Dodgers Narrow the List

Dodger officials will meet with their Fox Group superiors this week to select Davey Johnson or Kevin Kennedy to manage the ballclub, General Manager Kevin Malone said Sunday.

Malone, attending Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, completed his weekend interviews with Johnson and Kennedy in Manhattan on Saturday.

Team President Bob Graziano and Malone will consult with Peter Chernin and Chase Carey--co-chief operating officers of Fox Group’s parent company, News Corp.--before making an offer. The Dodgers will wait until the World Series is completed before making an announcement.

“I feel very good about the discussions I had with Davey and Kevin this weekend, and they’ve only made me feel more confident that they would both do a great job,” Malone said. “But what we have to do now is talk more about the direction we’d like to move in. Now, we’re just trying to identify which one of these great candidates would be the best fit for the Dodgers.”

Malone said Johnson and Kennedy distinguished themselves during their lengthy weekend interviews, declining to identify a front-runner.

But baseball sources said that Johnson has received strong endorsements from many of the game’s influential decision makers.

Malone acknowledged that Johnson has his supporters. And Kennedy’s resume doesn’t include five division championships, which Johnson’s does.

“The bottom line is that we have two great primary candidates that we’re going to choose from,” Malone said. “I like that situation.”