IT'S ONE HALL OF A LOSS.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

The Dodgers are missing their voice as an organization. Through all the success of last season, their offseason of upheaval, their inconsistent start to this year, he is what has been sorely missing.

Derrick Hall will be at Bank One Ballpark today when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Diamondbacks. Not as part of them, but to greet them.

Hall is now part of the Arizona organization, which is terrific for the Diamondbacks but feels all wrong.

Hall should be with the Dodgers, their center in the storm, their constant voice of reason, clearheaded and honest, astute and thoughtful.

He spent a dozen years with the Dodgers. He rose from intern to Vero Beach Dodgers club official to public-relations director for the big club. He spent his last five years with the Dodgers as senior vice president of communications.

As former general manager Kevin Malone and managing partner Bob Daly suffered from verbal faux pas disease, it was Hall who more and more became the spokesman for the club. Hall would calm the seas, show the direction.

Hall grew up in the Valley until he was 12 years old. His castle in the sky came to life in Chavez Ravine.

``When I grew up, my goal was to work for the Dodgers,'' Hall said. ``One of the reasons I went to Ohio University was because it had a program started by Walter O'Malley. It was a direct tie with an internship.

``I figured if I went that route and made my objectives known that hopefully I could plan my path.

``It was my dream to work for the Dodgers, and I did so. That was my team. That was my market. That I will never forget. That organization is always going to be special to me.''

But he left it last spring shortly after Frank and Jamie McCourt took over as owners to assume a similar job with KB Home.

The McCourts wanted him to stay.

``When the opportunity for me to leave baseball and try my hand in the business world with a Fortune 500 company, it seemed like a golden opportunity I had to take advantage of and give it a shot,'' he said. ``And I'm glad I did. It's a great company.

``At the time, it seemed the right thing to do. But after a year you look back and think, `Am I doing the right thing?' Maybe. But am I doing what I truly love and enjoy? No.

``You have to follow your heart. That's what made it so difficult. It may not have been the best business decision, but it was a great personal decision to go back to baseball.''

Since Hall left, the team's day-to-day public relations has remained strong, but as an organization the Dodgers have taken a constant battering.

The McCourts, and their new general manager Paul DePodesta, have been frequently criticized. Poor communication between the front office and the media has led to a steady stream of negative publicity.

And the McCourts have been anything but patient.

They hired an outside public-relations firm to advise on righting the storm.

Shortly afterward, Lon Rosen, hired as an executive vice president to oversee marketing and communications, and Gary Miereanu, hired as vice president of communications, were both fired less than a year on the job. More personnel turmoil for the club still recovering from the loss of Hall.

Any veteran follower of the Dodgers would say Hall could have made a dramatic difference in how the public perceived the new club owners and their personnel moves.

Hall is less certain, but said he always watches how every club responds to troublesome issues.

``When I pick up the paper I think, 'How would I have handled that differently?' '' he said. ``That's not to say I would have if I'd been there. A lot of my staff is still there and do a tremendous job. Obviously winning cures everything and they had a great year last year.

``As long as new ownership gives it time , doesn't overreact and sticks to their plan, things will work out.''

Hall said he did not leave the Dodgers because of the McCourts, but because he was not prepared to go through a third ownership transition (Peter O'Malley to Fox, Fox to Daly, Daly to the McCourts) in five years when he had such an attractive offer waiting.

One season away from the game, however, and he felt its call.

``There were so many times last year when it was difficult because I continued to watch the Dodgers, to pull for them in a season where they were successful,'' he said.

``I was happy for them, yet at the end of the day you say, 'Boy, I wish I was there.' I have children that grew up in the clubhouse there, both at Vero Beach and in L.A.

``It's an amazing game to be around. The game doesn't become a part of you, you become a part of it. It's a different world.''

His outstanding reputation had several clubs inquiring in the offseason if he wanted to return to baseball. His old job, even if it took two positions to fill it, remains open with the Dodgers but they were not one of the clubs.

Hall received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State, and in the Diamondbacks and Phoenix, he saw his best opportunity.

``If it's not the L.A. market, to me the best market is clearly Phoenix,'' he said. ``It's a growing market, still a relatively new organization with loyal fans.

``I see a lot of similarities here as to what I first experienced when I started out with the Dodgers. A real family feel, caring about the fans, the overall experience and it's important to me to work in that sort of environment.''

Now Hall holds the same title of senior vice president of communications with the Diamondbacks, with the same job description and same duties, as he had with the Dodgers. He started last week.

Maybe some day he'll will return to Los Angeles with an NFL team, but for now his leadership and voice of reason will help clear the path for the Diamondbacks organization.