Guillen’s Comments Bother Duncan

Dodgers first base coach Mariano Duncan considered Ozzie Guillen a trailblazer and role model, a Latino who rose through the coaching ranks to become a manager after his playing career ended.

But after Guillen’s string of controversial comments this year, Duncan has revised his opinion. And he has a message for the flamboyant Chicago White Sox manager.

“Think before you talk, or you can really hurt yourself and hurt a lot of other people,” Duncan said.

“He’s opened so many doors to Latino coaches. Now he’s in a position where people are listening to him. But he’s throwing everything away by the way he’s behaving.”

Duncan, 43, is in his first year as a major league coach. He spent several years coaching in the minors after a 12-year playing career that began with the Dodgers in 1985 and included World Series championships with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.

Eventually he’d like to become a manager. He wonders whether Guillen’s inflammatory remarks could jeopardize his chances.

“He embarrassed every Latino player, coach and front-office person,” said Duncan, who is from the Dominican Republic.

Before spring training, Guillen questioned Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra for wanting to play in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican and Mexican teams, respectively.

“Ozzie is a hero in his country [Venezuela] and a hero in my country,” Duncan said. “We are here in America, where you can speak freely. But you don’t say everything that comes to your mind. He has to learn to slow down a little bit. You have to learn how to close your mouth.

“Baseball needs people like Ozzie Guillen. He motivates people. He’s a smart guy. But he’s got to be smarter than that.”

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The steroids investigation headed by former Sen. George Mitchell will make its way to the Dodgers in July, according to a high-level source. Managers, coaches and front-office personnel from every team are being interviewed.

Donald Fehr, head of the players union, has recommended that any current or former player contacted by investigators consult with two lawyers -- one from the union and one of their own choosing.

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Outfielder Ricky Ledee’s minor league rehabilitation assignment has been pushed back a few days because he felt discomfort in the groin area that has kept him on the disabled list since May 2. . . . Second baseman Jeff Kent will get today off.

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*--* THE MATCHUPS 2006 2006 VS OPP TEAMS/PITCHERS W-L ERA TEAM W-L IP ERA Pittsburgh/Kip Wells (R) 0-1 16.20 0-1 -- -- -- L.A. Dodgers/Brad Penny (R) 7-2 2.83 9-6 -- -- --

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* vs. Pittsburgh, Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

* On the air: TV -- Channel 9. Radio -- 980, 1330.

* Update: Although only two of Penny’s 15 starts could qualify as poor, one was five days ago when he gave up five runs to the Seattle Mariners. The only time Penny faced the Pirates as a Dodger was his first start after being acquired from the Florida Marlins in August 2004, and he pitched eight scoreless innings. Wells has made one start since coming off the disabled list. He had surgery in March to repair a blocked artery in his chest.

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-- Steve Henson