Fill-in manager Lasorda in midseason vocal form
SPRING REPORT / FLORIDA 7, DODGERS 6
Serving a largely ceremonial stint while Joe Torre is in China, he is the first Hall of Fame manager to return to the dugout after retiring.
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda returned to the Dodger dugout today. But he didn't stay there long, charging off the bench to argue a call by plate umpire Damien Beal in the second inning of a 7-6 Grapefruit League loss to the Florida Marlins.
Never mind the fact Stevie Wonder could have seen that Beal made the right call. When the crowd reacted with boos, that was all the invitation Lasorda needed to rush the umpire, gesticulating wildly as the fans went nuts.
First base umpire Gary Cederstrom quickly came to Beal's rescue, pointing a grinning Lasorda back to the dugout.
While Joe Torre is in China with a Dodger team composed mainly of rookies and nonroster players, Lasorda will manage the players left behind. The position is largely ceremonial, though, because bench coach Bob Schaefer and third-base coach Larry Bowa will be making most of the decisions based on Torre's wishes.
"I want to do the things Joe wants me to do," said Lasorda, the first Hall of Fame manager to return to the dugout after retiring. "Joe's loaning me the team."
But Lasorda promised that the Dodgers would play aggressively, and they did today, scoring in the first inning after a successful hit and run, then running themselves out of the third inning when Delwyn Young was caught trying to steal.
"I'm going to manage the only way I know how to manage," Lasorda said.
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Left-hander Hong-Chi Kuo, attempting a comeback from elbow surgery, worked a perfect inning of relief, striking out Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida.
"It feels better each time," said Kuo, who has made three scoreless appearances this spring. "I just followed [catcher Russell Martin]. He gave me the sign and I just tried to hit a spot."
Right-hander Yhency Brazoban, also coming back from surgery, didn't fare as well, giving up four runs on four hits in his only inning, ballooning his ERA to 15.00 in three spring outings. Starter Derek Lowe also struggled, allowing three runs in four innings. He gave five runs in the span of six outs in his last start five days earlier.
At the plate, Rafael Furcal had three hits -- including a triple -- scored twice and knocked in two runs
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Torre has made three previous trips to Asia, visiting the Great Wall of China on one visit. Asked which was more imposing, the Great Wall or the Green Monster -- the great wall in left field at Boston's Fenway Park -- Torre answered, "depends on if you're a pitcher or a hitter, I guess."
