Colletti Looks for Lajoie’s Unbiased Opinion

Ned Colletti has developed respect for the front-office employees he inherited upon becoming general manager in November, but he wanted to add someone who had no role in assembling the current roster and farm system.

Someone who would be brutally honest in assessing Dodger deficiencies and needs.

That someone is Bill Lajoie, who was a special assistant to General Manager Theo Epstein in Boston the last three years, worked in a similar capacity at Milwaukee and Atlanta in the 1990s and was the Detroit Tiger general manager from 1984 to 1990.

Lajoie is 71, but he will view the Dodgers with a fresh pair of eyes, evaluating the big league roster and farm teams early in the season, then turning his attention to identifying potential trade partners.

“It’s an interesting opportunity,” Lajoie said. “It seems like a good fit.”

Colletti hired Lajoie despite barely knowing him, relying on the enthusiastic recommendations of Manager Grady Little, assistant general manager Roy Smith and bench coach Dave Jauss.

Little has known Lajoie since both worked for the Atlanta Braves. Whenever Little interviewed for a managerial opening, he would call Lajoie.

“I’d do research on an organization before interviewing, but Bill would know 100 things that I could never find any other way,” Little said.

Lajoie can’t seem to stop working. He tried to retire Oct. 18, but when Epstein quit two weeks later, he accepted an offer to return for a short time to help with the transition to a new general manager. When Epstein returned to the Red Sox in January, Lajoie tried to retire again.

“I was sitting here fully expecting not to work,” Lajoie said from his home near Sarasota, Fla. “Then I got a call from the Dodgers. I’ll be in Vero Beach on Wednesday to get started.”

*

Autograph seekers are out in full force at Dodgertown, but the most prized signature isn’t from any of the players.

Hitting coach Eddie Murray, a Hall of Famer who hit 504 home runs in a 21-year career that ended in 1997, has spent time every day after workouts have ended patiently signing for large groups of fans.

*

Seven young pitchers from major league camp and several from minor league camp are scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game Tuesday at Jacksonville, Fla.

In addition to starters Chad Billingsley and D.J. Houlton, top prospects Jonathan Broxton, Greg Miller, Eric Stolts, Justin Orenduff and Jose Diaz will pitch.

Among veterans, infielders Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, Olmedo Saenz, Oscar Robles and Ramon Martinez, and outfielders Jose Cruz Jr., Ricky Ledee and Jason Repko will play.

*

Little amended a comment he made last week that shortstop Rafael Furcal’s knee would be sufficiently recovered for him to play in the first Grapefruit League game March 2 against the Braves, Furcal’s former team.

“He’s on pace to be 100% in April, there are no surprises,” Little said. “But it’s going to take a few more days before he can play in a ballgame.”

*

Rain restricted workouts to indoor batting practice, pitching drills and sliding practice. ... Reliever Yhency Brazoban did not throw because of shoulder soreness the Dodgers said was minor. ... Martinez checked himself into a hospital after becoming ill and dehydrated early Saturday morning. He practiced Sunday.