They’re All Tired of the Park Angle

The Dodgers on Friday shut the door on the Chan Ho Park controversy, saying they are focusing on the National League playoff races.

The club is disappointed that Park’s agent, Scott Boras, has publicly questioned the handling of the pitcher by Manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn, causing a distraction in the final days of division and NL wild-card races.

The Dodgers said that Park, who can become a free agent after the season, has been a key member of the team, and they hope he returns.

But enough is enough.

“It’s sad that we’re focusing on this situation right now, it really is, because it truly is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president, speaking on behalf of the organization. “Our focus is on making the playoffs, that is all anyone should care about right now, and I believe it is what everyone cares about.

“The fans don’t want to hear any of this, the players don’t want to talk about it and the front office is not even thinking about it. All we’re thinking about is our push for the playoffs.

“We want to put this situation behind us and move forward as quickly as possible. Everyone involved has said that Chan Ho is very important to this ballclub, and that the Dodgers would not be in the position that they are in without him here. End of story.”

Meanwhile, Boras clarified his position, stressing that stirring controversy is not his intention.

Boras, who represents seven players on the team, said he only wants Park to be “comfortable,” adding that he is not trying to negotiate in the media.

“We don’t negotiate contracts during the season,” he said. “We never have and never will. We’ve been through this many, many times before, and we’ve never crossed that bridge.”

Tracy also made his feelings known.

“I know how integral a part of this club Chan Ho is, and how much he has been all year long,” Tracy said. “We all know, with some of the injuries that we’ve sustained to our pitching staff, that we would not be in this position had he not done the job that he’s done for this club.

“Very simply put, that’s just the way it is. He’s done a phenomenal job for this team. But to me, the main focus right now is the ballclub. The entire ballclub.”

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Park acknowledged he has “so many things on my mind,” but the right-hander is not especially concerned about muscle stiffness on his pitching forearm.

He was forced to leave after seven shutout innings of a 3-2, 13-inning victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks that began Thursday and ended at 12:05 a.m. Friday on Shawn Green’s 47th home run.

Team physician Ralph Gambardella examined Park, who plans to pitch in a bullpen session today.

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Infielder Phil Hiatt, a journeyman minor leaguer, was selected the most valuable player of the Pacific Coast League.

Hiatt, 32, topped the minors with 44 home runs. He also batted .330 with 29 doubles and 99 runs batted in for triple-A Las Vegas.

Update--A marquee pitching matchup, clubs battling for the National League West title and the window closing quickly. Baseball doesn’t get any better than this, with Brown and Johnson sharing the stage in another September playoff push at Chavez Ravine. Brown has reaffirmed his standing as one of the game’s top starters and competitors, performing effectively despite a torn muscle on his pitching elbow. The right-hander is expected to undergo surgery after the season, but he has put those concerns aside. “You don’t have that many chances [to participate in the playoffs],” Brown said. “This is what it’s all about.” Johnson--a three-time Cy Young Award winner--can record his second 20-victory season today. The left-hander leads the major leagues with 342 strikeouts, and needs 42 to break Nolan Ryan’s season record of 383 in 1973. Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax set the NL mark with 382 in 1965. In two starts against the Dodgers this season, Johnson is 2-0 with 18 strikeouts in 14 innings.