Malone Knows His Plate Is Overloaded

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone returned to Los Angeles on Monday--and hit the ground running.

The new baseball-operations chief has his hands full trying to rebuild an organization that needs an overhaul. Malone acknowledges that work needs to be done, and he’s ready to go.

“I took a [late] flight back to Baltimore to clean out my office on Friday, and that was a difficult task,” said Malone, the former Baltimore Oriole assistant general manager. “It has been a whirlwind, but I’m very happy to be here. For me, everything starts right now.”

Some in the organization won’t be going along for the ride.

Malone has chosen his words carefully, saying he will evaluate the club’s front-office personnel before making changes “if changes are necessary.” He has assured longtime staff members that he values their experience, and is eager to share his vision of the Dodgers with them.

But Malone, who has a background in scouting, realizes that the Dodgers’ minor league system isn’t as good as those in the scouting and development department believe. The system has been ravaged by horrible drafts under the direction of former executive vice president Fred Claire, Charlie Blaney, vice president of minor league operations, and Terry Reynolds, scouting director.

Team President Bob Graziano fired Claire on June 21 in part because of the organization’s recent abysmal performance in scouting and development. And reading between the lines in Malone’s comments Monday, Blaney and Reynolds might soon meet the same fate.

“I don’t think one should be worried, but at a time like this, it’s always good for a little self-evaluation,” Malone said. “It’s a good time to evaluate your performance and look in the mirror.

“Whenever you have change, it’s always good to ask yourself, ‘What have I done, have I produced, have I been the best scout I can be, or the best player-development person that I could be?’ It’s always good to do that when you’re going through change.”

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Second baseman Eric Young was forced to leave in the first inning of Monday’s game after suffering a sprained right foot.

The injury occurred when Young slid into second while being caught stealing. Young, who was replaced by Juan Castro, had to be helped off the field.

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The son of Dodger Vice President Ralph Avila has been named director of scouting for the Florida Marlins.

Al Avila, formerly the director of Latin American scouting, was promoted by Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski removed himself for consideration for the Dodger general manager position after agreeing to a five-year, $5-million contract extension to remain in South Florida.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (13-8, 3.87 ERA) vs. ROCKIES’ DARRYL KILE (11-16, 5.34 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park will match his career high for victories if he wins. The right-hander went 14-8 with a 3.38 earned-run average in his first season as a full-time starter last season.