BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : For Fernando, It’s an Honor to Return

He has the same walk and the same smile, but Fernando Valenzuela was wearing a different uniform when he walked toward the Dodger Stadium cafeteria Thursday to attend a news conference before being honored in a pregame ceremony.

The first person Valenzuela shook hands with was Jaime Jarrin, Dodger Spanish radio broadcaster, who was Valenzuela’s interpreter during his early years with the team. Valenzuela, though, speaks good English, and needed no help when answering questions.

Valenzuela said the Dodgers never explained why they released him at the end of spring training in 1991, when he was called into Manager Tom Lasorda’s office. “They said we do not have the words. They said we released you and I said, ‘That’s fine,’ ” said Valenzuela, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies a week ago.

“The next day Mr. (Peter) O’Malley said that the coaches thought (I) didn’t have anything to help the team anymore. He (O’Malley) told me that it wasn’t (his) decision. That was after 1990 and I don’t think there were too many pitchers who won (13) games. But that is in the past now, I have a new career and a new life and I hope I can stay a long time.”

Thursday marked Valenzuela’s return to Dodger Stadium, where he pitched for 10 seasons. He talked about his great memories, recalling his Cy Young and rookie-of-the-year season of 1981, when the Dodgers won the World Series, and pointed to winning Game 3 as one of his fondest memories. When asked if he could comprehend the hysteria of Fernandomania, he smiled and said: “It was only five years--not that long ago. “

Valenzuela’s respect for his roots, though, rang clear during pregame ceremonies when he asked Jarrin to interpret for him before addressing the crowd only in Spanish. “Fernando wants me to help him even though he speaks more English than I do,” Jarrin said. “He says ‘I want to thank everybody for the support that they gave to my teams and myself in particular.’ ”