advantageous situation for our fans and us."