The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke couldn’t be happier with the Dodgers’ new choice for General Manager than if Ned Colletti said he’d never used a computer before.

Jeff Kent is the Dodgers’ most respected player, and he has often spoken of his admiration for Colletti as a front-office guy with people skills who understands his team.

Colletti worked diligently to keep relative peace in a place where Kent and Bonds so disliked each other, they once fought in the dugout. Insiders there say it could have been much worse.

Here’s guessing that Kent recommended Colletti and will give him the clubhouse support to make tough decisions. And here’s guessing that if Colletti spent last season with his finger on the clubhouse pulse, maybe the Kent and Milton Bradley feud ends before it starts.

Second, the Logan White factor.

The Dodger scouting director is the star of the organization, having built one of baseball’s best low-level minor league systems, with last year’s double-A Jacksonville club voted the minors’ best.

Look for White to become one of Colletti’s top evaluators, moving up perhaps even as assistant general manager, a situation that will work because Colletti will listen.

That’s the thing about being 50 instead of 32. You know that you don’t know it all. Colletti understands this, and will probably surround himself with smart people who will only make him look better.

Then, of course, there’s the best thing about this hire.

It’s a Giant killer.

Colletti worked in a small front office group where he will be sorely missed. Anything that hurts the Giants is good for the Dodgers, right?

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. A letter of reference from Lt. Dangle (citing people skills, of all things) and taking away Brian Sabean’s assistant, and Plaschke seems pretty satisfied the Dodgers are on the right track.