Grudzielanek Gets the Nod at Shortstop

General Manager Kevin Malone made it official Sunday: Mark Grudzielanek is the No. 1 shortstop ahead of Jose Vizcaino.

Malone informed the players of their status during brief individual meetings at Dodgertown. But Malone said Vizcaino could regain the starting position by outperforming Grudzielanek in exhibition games.

The Dodgers’ spring opener is Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Holman Stadium.

“This is the way I look at the Dodger shortstop situation,” Malone said. “The Los Angeles Dodgers traded [with the Montreal Expos] for Mark Grudzielanek and Carlos Perez, and we gave up some pretty good prospects, and Jose Vizcaino ended the year on the disabled list.

“Every job is open going into spring training, but you kind of know who is going to win those positions. Because of the way ’98 ended, and as we enter ‘99, Jose is trying to win the job.”

*

Spring training has been uneventful to this point, which is just fine with Manager Davey Johnson.

After managing the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles, Johnson has had enough spring training turbulence to last a lifetime.

“I was a fire fighter, running here and there putting out fires,” Johnson said. “I didn’t do a whole lot of teaching. This is the way it should be.”

*

Johnson on Sunday received a trophy for being selected the 1997 Sporting News American League manager of the year after he guided the Orioles to the AL East title. Why did it take so long to get the trophy?

“They said they didn’t know where I was,” said Johnson, who resigned after the ’97 season.

*

Relief pitcher Mel Rojas received permission to leave the team to attend the funeral of his father-in-law in the Dominican Republic.

Rojas is expected to return to Dodgertown on Tuesday and participate in workouts Wednesday.