BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : O’Malley Gives No Support to Selig as Commissioner

Dodger President Peter O’Malley emphasized the urgency of hiring a commissioner but said Wednesday that he won’t be among those urging for acting Commissioner Bud Selig to be retained.

When asked if he would support Selig becoming full-time commissioner, O’Malley paused, asked for the question to be repeated and then slowly answered.

“My answer is no,” he said. “Two letters. One word. No.”

O’Malley, disgruntled with Selig’s leadership during the strike, said that he will delay commenting directly on Selig until there’s a new basic agreement.

“It is not the time nor place,” O’Malley said, “because we still don’t have an agreement. When the time is right, I’ll answer those questions.”

O’Malley refused to identify the candidates he’s pushing for commissioner but said that David Montgomery, the Philadelphia Phillies’ chief operating officer, would be an excellent choice if interested.

“He’s a good man, a very able young man,” said O’Malley, who had breakfast Tuesday with Montgomery. “But he’s very valuable to the Phillies. He’s part-owner now, and I think he’s committed to stay there.”

O’Malley, who arrived Wednesday in Dodgertown, also said the strike’s effect is more catastrophic than people imagine. It is largely why the Dodgers’ payroll this season will be about $25 million, the lowest since 1990.

“The damage and destruction will be greater than anyone realizes,” he said after the Dodgers’ 8-4 loss to the Houston Astros. “I think our recovery will be quicker than other teams because we have tremendous marketing and goodwill. Some clubs will have difficulty getting through the aftermath of the Aug. 12 (start of the strike) hurricane that went through here.

“The challenge is to bring the game back, and our goal is to use this disaster and bring it to a higher level than it was before. And we’re going to do it.”

O’Malley wouldn’t divulge details but said the team is close to announcing a marketing campaign. The Dodgers already have sold out the home opener April 28 against the Atlanta Braves.

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It has been 40 years, and the franchise has moved across country, but the Dodgers tonight will present the Brooklyn Historical Society with their official 1955 World Series championship flag in New York.

“I’ve had this idea for a long time,” O’Malley said. “This historic flag was won with the support of the great Brooklyn fans and belongs to the people of Brooklyn.”

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Although O’Malley said that he always has been supportive of the umpires’ union, he’s surprised at demands that have kept them off the field.

“I’m an umpire man, and my father was a supporter,” he said, “but their requests at this time and their lack of movement have really surprised me. People are taking pay cuts, people are getting laid off, players’ salaries are down, and they’re making these kind of demands.

“These are difficult times.”

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The Dodgers, who already have determined that Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo will be in the rotation, are giving Chan Ho Park every opportunity to join him. Park will start today against the New York Mets, and if successful, may get the fifth starting job. The Dodgers would then move Ismael Valdes into the bullpen. . . . Although shortstop Dick Schofield has a pulled buttocks muscle that has prevented him from playing in a spring training game, the Dodgers have already decided that he will make the team. In the meantime, the Dodgers are trying to trade backup shortstop Rafael Bournigal. . . . Billy Ashley hit his first home run of the spring in the second inning off Astro starter Darryl Kile. “I know everybody keeps telling me to relax, relax,” Ashley said, “but I can’t. That’s just me.” . . . Manager Tom Lasorda is becoming increasingly concerned with his left-handed relievers. Rob Murphy was the latest to struggle, yielding two hits, one walk and three runs (two earned) in one inning. The left-handed scorecard: Murphy (4.91 ERA), Omar Daal (4.76 ERA), Ed Vosberg (3.86 ERA), Al Osuna (0.00 ERA; three walks to seven batters faced). . . . Although Henry Rodriguez already has won the starting right field job, he refuses to believe it until he sees his name on the opening-day lineup card. “I’ve been waiting for this all of my life,” he said, “the chance to play every day in the big leagues. This is a dream for me. But I want to earn the job, I don’t want anybody to give it to me.”