Russell, Lasorda Clear the Air

To former Dodger manager Tom Lasorda, it might have been a casual remark at a news conference. But to his successor, Bill Russell, it was hurtful.

So Russell found time to stop by Lasorda’s Dodger Stadium office for a chat this week, the two men smoothing over whatever differences that might have resulted.

Producing the tension was Lasorda’s answer to a question at a news conference in Cooperstown, N.Y., after his induction into the Hall of Fame nearly two weeks ago. When asked which of the current 28 managers he would choose to run a team, Lasorda named the New York Mets’ Bobby Valentine, not Russell.

“It was all a misunderstanding,” Russell said. “I wanted to clear the air between us. We have been together too long to have any problems between us.”

Russell joined the Dodgers’ Ogden (Utah) farm team as a 17-year-old outfielder when Lasorda was the manager there 31 years ago.

*

Ramon Martinez threw 89 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in a rehabilitation assignment for Class-A San Bernardino in a game at Lancaster. He gave up one run and three hits, striking out seven and walking three.

Martinez said he felt pain free.

“I would say, the way I threw tonight, if I was not 100%, then I was 99%,” Martinez said. “I had command of all of my pitches.”

Dodger physical therapist Pat Screnar said a decision on Martinez’s return to the major league club will be made over the next two days, depending on how he recovers from this start.

Russell took advantage of the rare day game to take in Martinez’s appearance, and liked what he saw.

“He looks a lot stronger than he did in the Hall of Fame game, and had a lot of command of his pitches,” Russell said.

Russell added that he appreciated the opportunity to see potential future Dodgers in action.

“I never get the chance to do this,” Russell said. “I haven’t seen our minor league players since spring training.”

*

The Dodgers will retire Lasorda’s uniform tonight in a pregame ceremony. . . . Wayne Kirby played left field Thursday because Brett Butler was out for the second consecutive game because of a sore left wrist. . . . Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, who was put on the disabled list Aug. 2 because of a broken bone near his right elbow, will begin a recovery assignment tonight with San Bernardino.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ON DECK

* Opponent--Cincinnati Reds, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 66-55, Reds 52-67.

* Record vs. Reds--4-4.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ PEDRO ASTACIO (7-8, 3.97 ERA) vs. REDS’ MIKE REMLINGER

(5-4, 3.10 ERA)

* Update--Left-hander Mike Remlinger is a relief pitcher who has been pressed into starting duty because of injuries to the Cincinnati staff. But he looked like a veteran starter last Sunday against the Dodgers, pitching a complete game and giving up four hits in an 8-1 victory at Cincinnati. Remlinger is 2-0 in his previous two starts, with a 1.93 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He beat Pedro Astacio on Sunday, ending Astacio’s four-game winning streak.

* Saturday, 7:30 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (11-6, 3.10) vs. Kent Mercker (8-8, 3.81).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Hideo Nomo (11-9, 4.05) vs. Brett Tomko (7-4, 3.54).