Players Keep an Eye on Nomo

There was keen interest in Hideo Nomo’s first start as a New York Met--with Ismael Valdes, Ramon Martinez, Chan Ho Park and Eric Karros among those keeping an eye on part of the game during batting practice.

Nomo’s comments that it’s “nice to be able to speak freely and get along with everyone” on the Mets as opposed to the Dodgers seemed to surprise Manager Bill Russell.

“He’s happy there, that’s fine. That’s his deal,” Russell said. “He was with these players a lot of years, it’s hard to believe he didn’t communicate or didn’t like them.”

As for the question of whether Nomo’s difficulties this season can be attributed to him tipping his pitches--as has been claimed since the trade--it doesn’t hold much currency with the Dodgers.

“Nomo has always tipped his pitches, several of us know that,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. “Certainly the reason he would get hit or not get hit, I don’t think, had anything to do with knowing what was coming. I always say it’s not pitch selection, it’s execution.”

Russell said what Nomo’s problems were “remains to be seen.”

“Obviously, he was 2-7 here. Whether there is a flaw somewhere, he just didn’t pitch good, it’s simple as that.”

*

Bobby Bonilla, who already had been replaced by Karros as the clean-up hitter, was dropped to seventh in the order Tuesday, a notch below hot-hitting Paul Konerko.

‘He’s struggling so we’ll put him there tonight and hopefully get him straightened out,” Russell said.

*

Tom Candiotti, who signed with Oakland as a free agent after last season because the Dodgers wanted him to work out of the bullpen, isn’t scheduled to pitch during his first return to Dodger Stadium.

“I can enjoy it a lot better this way,” Candiotti said. “A lot of changes have happened here. Fred Claire was standing here, and I said, ‘So, what’s up?’ He just started laughing.”

*

USC’s national championship baseball team was honored on the field before the game. . . . Before Tuesday’s game, the Athletics traded shortstop Kurt Abbott to Colorado for a player to be named.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (4-7, 5.18 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ KENNY ROGERS (6-2, 3.43 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Valdes is 2-1 at home this season, compared with only 2-6 on the road. Rogers, a left-handed veteran, has the best record on Oakland’s staff and the best earned-run average among the A’s starters.