BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : DeShields Sorry for Blaming Lasorda

Dodger second baseman Delino DeShields, who will be examined by a specialist Wednesday for his chronic leg pains, apologized Friday to Manager Tom Lasorda for saying that no one in the organization believed he was hurt.

“I didn’t mean to say everybody, I just didn’t want to say names,” DeShields said. “It was my fault.”

The benched DeShields received no assurances of returning to the lineup during his meeting with Lasorda but expects it to happen this weekend.

Lasorda, saying he wants DeShields back in the lineup as quickly as possible, appeared to be satisfied with DeShields’ explanation and apology.

“I want him back in our lineup,” Lasorda said. “He’s a hell of a ballplayer. But I don’t want him to go out there if he’s hurting. That only hurts himself and the team.”

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Radio station WQAM, the flagship station of the Florida Marlins, drew the wrath of the Dodgers and public relations director Jay Lucas by pretending to be interviewing Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo.

The impostor ridiculed Marlin fans, saying they were stupid, didn’t know the difference between sushi and a forkball, and that all-star outfielder Jeff Conine had no clue against him.

The trouble was, no one announced that it was a spoof and the Marlins’ offices were flooded with calls. Disk jockey Andrew Ashwood said that no such announcement was necessary because he introduced the impostor simply as “Nomo” and not Hideo Nomo.

Lucas, who explained the incident to Nomo, demanded a retraction from the station. Ashwood said he would admit to the hoax on his Monday show.