Hotel isn't one of their favorite haunts

"Those are just urban legends," said Akasaki, who booked the team into the hotel for the weekend.

But at least two Dodgers aren't so sure. After listening to teammates talk endlessly about the haunted hotel, young pitchers Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton said they experienced weird occurrences in their rooms that couldn't be explained. However, neither would discuss the episodes Sunday.

"It's stupid," said Billingsley, who reportedly heard his toilet flush numerous times while he was in another room. "It's not worth talking about."

Other major leaguers and former major leaguers who have been spooked at the Vinoy include Jim Fregosi, Cito Gaston, Billy Koch, Gerald Perry, Scott Williamson, Jay Gibbons and Brian Roberts. Some Pittsburgh players were so frightened that they checked out of the hotel and stayed with a teammate's family when the Pirates were in town four years ago.

But the Vinoy isn't the only big league hotel that is supposedly haunted. At the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, the spirits of actors John Barrymore, Fatty Arbuckle and Al Jolson are said to roam the hallways. And similar stories have been told about the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, where former Dodger Adrian Beltre once insisted on sleeping with a bat for protection after he had a brush with a ghost.

The Dodgers no longer stay at either place.

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Rafael Furcal continues to be bothered by the left ankle sprain he suffered in March, but the Dodgers shortstop is trying to make the best of it because he might have to play the rest of the season in pain.

"You've got time to rest after the season," said Furcal, who hobbled noticeably while running the bases Sunday. "I can play with that. One day it's going to be healthy."

Furcal said the ankle can be especially troublesome on fielding plays up the middle and when he bats right-handed. And it has definitely affected his power. After matching a career high with 15 homers last season, Furcal has homered once in 64 games this season.

"It's a long season, so I'm not worried about it," said Furcal, who is batting .277. "I've got 400 at-bats to go."

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