They’re Not Pleased About Perez’s Outburst

The Dodgers admonished pitcher Carlos Perez on Wednesday after he made critical comments about the organization.

General Manager Kevin Malone expressed disappointment in two conversations with Perez, warning him not to rip the team again.

“It’s disappointing to me personally, but more importantly, it’s disappointing to the whole organization,” Malone said. “We’re doing everything we can for Carlos, and everyone in this organization is committed to helping him regain the form that made him successful in the past.

“We know how good Carlos was prior to the ’99 season, and we’re trying to put him in a position to be successful again. Everything we’ve done, we’ve done in Carlos’ best interest, but we’re going to operate in the Dodgers’ best interest too.”

Perez, scheduled to start tonight, has been upset since the club optioned him to triple-A Albuquerque last Friday.

He traveled with the team from New York to San Francisco after Kevin Brown broke his right pinkie finger, and was officially recalled Wednesday when Brown was put on the 15-day disabled list.

“I read some of the things he said,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “The thing Carlos has got to understand is that this is the major leagues.

“When you have it, you pitch here. If you don’t, someone else gets the opportunity.”

Perez went 2-10 with a 7.43 earned-run average last season, and is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA this season. The Dodgers are expected to option Perez to Albuquerque after tonight’s game to make room for rookie right-hander Eric Gagne on the 25-man roster.

The plan is for Perez to start a few games for the Dukes and then return to the Dodgers, but that plan might change if Gagne fares well.

Chairman Bob Daly is willing to keep Perez in the minors the remainder of his contract--despite owing him $5 million this season and $7.5 million next--because he wants the best players on the team.

“We’ve got a lot invested in Carlos, and we’re going to continue helping him, but this is about the team,” Malone said. “I can understand [his comments] one time because I understand he’s frustrated, but one time is all because it doesn’t help the team.”

*

Kevin Elster had 25 cell-phone messages after his three-homer performance in Tuesday’s 6-5 victory.

“Some of [his friends] called during the game, and they were kind of funny,” the shortstop said. “One of my friends left a message after the first home run, and then called back and said, ‘Hey, I just got up for a second, what happened?’

“It’s something I’ll have forever, and it’s a great memory, but you have to move on. That’s just the way this game is.”

*

Pitching prospect Hong-Chih Kuo will undergo surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

Team medical personnel detected the injury after the left-hander worked three scoreless innings, with seven strikeouts, April 10 in his first appearance for Class-A San Bernardino.

The Taiwanese native, 18, received a $1.25-million signing bonus. Team physician Frank Jobe will perform the procedure April 20.

*

Center fielder Devon White sat out Wednesday’s game because of back stiffness.

The switch-hitter is off to a fast start, batting .308 with two homers and six runs batted in.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CARLOS PEREZ (0-1, 9.64 ERA) vs. GIANTS’ MARK GARDNER (1-0, 2.57 ERA)

Pacific Bell Park, 7:30 p.m.

(or 30 minutes after suspended game)

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

* Update--Jeff Williams will be pitching when the Dodgers resume the suspended game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Perez was pounded by the Montreal Expos in his first start, giving up seven hits--including two three-run homers--and eight runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Perez is 2-3 with a 3.42 ERA in his career against San Francisco. He tossed a 1-0 shutout Sept. 20, 1998, at 3Com Park. Gardner is in the rotation because left-hander Shawn Estes (shoulder inflammation) is on the disabled list. Gardner worked seven innings in earning a victory over the Braves.