Only the Pitching Coach? Read Between the Lines

I’m going to do what Tom Lasorda wishes he had done and avoid saying anything that would lead to a comparison between the managerial capabilities of Bill Russell and Bobby Valentine.

But I’m guessing Russell’s job became harder and Valentine’s easier when Dave Wallace resigned as the Dodger pitching coach this week to become the New York Mets’ assistant general manager.

He deserves the credit he received for his handling of the Dodger pitchers, especially young ones such as Chan Ho Park, Ismael Valdes and Darren Dreifort.

As for Wallace’s successor, the choice will be significant for more than one reason.

Not only will it reveal the overseer of a staff in need of developing or acquiring at least one more starter and a closer, it could indicate how much Executive Vice President Fred Claire trusts Russell as the manager.

If Claire does this the Dodger Way, he will look first within the organization. There are a couple of obvious candidates--Claude Osteen at Albuquerque and Charlie Hough at San Bernardino.

Although Burt “Happy” Hooton’s name also has been mentioned, he is happiest at home in Texas.

More intriguing is the prospect Claire would bring back another former member of the organization, Phil Regan, who left before last season to become the Chicago Cubs’ pitching coach.

That would be a message to Russell, who might, understandably, feel threatened. Regan was at one time high on Claire’s list as a replacement for Lasorda and, by all accounts, would like nothing more than to become the Dodger manager.

If I may be so bold, I have an alternative.

Guy Hansen, given credit for his work in Kansas City with Bret Saberhagen, David Cone, Mark Gubicza and Kevin Appier, has left the Royals.

He has no Dodger background, but Los Angeles is his home. Described as a “Southern California surfer,” he pitched at UCLA.

A bonus: He speaks Spanish.

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Do the Clippers own the Boston Celtics? . . .

That sounds like an absurd question, considering the Clippers all-time record against them is 23-65. . . .

However, when the owners of the two franchises traded teams in 1978, the Clippers did retain the rights to the name, Boston Celtics Corp. . .

They gave it up three years later, when Donald Sterling bought the Clippers. . . .

Until a couple of years ago, though, he was still responsible for some of the Celtics’ deferred payments, including John Havlicek’s. . . .

Until a couple of years ago, Havlicek still could have played for the Clippers. . . .

Al Davis’ contract as the Raiders’ president of the general partner expires after next season. . . .

Speculation persists that he’ll resign before then and sell his 27% interest in the Raiders, then take over an expansion team that would begin play in a new stadium at Hollywood Park in 2000 or 2001. . . .

That could all be part of a settlement in Davis’ latest lawsuit against the NFL. . . .

The Dodgers have made preliminary inquiries about a couple of free agents, Baltimore center fielder Brady Anderson and San Francisco closer Rod Beck. . . .

But if you hear rumors out of New York that they’re considering trading Eric Karros for Met shortstop Rey Ordonez, ignore them. . . .

The Dodgers aren’t interested. Ordonez is a regular on the nightly highlights, but he’s not so consistent on routine plays. . . .

Fact: The Angels told Tony Phillips to look elsewhere for employment. . . .

React: What took so long? . . .

The Angels also quietly thanked Rickey Henderson for his contributions in bidding him farewell. . . .

In the Angels’ search for a leadoff/designated hitter, I agree with a columnist counterpart who suggested Bip Roberts. . . .

Pitcher Mark Langston filed for free agency but wasn’t out of work long. He filmed an episode Wednesday of ABC’s “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” . . .

Former Dorsey High and UCLA running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar didn’t start Monday night’s game for Miami because he missed Friday’s practice to witness the birth of his second child. . . .

He shouldn’t feel bad. Dolphin Coach Jimmy Johnson scolded a player last season for not returning to practice soon enough after he was injured in a drive-by shooting. . . .

The Halloween Club in Santa Fe Springs is selling Mike Tyson masks with ears dangling from the mouth.

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While wondering where those USC tutors were when I was in school, I was thinking: I’ll wait to see a Laker and Jazz game when Shaq and John Stockton can play, I’ll take Hale Irwin against the field in the Ralphs Senior Classic, oats on the house for Larry The Legend.