Officials Say Daly Still Backs Malone

Chairman Bob Daly remains confident in General Manager Kevin Malone despite the Dodgers’ poor performance, team officials said Friday.

Malone and Manager Davey Johnson have come under scrutiny because the club has failed to meet expectations after another expensive off-season make-over.

Daly recently ended speculation about Johnson’s status, saying baseball’s winningest active manager would remain in his position the rest of the season.

Johnson, whose contract expires after the 2001 season, will be reevaluated after this season. He has strong support in the clubhouse and front office.

Daly had already decided that Malone will return next season, and he has not changed course.

“As Bob Daly has said before: Kevin Malone’s job is not in danger,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president. “They have developed a good working relationship and mutual respect for one another.

“Bob has made it clear he enjoys working with Kevin, and nothing has changed. And as the organization also has made clear, Davey Johnson is in no danger either.

“When the season is over, we must all evaluate ourselves. And we must evaluate one another.”

Daly, vacationing in Italy with his family, reiterated his support for Malone and Johnson this week in phone conversations with Hall and President Bob Graziano.

Daly is pleased with the direction of baseball operations under Malone, who has reshaped the club the last two seasons with major trades and free-agent signings.

Moreover, Daly believes Malone has been unfairly criticized because the farm system was left in disrepair by the former regime.

Daly said Malone was forced to make certain moves, which have been criticized, because the Dodgers had few prospects when he arrived.

Daly, expected to return to Los Angeles today, is confident the Dodgers can overcome their problems and win the National League West, Graziano said.

“Kevin is our general manager and Davey is our manager, and we’re all trying to accomplish the same objective,” Graziano said. “The only thing we’re focusing on is trying to win.”

*

Center fielder Devon White, sidelined 70 games because of a partially torn left rotator cuff, was scratched from Friday’s starting lineup because of a sore left shoulder.

White, a switch-hitter, experienced soreness swinging a bat right-handed. He is listed as day to day.

“It’s not pain, it’s just sore,” White said. “It’s not from the [rotator] cuff, it’s from the back of the shoulder. It won’t be a [long] problem.”

White would have batted right-handed Friday night against Met starter Al Leiter, a left-hander, so Johnson put switch-hitter F.P. Santangelo in the lineup.

White will undergo therapy and be reevaluated today.

*

Chan Ho Park returned to Dodger Stadium eager to start today against the Mets.

“I feel a lot better now,” said Park, scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday against the Florida Marlins because of flu-like symptoms.

“I just stayed in bed [Thursday] and slept good. I had a high temperature and ached all over my body, but now I feel good.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK

(11-8, 3.97 ERA)

vs.

METS’ RICK REED

(7-3, 4.45 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Park pitched seven shutout innings May 29 in a 4-1 victory over the Mets at Dodger Stadium. He is 2-2 with a 2.16 earned-run average against the Mets.