BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Fastball Must Improve Before Park Is Promoted

With the resurgence of the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, Chan Ho Park’s chances of being recalled soon appear bleak. Before Park is promoted, he has to learn to trust his fastball, which is what he is working on at double-A San Antonio.

“I get calls every day from reporters wanting to know if Park is doing OK, because he’s only pitching a few innings every start,” said Steve Kim, Park’s uncle and agent. “His pitch count has been increased, but he needs to develop confidence in his fastball and that’s one of the reasons he was sent down. He wants to do well and doesn’t want to give up a run, and he thinks that’s the only way he can show people that he can pitch. But that’s not why he’s there. They know he can pitch. Now he needs to learn how to stay out there for seven or eight innings.

“Everybody thinks his best pitch is the fastball, and it is, but Park thinks the slider is his best pitch. He needs to change that.”

Dodger owner Peter O’Malley and Executive Vice President Fred Claire have visited Park in San Antonio. “Burt (Hooton, San Antonio pitching coach,) said to me that Chan Ho has a better fastball than he did,” Claire said.

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Mike Piazza said the longest home run he has ever seen was hit by San Diego Padre first baseman Dave Staton during a triple-A game in Las Vegas two seasons ago.

Staton, who wore No. 28 last season when he was called up in September by the Padres, changed to 31, Piazza’s number, before this season, saying maybe he would hit better. But he is batting .190 with four home runs and is in jeopardy of losing his first base job.