Alou Can’t Talk About Dodger Job

Kevin Malone and Felipe Alou were a good team while with the Montreal Expos, helping to lead Montreal to the best record in the major leagues during the strike-shortened season in 1994.

Malone was hired as the new Dodger general manager Friday, and he might replace Manager Glenn Hoffman at season’s end. Might Alou be headed for Chavez Ravine as well?

“That’s not something I can comment on,” said Alou, who is under contract to manage the Expos through next season. “The only comment I can make is that I always appreciated Kevin Malone, and I liked working with him.

“I have great, great respect for him, and we worked very well here [in Montreal]. I enjoyed everything we did together, but I’m still under contract with Montreal. I’m very happy for him, but I’m preoccupied with helping the team survive in Montreal.”

Alou is considered among the best strategists in the game. He has been especially successful furthering the development of players from his native Dominican Republic.

He has one season remaining on his contract at about $600,000. Tampering rules prohibit team officials from commenting on the personnel of other clubs, but Alou is among those Malone trusts most.

“Of course, there are group of people I feel confident in to do certain jobs,” Malone said. “There are people I’d like to be in the trenches with, be in foxholes with, because I know their commitment to getting things done, and there are people I have in mind [for certain roles with the Dodgers].

“But my first order of business is to evaluate the organization, and get a feel for the people in place.”

TONGIHT

DODGERS’ DAVE MLICKI (8-7, 4.53 ERA) vs. PADRES’ STAN SPENCER (1-0, 3.32 ERA)

Qualcomm Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150.

* Update--Dodger starting pitchers have worked at least seven innings in 12 of the last 13 games. Mlicki pitched seven innings in his most recent start, giving up four runs in a 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.