With Reyes Comes Memories of Mania

Among those most affected by the experience of watching Dodger rookie left-hander Dennis Reyes, a Fernando Valenzuela look-alike, pitch Sunday was veteran Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin, who is in his 39th year covering the Dodgers.

Jarrin acted as Reyes’ translator Sunday, just as he did for Valenzuela before the Dodger left-handed sensation started speaking English.

“It was a very strange feeling,” Jarrin said.

Having lived through Fernandomania in 1981, Jarrin remembers the moment he realized how big it had become.

“We were at the White House,” Jarrin said, “and here were people like George Bush, then the vice-president, and Alexander Haig, then the Secretary of State, waiting in line to get Fernando’s autograph.

“That trip to Washington, D.C. was the first time I saw Fernando really affected by it all.”

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Add Fernandomania: Dodger Manager Bill Russell was the team’s shortstop in that era.

“The way the crowd responded to him, the way we played behind him, it was electrifying,” Russell said. “That’s the way it was [Sunday in Reyes’ debut].”

Reyes, 20, is scheduled to make his second start Friday while the Dodgers continue to wait for Ismael Valdes (strained left hamstring) to come off the disabled list.

Will the Dodgers send Reyes back to their Albuquerque farm club upon Valdes’ return, regardless of what Reyes does in the meantime?

“I hope he makes it tough on us,” Russell said.

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Valdes, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, has starting jogging, but still can’t go at full speed. . . . Hitting coach Reggie Smith, hospitalized at Centinela Hospital Medical Center since Saturday night because of a pinched nerve, remained there Monday to undergo tests. He is not expected to join the club on this trip.

TODAY’S GAME

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (6-5, 3.08 ERA) vs. ROCKIES’ ROGER BAILEY (8-6, 3.50 ERA)

Coors Field, noon

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

* Update--The Dodgers close out their two-game series in this hitters’ paradise with Park, who has not faced the Rockies this season but has a career 17.18 earned-run average against them. Park has given up seven earned runs against Colorado in 3 2/3 innings. Another number that has to concern the Dodgers, in a place where even apparent pop flies sometimes find the seats, is 15. That’s the club-high number of home runs Park has given up this season. But he has been far more effective of late. Park has given up only one earned run in his last 12 2/3 innings. Although he is coming off the disabled list after being placed there June 30 because of a left hamstring strain, Bailey has already set team season records for complete games (five) and shutouts (two).