General Manager Search Moving at a Leisurely Pace

NEW YORK — Many Dodger officials had hoped interim General Manager Dave Wallace would accept the permanent position, but Wallace is eager to resume his duties in the farm system.

However, the Dodgers are still in the early stages of a process moving slowly because Chairman Bob Daly wants to avoid a public and potentially embarrassing search.

Baseball executives said recently they would be surprised if the Dodgers requested permission to interview candidates under contract before the All-Star break, let alone hired someone.

“I’m not in any rush and we haven’t requested permission to speak with anyone,” said Daly, who attended the first game of the series against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. “The important thing is to get the right person.”

The perception in the organization is that Wallace would be the right person because he is a respected talent evaluator and good communicator.

But Wallace, accompanying the team in New York, reaffirmed he is a temporary successor to Kevin Malone, who was forced to resign a month ago.

And although Wallace is considered one of the majors’ top pitching coaches, he stressed he does not want to return to the dugout, at least not at the moment.

“My wife and I agreed [before he returned to the Dodgers] that if I’m in L.A, the goal is not to be on the field because I need to get home,” said Wallace, whose family resides in Massachusetts. “I don’t see [returning to coaching] within probably a couple of years. I mean, the game is crazy and you never know, but I certainly don’t see that. That’s definitely not a goal of mine right now.

“I enjoy coaching and I would like to revisit it, though, I’m not going to lead you astray and say that I wouldn’t. In the right situation, with the right people, I would definitely like to revisit it at some point. But right now, I’m comfortable doing what I’m doing [overseeing the farm system] for at least a couple of years.”

Andy Ashby (right elbow strain) is scheduled to join the club in Denver for the final series of the trip against the Colorado Rockies.

The right-hander, who recently resumed throwing on a flat surface, is expected to throw on a mound Monday or Tuesday. He has not done that in three weeks because of elbow pain.

Shortstop Tim Bogar (strained left hamstring) suffered another setback on his rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas.

“Bogar is bleeding into the hamstring again,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “He didn’t play [Friday night], obviously he was sore, and [medical personnel] found bleeding into the area again in the same spot we’ve been talking about.

“He’s shut down. No play until further notice.”

Catcher Paul Lo Duca (strained left oblique muscle) was one for three with a run-scoring double Friday in his first game for Las Vegas.

Lo Duca, whom the Dodgers hope to activate Monday, played five innings and told team officials he did not experience pain.

He had a three-run double Saturday.

TODAY

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(4-4, 3.02 ERA)

vs.

METS’

RICK REED

(5-2, 2.52 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--The Dodgers have not provided much support for Park, who is second in the National League with a 1.35 earned-run average in day games and a .194 opponents batting average. The right-hander was 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two starts against the Mets last season, and is 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 career appearances. Reed has been the Mets’ most consistent pitcher. The right-hander is third in the league in ERA and has walked only two with 40 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings.