Tommy Lasorda Forgets It's Spring Training

· Steele: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-an-extraordinary-man-of-principle-and-conviction/">Man of Conviction | <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/hank-greenberg-could-relate-to-flood/">Greenberg Relates
· Moore: Flood's Peers Owe Him Apology
· Blackistone: <a href="http://kevin-blackistone.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-belongs-in-the-hall-of-fame/">Cooperstown Should Open Doors
· Fletcher: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-a-hero-to-todays-players-those-who-know-his-name/">Modern Players Know Little of Flood
· Stradley: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/for-curt-flood-antitrust-meant-exactly-that-at-supreme-court/">Antitrust Meant Just That

So, Joe Torre is headed to China with part of his Dodger squad for two exhibition games against the Padres this week. And someone thought it was a good idea to put Tommy Lasorda in charge of the rest of the team that stayed behind in the States. Hey, no big deal, it's just spring training, let the Dodger icon have some fun in the dugout in a no pressure situation.

That is until he ran out onto the field in the second inning of today's loss to the Marlins.

Lasorda's first game back, a 7-6 loss to the Florida Marlins, seemed just like the old days. The 80-year-old stormed onto the field in the second inning to argue with an umpire when James Loney was tagged out running to first base on a bunt. Lasorda thought it was foul.

The play ended the inning, and Lasorda was directed back to the dugout as the crowd cheered.

"He was yelling," Loney said. "He was giving it to him. But that's Tommy, though. You've got to win."

I'll cut Lasorda some slack here; he is 80 after all. Heck, he could probably accidentally step into the batter's box in the nine hole next time around and it'd be OK. Just make sure not to throw at him. I bet he bruises easily.