Not since Steve Garvey wore that Dodgers jersey number has it attracted the attention it did when new manager Joe Torre conducted his first workout in charge at Dodgertown. And not since Tom Lasorda has a manager been so much the focal point of this organization.

Torre found a way to observe his pitchers' bullpen sessions while signing his name by the hundreds through the three-hour workout. He shunned the customary golf-cart shuttle and felt frisky enough to walk the complex in the early part, only two months after knee replacement surgery. He was constantly mobbed, fans following him like the Pied Piper all the way to far-off Field 4.

Torre said he couldn't sleep well Thursday night -- "That's when you know the excitement is still there, knowing you're addressing the guys for the first time," he said -- and arrived at his clubhouse office at 6 a.m. ET. He had to be let in because he forgot the keys, then held his first team meeting at 9:30.

"It wasn't rah-rah, but you want to send a message what to expect from me," Torre said. "It's not very complicated. It was just an orientation, to be ready to play all nine innings. I want to get them used to an openness we bring to make them comfortable."

Torre conceded sensing a certain level of apprehension.

"The players aren't really sure with the new manager," he said. "In a few days, they'll loosen up. They were all business and they need to have fun. They'll learn to mix business and the fun part. They'll relax when they get to know me."

Asked if he felt his players might be somewhat intimidated by his superstar persona, Torre said: "I hope not. My wife accuses me of that look. If I intimidate people, that's certainly not my intention."

On the other hand, after last year's late-season collapse on the field and in the clubhouse under former manager Grady Little, Torre's commanding presence is openly welcomed by some veterans.

"We need a forceful guy," said pitcher Derek Lowe. "We had to do something to get the best out of people and there's no better guy than him. I'm excited."

Torre discounted last year's publicized clubhouse rift between old and young.

"I've had people tell me about it," he said. "Everybody seems to think it was no big deal. To scrape up what happened last year is not fair to anyone involved. You learn from it and move on."

At 67 and with his fifth managerial job, Torre has his work cut out. Since Sparky Anderson won with Cincinnati in 1975-76 and again with Detroit in 1984, four World Series winning managers have tried to duplicate the success with another club and only Tony La Russa has accomplished it.

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Torre said he was comfortable wearing Dodger Blue instead of pinstripes, but said he expected his camp would run similar to his Yankees camps. He said he wanted to stress fundamentals, particularly because of the youthful roster, and he agreed that the casual atmosphere of Dodgertown and the accessibility of fans to uniform personnel was a change from the Yankees complex in Tampa, post-Sept. 11.

"It's just how personal this place is," he said. "It's a good feel. The access is great. I signed a lot today because it was the first day, but it won't interfere with what I do. The climate of the country the last seven years has changed a lot. They tried to protect against things with New York. L.A. is a big city, too. It's just the way it's set up here."

Torre said his priority for the first workout was to watch his pitchers' bullpen sessions. The initial line of fire had starters Brad Penny, Esteban Loaiza, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda climbing the mounds.

"It was good to finally put the faces with the names and now put the ability with the faces," Torre said. "You could see Kuroda knows what he's doing."

Torre passed on the question of his Opening Day starter, saying he wouldn't announce that until after exhibition games begin. The Giants have already announced that Barry Zito and Matt Cain would start the first two games of the season against the Dodgers. Torre is expected to choose either Penny or Lowe.

He said he was pleased with the relative health of his squad so far. Everyone in camp participated in drills on Friday, including Jason Schmidt, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

"Pitching is what it's all about," Torre said. "Only Schmidt is a question mark, and that's lightly drawn, as far as I'm concerned."

The manager said he had not yet decided whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers. A schedule that includes four off-days by April 28 could impact that decision, as well as whether the club opens the season with a four- or five-man rotation. A fifth starter likely would be needed by the eighth game on April 8 in Arizona.