It Finally Hits Lasorda

It has been nearly seven months since Tom Lasorda announced his retirement as Dodger manager, but it wasn’t until he walked onto the Dodgertown complex Saturday that it finally sank in.

“I started walking from my room to the clubhouse,” Lasorda said, “and all of a sudden it dawned on me, ‘I’m no longer the manager.’ I tell you, it was a funny feeling. My mind went back to 21 years ago [to] that first day when I managed the Dodgers.

“You stop and think how many years I put that uniform on, and today when it wasn’t there, it was tough. I’ve been coming here since ‘49, and it’s the first time I haven’t worn my uniform.”

Lasorda, 69, hopes to one day be back on the field. He said that he will listen to anyone who needs a manger. Vince Naimoli, managing general partner of the Tampa Devil Rays, already has Lasorda on his short list of potential candidates, according to one of his close friends.

“I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t want to manage again,” Lasorda said. “I miss it. I think about it every day.”

*

Bill Russell replaced Lasorda last season as manager, but he said that Saturday felt as if it was his first day on a new job.

“This is a new beginning,” Russell said. “Before, I was just kind of taking over a team. I’m the boss now. The pressure is on. This is it.

“I was a little nervous talking to them for the first time because I’ve been thinking about this all winter. At least I got the cobwebs out. I’ll be better when I talk to them again when the full team is here.”

The players noticed an immediate difference with Russell. They were put through an obstacle course, ran sprints and performed agility drills.

“I don’t think this camp will be as laid-back,” center fielder Brett Butler said. “It will be more structured. Most of a focus. More discipline. More consistency.

“The past few years have been kind of lackadaisical. Let’s face it, we’ve lost six playoff games in a row. If it’s not eating at somebody, it’s eating at me.”

*

Catcher Mike Piazza will miss the next two days of workouts to be inducted into Ted Williams’ Hall of Fame at his museum in Orlando. Piazza will be joined by Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox, Gary Sheffield of the Florida Marlins, Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics and Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners. . . . The Dodgers signed second baseman Chad Fonville to a one-year contract for about $195,000. . . . There were 40 international reporters and photographers to chronicle Hideo Nomo’s first workout.