Malone Says Team to Stick With Johnson

Supporting Dodger Manager Davey Johnson, General Manager Kevin Malone said Sunday that Johnson will remain in his position the rest of the season regardless of the club’s performance.

Malone moved to end increasing speculation that Johnson might be removed soon, making strong comments in a phone interview after the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

The Dodgers salvaged a game in the three-game series, and Malone backed Johnson publicly for the first time since the recent scrutiny.

“I want to put an end to all the rumors and speculation right now: Davey Johnson is going to be here,” Malone said. “There is a lot of talk out there, but that doesn’t matter because the people doing the talking don’t make decisions for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We want Davey to succeed and we feel this team can succeed. If people feel they need to keep speculating about this they’re just wasting their time because nothing is going to happen.

“We’re not making any changes and I want to be perfectly clear about that.”

Starter Darren Dreifort escaped several jams Sunday to help the Dodgers win before 40,443.

Dreifort (10-7) scattered nine hits and gave up only an unearned run in five innings against the National League East leaders.

The right-hander is 6-0 with a 2.33 earned-run average in his last six starts.

Gary Sheffield hit his major league-leading 37th home run against Atlanta starter Andy Ashby (8-9). Only Mike Piazza, who hit 40 in 1997, has more homers in a season in Los Angeles franchise history.

Shawn Green hit his 22nd homer and had three runs batted in, Todd Hundley hit his 19th homer and leadoff batter Tom Goodwin sparked the offense with three hits, two RBIs and his 41st stolen base.

Reliever Antonio Osuna pitched an effective two innings after getting pounded in his last two appearances.

The Dodgers (60-56) defeated the Braves (71-46) here for the first time in six games this season. The Braves won seven of nine in the season series.

The Dodgers trail the struggling San Francisco Giants by only 4 1/2 games in the NL West despite going 2-6 in their last eight games.

That’s good news for Johnson, whose job status stirred tension in the organization and clubhouse. Even Johnson wondered if something might occur.

Chairman Bob Daly said previously he did not plan to change managers this season. Lately, things appeared to be changing because of the club’s poor performance and intense management criticism of Johnson’s strategy.

But Daly, vacationing in Italy, instructed Malone and team President Bob Graziano to reassure Johnson, team sources said.

Johnson received a supportive phone call from Graziano in the clubhouse after Sunday’s victory.

Graziano told Johnson that management is behind him, sources said. Moreover, team officials have been told to stop publicly questioning Johnson.

“If Davey has any concerns he shouldn’t because we’re behind him, and this is coming from Bob Daly and myself,” Malone said. “Davey has nothing to worry about, all he has to do is focus on winning games.”

Johnson was traveling with the team and unavailable for comment.

Although Malone said Johnson’s status this season is not at issue, Johnson will be evaluated after the season with the rest of the baseball operations staff.

Johnson is not expected to return in 2001, the final year of his contract, unless the Dodgers qualify for the playoffs this season.

Now that a move during this season has been put off, Malone wants the Dodgers to concentrate less on Johnson and more on a tight division race.

“We believe this team is talented and we can get this going,” Malone said. “We’re behind Davey and we’re focusing on this year only because this race is far from over and we’re in it.

“No matter what anyone thinks, that’s the truth. Leading this team is all we want Davey thinking about now.”

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Dodger Power

Gary Sheffield is making a run at the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodger season home run record. (First Dodger season in Los Angeles was 1958.) All-time leaders:

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HR Player Year 43 Duke Snider 1956 42 Duke Snider 1953 Gil Hodges 1954 Duke Snider 1955 41 Roy Campanella 1953 40 Gil Hodges 1951 Duke Snider 1954 Duke Snider 1957 Mike Piazza 1997 37 Gary Sheffield 2000 36 Mike Piazza 1996 35 Mike Piazza 1993 34 Eric Karros 1996 Eric Karros 1999 Gary Sheffield 1999 33 Steve Garvey 1977 Pedro Guerrero 1985 Raul Mondesi 1999

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