Cresse Passes on Class-A Position

Mark Cresse’s tenure with the Dodgers ended Friday when the former longtime coach declined an offer to manage at Class-A San Bernardino.

Cresse, who was in his 22nd season as the bullpen coach, was offered the minor league position Wednesday night when new Manager Glenn Hoffman fired him, batting instructor Reggie Smith and pitching coach Glenn Gregson. Cresse will work at his instructional baseball camps for the remainder of the season, and consider offers to return to the major leagues in 1999.

“It’s been different, but I’m over the initial shock of what happened,” said Cresse, who had the longest tenure of a coach in Dodger history.

“I’m just going to take some time to be with my wife and family and lead a normal life for a change. There are other things in life.”

Interim general manager Tom Lasorda hoped Cresse would remain with what remains of the suddenly dysfunctional Dodger family.

“Mark Cresse has been almost like a son to me,” said Lasorda, who is godfather to Cresse’s only son Brad. “Mark has been loyal to the Dodgers for many, many years, and I’ll do anything I can to help him.”

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Lasorda continued his pursuit of Cincinnati closer Jeff Shaw during a phone conversation with Reds’ General Manager Jim Bowden.

The Reds are interested in rookie infielder/outfielder Paul Konerko, and Lasorda might consider trading the promising young player because he realizes the Dodger bullpen lacks a closer. And acquiring Shaw, who will turn 32 on July 7, could address that concern.

Shaw is third in the National League with 19 saves this season, and he led the league with 42 in 1997.

“[Bowden] gave me some names of guys who were available, and guys he might be interested in [acquiring],” Lasorda said. “But I’m not going to get into any names because I don’t want my players worrying about that. I want them thinking about winning games, which is what they should be thinking about.”

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New bullpen coach John Shelby will sit on the bench during games while he becomes familiar with his role, in which he has no previous experience. Bullpen catcher Travis Barbary will perform Shelby’s duties indefinitely. . . . Right fielder Gary Sheffield was scratched from Friday’s lineup after experiencing stomach pain, a team official said. . . . Catcher Charles Johnson was given the day off.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (5-7, 4.46 ERA) vs. PIRATES’ FRANCISCO CORDOVA (6-5, 2.73 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Ch. 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Valdes is 1-0 with two no-decisions and a 1.69 ERA in his last three starts. “Sometimes you pitch [well], but you still don’t win the games,” Valdes said. “That’s just baseball.”