Russell Learns How a Manager Lives

The phone started ringing in his hotel room at 7:30 in the morning and didn’t stop. Bill Russell arrived at the ballpark, and reporters were waiting. He walked onto the field, and cameras began clicking.

Welcome to being manager of the Dodgers, interim or otherwise.

“I don’t know how Tommy [Lasorda] does it,” Russell said, laughing. “I’ve done more interviews the last few days than I don’t know when. It’s different, I tell you that.”

Russell, 47, long has coveted the Dodger manager’s job, but of course, not this way. Russell wants Lasorda to return as soon as he’s able, but makes no secret that he wants the job whenever it becomes vacant. Lasorda also has openly campaigned for Russell to be his successor when he steps aside.

“It’s an opportunity for me to manage and to show my style,” said Russell, who will make his own pitching changes, “and hopefully we can be successful. I don’t know how long Tommy will be out, but, right now, the job is mine and I have to take advantage of it.

“Tommy’s Tommy. He does it his way. I’ll do it my way. It’s like working with your father running a business and now it’s your business. You run it the way you want.”

Fred Claire, executive vice president, said it’s premature to start thinking about Lasorda’s eventual successor, but conceded that he’s watching with interest how Russell performs.

“Am I watching? Yes,” Claire said. “There isn’t anything in this game that’s not important. The team is judged. The players are judged. I am judged.

“Billy recognizes that. He has been given responsibility and full authority. My approach with Billy is no different than Tommy.”

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Russell, remembering Lasorda’s disposition the last time he went on his famous diet, frowned as he thought about his mood this time.

“Can you imagine him with another diet?” Russell said, shaking his head. “It’s going to be tough for him to come to the ballpark and not eat with all of his nervous energy.

“I thought he ate well. He never ate red meat. But he ate a lot of everything else.”

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The Dodgers, who tearfully said goodbye to Milt Thompson last week, will say hello today.

Thompson was picked up on waivers by the Rockies and will be in uniform today. The Rockies will pick up the remainder of his $300,000 contract.

“We started looking around for a left-handed hitter and there just wasn’t much there,” General Manager Bob Gebhard said. “We think he can help us.”

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Center fielder Brett Butler, who’s undergoing radiation treatments, says that he’s feeling fine and was strong enough Thursday to start building a tree fort for his kids. He still hopes to return in September. . . . The Rockies’ scoreboard paid a tribute to Lasorda before the second inning, wishing him well, and closing by saying, “Baseball misses you.” . . . Left fielder Roger Cedeno was still suffering from flu and complained of being light-headed, but still played. . . . Wearing No. 55 has dawned on outfielder Wayne Kirby. “I wonder what Orel [Hershiser] thinks about this?” he said, laughing.