BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Regan Won’t Manage Marlins

Phil Regan, a Dodger scout who has been listed as a candidate to replace Tom Lasorda, said he has turned down a chance to interview for a managerial job with the Miami Marlins because he wants to keep his options open with the Dodgers.

“Tommy will manage as long as he wants to manage, and that’s great,” Regan said Wednesday. “But one day, like Walt Alston, somebody will replace Tommy. I want to stay here and prepare myself if I do get that opportunity.”

Regan has received no promises from Vice President Fred Claire, but it appears he has as much chance at replacing Lasorda as Bill Russell, manager of the Dodgers’ triple-A team at Albuquerque.

“My first reaction was to go down there and interview,” said Regan, who was given permission by the Dodgers to interview for the job last Friday. “But then I slept on it and decided, I would rather stay with what I’m doing here and maybe one day end up doing what I really want to do.”

Regan, a former Dodger pitcher and one of Claire’s most valued talent evaluators, has long wanted to be a major league manager. He is a former pitching coach with the Seattle Mariners who has made his mark by winning four championships in six seasons as a manager in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

“I still want to be a manager . . . and the way things are right now, maybe I will get that opportunity down the road,” Regan said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Los Angeles, but if the opportunity arises, I want to be available for it.”

With the elimination of Regan, the Marlins are interviewing eight candidates.

Lasorda was still angry on Wednesday about being tossed out of Tuesday’s 6-3 Dodger victory over San Diego by home plate umpire Larry Poncino.

“The guy behind the plate doesn’t know a fastball from a changeup,” said Lasorda, who was ejected minutes after both teams received warnings because Orel Hershiser hit Gary Sheffield with pitches twice.

Lasorda said he spoke with Darryl Strawberry on Wednesday for the first time after Strawberry’s back surgery.

“He’s doing well,” Lasorda said. “He sounded real good. He was in good spirits. He thought everything worked out well.”

Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist, said Strawberry will probably remain hospitalized for a couple of more days and then, for the next month, “be in a walking-around program while the incision is healing.”

Said Lasorda: “I know one thing. He’s going to be healthy again and have a great year next year. I know that.”