TOM HOFFARTH: There's a new Schieffer in town

Tom Schieffer, appointed by baseball commissioner Bud Selig to oversee the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to reporters Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Even in a suit and tie, Joe Torre couldn't have looked more relaxed.

Sitting up front at a Wednesday afternoon news conference to formally introduce J. Thomas Schieffer as the new MLB-appointed overseer of the Dodgers, Torre almost went unnoticed at the hotel ballroom down the street from Los Angeles International Airport.

When he decided not to return as manager of the Dodgers last August, Torre cited one of his biggest concerns as his inability to communicate as well with today's younger players. Yet when asked what advice he might be willing to give baseball commissioner Bud Selig about how the Dodgers have operated lately under the co-ownership of one Frank McCourt, Torre communicated his position quite clearly.

"That's not my role," the new executive vice president of baseball operations said, and then pointed over at Schieffer, who by then was pinned into a corner by a swarm of TV cameras.

"You gotta go ask him."

Make no mistake: No matter how much McCourt has run up on his charge card, Schieffer is now the one in charge. And Torre knows which side to best align himself with at this juncture.

Schieffer will give you that Midwestern "basebawl" drawl and sound like the district attorney Fred Thompson used to play on "Law & Order." But the fact is MLB has

lawyered up on a major-league way to make sure the Dodgers aren't leveraged in any more business dealings that could compromise the balance of financial stability for the other 29 owners.

If you're apt to pick sides from here to eternity, go with this 63-year-old gray-haired lawyer who has plenty of experience in real-life crisis management but acts as if he's simply standing there with a stop sign to help some kids get across the street safely.

There's a reason he was respectfully addressed all afternoon as "Mr. Ambassador," a title bestowed upon him by friend and former President George W. Bush when he was asked to negotiate issues pertaining to the United States' relationship with both Japan and Australia over an eight-year run.

If Schieffer was in the hot seat as a guest on "Face the Dodger Nation," not even his brother, Bob, could have forced him into making any huge blunders.

This Schieffer is just as polished, just as conditioned to respond in a civil manner, just as succinct in his assessment of a situation. When compared to the highly emotional tone McCourt brought to the table in front of reporters just moments earlier, Schieffer looked as if he'd just watched a hound dog chase his tail in circles before collapsing of exhaustion, then offering him a bone.

Asked about his first order of business, he explained: "I'm not in a rush to judgment on anything. I've been in a lot of situations in my life. I've found one of the things that really helps is to listen."

Expect some lapsed Dodgers season seat holders to have his ear soon.

Asked if he saw any potential conflicts developing between him and McCourt over the job description - McCourt wants to know if he's a "monitor" or "receiver" - Schieffer simply replied: "I look forward to talking to Mr. McCourt and hopefully we can have a nice visit and see what exactly what it is he's concerned about. ... And I'm not exactly sure what a `monitor' is."

McCourt knows: It's what most fans now use to watch Dodgers games, meaning there's money to be made there in TV rights fees.

Asked if Selig would ever give the franchise back to the McCourt, Schieffer said: "I think we're all open-minded. One of the advantages I have coming in from the outside I don't know all the rumors and all the stories. The facts will speak for themselves."

That statement alone should give McCourt reason to seek counsel. How many people are coming with him? "I'm not really into entourages," Schieffer said, "but I'll bring enough people to do the work."

He already knows nothing about how things work in Hollywood. All Schieffer says he wants Dodgers fans to know is "the instability and turmoil is coming to an end and we're going to get to the bottom of whatever the problem is.

"Baseball needs the Dodgers. L.A. needs the Dodgers."

And right about now, Schieffer could use a dose of Torre. In the best interest of baseball, of course.

"Joe Torre is a great baseball guy," Schieffer said. "I hope to pick his brain for any thoughts he's got. He's been an institution in baseball. When you have Joe Torre available to you, you use him. He'll play a role of helping me understand what's going on."

Just what McCourt needs - another ex-employee now working for the other side.

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