DODGERS : Team Prepares for Possible Picket Lines

The Dodgers, who have the major leagues’ only privately owned spring-training camp, met with local police authorities in anticipation of possible picket lines.

“We’ve talked to our local law enforcement agents to make them aware of the possibility,” said Craig Callen, managing director of Dodgertown. “It’s not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of our players. We want it as controlled as possible for both sides.”

Although Dodgertown is owned and operated by the Dodgers, Callen said the National Labor Relations Board requires that a picketing area be designated.

“They have the right to picket, but not on private property,” Callen said. “We’ve got six parking entrances to Vero Beach, and we’ll give them one of them.

“I’m not going to sit here waiting for it, but if the occasion arises, we’ll certainly react to it.”

The Major League Players Assn. plans to establish picket lines for the start of spring training games but said the picket line will not be formed by players.

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Peter Angelos, majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, confirmed Sunday night that he talked with Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda about managing the Orioles in 1995, but said he couldn’t remember whether he already had received permission from the Dodgers.

“I wanted him, but as it turned out, (Dodger owner Peter) O’Malley wouldn’t turn him loose anyway,” Angelos said. “There was talk that he would leave the Dodgers, and yes, we were very interested.

“If you’re asking me whether I talked to him before I talked to O’Malley, I can’t honestly remember. It’s been a long time.”

Angelos requested permission from O’Malley to speak with Lasorda on Sept. 23, he said, which was confirmed by Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. It turned out to be the day Lasorda’s contract was renewed.

“It made it a moot point,” Claire said.

If Angelos talked with Lasorda about managing the Orioles before receiving permission from the Dodgers, he would be guilty of tampering charges, Claire said.

“If that was the case, (Angelos) clearly was out of line,” Claire said, “because Tommy still was under contract to the Dodgers. Tommy wasn’t going anywhere. It was never an issue of whether he was coming back.”

However, it apparently will be impossible to prove whether Angelos illegally contacted Lasorda, and Claire has no plans to pursue the matter.

“I didn’t know whether he had permission to talk to me or not,” Lasorda said, “but I wasn’t going anywhere. My loyalty is with Peter O’Malley and the Dodgers. I would never turn my back on them. Never.”

Angelos, who has angered his fellow owners by refusing to use replacement players, earlier drew the wrath of the Oakland Athletics for publicly announcing that he wanted to hire Athletic Manager Tony La Russa.

“I’m in enough trouble as it is,” Angelos said. “I don’t need the people out there mad at me, too.”