Evans’ Position Remains Strong

PITTSBURGH -- With News Corp. moving closer to selling the Dodgers, General Manager Dan Evans is in a strong position despite the club’s early-season problems, baseball officials said Friday.

The Dodgers have struggled on offense in a 10-13 start after expressing confidence in spring training about winning the National League West, and first baseman Fred McGriff, the centerpiece of Evans’ plan to improve run production, has not produced as expected.

But Evans has received high marks from competitors for assembling a club many still believe will be a force in the division. Moreover, the commissioner’s office is delighted that the Dodgers are again exercising sound financial judgment under Evans, because big-market clubs set baseball’s salary structure.

There are no assurances that the new ownership group will retain Evans or any members of the current regime, but Evans has influential supporters who are expected to lobby on his behalf.

Evans is focused on the present.

“My energy is directed on doing what I have to do for the ballclub,” said Evans, guaranteed $500,000 this season and in 2004. “My focus is on my job, and anything less would be doing myself and the team a disservice.”

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Setup man Paul Shuey went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee, and the club recalled utility player Jason Romano from triple-A Las Vegas.

Shuey suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in Thursday’s 3-2, 11-inning loss at Cincinnati. The Dodgers, concerned about pitching, have carried 12 pitchers since Romano, who batted .228 in 14 games with the 51s, was optioned to Las Vegas on April 8.

“I probably need seven or eight days, but we don’t have a seven-day [disabled list],” said Shuey, 2-1 with a 0.68 earned-run average after throwing 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his last nine appearances.

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Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s racial barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, will be honored Wednesday with a congressional gold medal.

Robinson’s daughter, Sharon, will receive the award in recognition of her late father’s contributions to civil rights. The ceremony will be held in Washington.

“The [award] is well-deserved and long overdue,” said team President Bob Graziano, who will attend the event. “Jackie was an extraordinary talent and pioneer, and will forever be one of America’s treasured symbols.”

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Pitcher Kevin Brown, who had been weakened by an upper-respiratory infection, on Thursday’s seven-inning, 11-strikeout no-decision: “I felt more like a human being. For the first time in several games, I walked out there and felt like I had a chance.”