L.A.'s Hoffman Relieved Of Duties

Glenn Hoffman won't return as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers next season, and his coaching staff will also be replaced, the Orange County Register said in its Wednesday editions.

The newspaper said the Dodgers will announce Wednesday that Hoffman and the coaches will be offered other jobs within the organization.

Dodgers spokesman Derrick Hall confirmed late Tuesday that general manager Kevin Malone met with Hoffman during the day to discuss the 1999 season.

"But no official decision has been announced, and until the Dodgers make that announcement, we cannot comment on his status," Hall said.

Hoffman didn't answer his home phone, and didn't immediately return a message.

Hoffman, 40, guided the Dodgers to a 47-41 record after replacing Bill Russell, who was fired along with general manager Fred Claire on June 21.

Tom Lasorda was named to replace Claire on an interim basis, and succeeded by Malone on Sept. 11.

The Dodgers had only two managers Hall of Famers Walter Alston and Lasorda between 1954 and 1996, and Lasorda held the job from 1977 until being succeeded by Russell midway through the 1996 campaign.

Hoffman was manager of the Dodgers' Albuquerque farm club of the Pacific Coast League when Russell was fired.

A few days after Hoffman took over, Charlie Hough, Mickey Hatcher joined the coaching staff, replacing Glenn Gregson, Reggie Smith and Mark Cresse. Others on the coaching staff are Joe Amalfitano, Mike Scioscia and Manny Mota.

Montreal Expos manager Felipe Alou is believed to be the leading candidate for the managerial job. Malone was general manager of the Expos during the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

Believed to be other possibilities to succeed Hoffman are former Boston Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy and former Baltimore Orioles manager Davey Johnson.

Alou, 63, has one year remaining on his contract with the Expos, but it's believed that won't prevent him from managing the Dodgers if that's what he wants.

The Register reported that Malone said Tuesday he had not yet contacted the Expos about speaking to Alou.

The Dodgers, out of contention in the season's final days for the first time since 1993, finished a turbulent season with an 83-79 record, including 15-9 in September.

The Fox Group finalized its purchase of the team in March, and changes and injuries were rampant throughout the season, starting in mid-May when the Dodgers, struggling with a losing record, traded slugger Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins in a blockbuster seven-player deal.

The Dodgers and Piazza were unable to agree on a contract extension, prompting the deal. Piazza, traded to the New York Mets a week after being sent to the Marlins, remains unsigned for next year.

The Dodgers made the playoffs in 1995 and 1996 and were eliminated from contention on the final weekenlast year.

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