PREVIEW ’93 : Reloaded Dodgers Eager to Exorcise Demons of ’92

While sitting in the clubhouse during a recent exhibition game, Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis looked up at a television and heard their manager, Tom Lasorda, saying those familiar words: “ If Darryl and Eric are healthy we have a very good chance . . . “

“Uh oh,” Strawberry said, shaking his head. “Here he goes again, laying it on our shoulders.”

“Guess we better go lift some more weights,” Davis said.

But the Dodgers believe they have more players to rely on than just Strawberry and Davis. Lasorda believes he has five players who can hit the ball out of the park, including Eric Karros, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, and a rookie catcher, Mike Piazza, whose power vaulted him out of the minors.

Lasorda has a proven closer, a defense for a change, and a future Hall of Famer he calls “Bulldog” again. He has a set lineup, a group of regulars who have spent the spring together, and there is team chemistry, that unmeasurable factor that can make the difference in a season. The players say there is unity in the clubhouse and on the field, even among the reserves.

“It started building from the first day of spring when Tommy had a meeting and talked to us about unity,” Lenny Harris said. “He told us that we all needed to pull on the same side of the rope, we needed to be together. Last year, we were in the cellar. This is a new year.”

On that note, before the Dodgers broke training camp Wednesday, infield coach Joe Amalfitano came in the clubhouse and yelled to the players, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” Next to Lasorda, the misery of last season might have affected Amalfitano the most.

But the Dodgers will still suffer unless they do something about their bullpen. With few exceptions, their middle relief is shaky. They are in sore need of a strong left-handed reliever, maybe two, and spent too much time this spring gambling with bargains that didn’t pan out.

If they shore up the bullpen, they will be competitive. But to win, they need a few breaks. As much improved as the Dodgers are, so is the rest of the National League West. Every time the Dodgers look up they will see Atlanta, Cincinnati and Houston.

This is one season the Dodgers won’t mind seeing Candlestick Park.

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This is not the same team that lost 99 games last season, made 174 errors, hit a league-low 72 home runs and scored only 548 runs. If it is, expect to say goodby to Lasorda, who is in the last season of his contract, and Fred Claire, the club’s executive vice president in charge of player personnel.

Over the winter, the Dodgers traded for third baseman Tim Wallach and second baseman Jody Reed and signed relief pitcher Todd Worrell for three years at $9.5 million and reserve infielder/outfielder Cory Snyder for one year at $1.35 million.

The team re-signed reserve outfielder Mitch Webster and relievers Jim Gott and Roger McDowell and cut loose pitchers Bob Ojeda, John Candelaria, Jay Howell, Tim Crews and catcher Mike Scioscia.

“This club has more togetherness than last year’s did. Guys rag on one another a little more and I guess we have a common goal,” said Karros. “Everybody has a lot to prove after what we went through, and everybody has a motivating factor.

“You can just go down the lineup. Jose Offerman wants to throw away last year. With Brett Butler, you get the question of age. With Davis, it’s injuries. With Strawberry, he’s coming back. Wallach has had two sub-par years. With myself, I need to prove that last season was no fluke. Piazza is trying to break into the lineup and Jody Reed is coming off a sub-par year.”

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While Claire spent the winter shopping with a limited checkbook, Strawberry and Davis were healing from injuries that limited them to a combined 119 games, 10 home runs and 57 RBIs last season. They both had surgery near the end of last season--Davis on his shoulder, wrist and hand and Strawberry for a herniated disk.

If they stay healthy, the third through seventh spots in the Dodgers’ batting order can be explosive.

This spring, Davis, who will bat third, worked hard to regain the bat speed he had before 1990, when he suffered a kidney injury diving for a ball in the World Series. He hit the ball well in the spring, batting .302 with three home runs and five doubles in 63 at bats. He knocked in 15 runs, scored another 14 and walked 10 times.

Strawberry, batting cleanup, came along slower with minor pulls and tightness, but he’s healthy. He knocked in 11 runs, hit a lot of balls to the fence and five of his 10 hits were for extra bases.

Wallach, batting fifth, worked overtime on his swing, and once he started hitting he never stopped. He left Florida leading the team in RBIs with 16, sacrifice flies (four), tied for the team lead in doubles (six) and hit .292 with three home runs.

Karros had an even better spring than last year when he played well enough to win the 25th spot on the roster and then went on to win rookie honors. This spring, Karros hit. 388 with a team-high four home runs, six doubles and 11 RBIs.

Piazza followed in Karros’ footsteps and took it a step further. He won the starting catcher’s job over Carlos Hernandez and Lance Parrish, with a hot bat (.500), three home runs, a triple, four doubles and 10 RBIs.

Aside from some spots in the bullpen the catcher’s job was the only one up for grabs and Piazza took his godfather, Lasorda, off the hook by making the decision easy.

“I don’t want to brag about him,” Lasorda said, “but he really was a shining star in camp. He has worked hard.”

Piazza hit the ball so hard this spring he helped inspire a team of veterans.

“He hits the ball harder than anybody I have played with in 12 years that hits seventh, and that shows you what kind of team we have,” Butler said.

Butler, batting second behind Offerman, may be the oldest guy on the team at 35, but he shows no signs of slowing down. The best bunter in the National League, Butler hit .300 in camp and plays center field as aggressively and flawlessly as ever.

Offerman, who hit .260 last season, looks improved with the bat and Reed, a lifetime .280 batter, was starting to hit well when camp broke.

On the bench is Snyder, who has power and plays such solid defense in the infield and outfield that he will play a lot; Webster, a switch-hitting outfielder who hit .361 with two home runs and 12 RBIs as a pinch-hitter last season; left-handed hitters Harris and Dave Hansen and right-handed hitter Mike Sharperson, all utility infielders.

Backing up Piazza is Hernandez, a consistent line-drive hitter whose defensive skills could have won him the starting catcher’s job if Piazza hadn’t excelled at the plate.

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Other than Lasorda and Amalfitano, no one is as happy with the Dodgers’ defensive improvements as the pitching staff. The addition of Wallach and Reed has helped Offerman improve at shortstop. And Karros has worked hard on his defense this spring and is improved at first base.

“I’m more comfortable this year,” Offerman said. “I’m ready to go. Things are working out real well with Jody and me and that’s what I’ve been working for.”

Offerman, who made 42 errors at shortstop last year, is showing signs of maturity. He made only two errors this spring.

Reed, who broke into the majors playing shortstop for Boston and then switched to second, took charge of the situation from the beginning and says Offerman never questioned his leadership.

“I’m really happy about it,” Reed said. “Sometimes young guys aren’t ready to listen, but Jose hasn’t been like that at all. From the first time I met him, he was open. I told him he didn’t need to make the spectacular plays just make the routine ones.”

Reed makes spectacular plays routinely.

“It’s just unbelievable to watch Jody Reed and Wallach and Offy, how he is developing, and to watch Piazza,” Orel Hershiser said. “This year everybody knew their role coming in, the starting seven guys, with the only competition at catcher, so the relationships started very quickly.

“I believe this team came in with the attitude of we have to be gamers, we have to be tough. There is a lot of motivation to not be embarrassed and to show people that was not the real Dodger team last season.”

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The all right-handed starting rotation of Hershiser, Ramon Martinez, Tom Candiotti, Kevin Gross and Pedro Astacio is solid. But Martinez strained his hip and pitched inconsistently this spring.

Still, Martinez says he’s fine and Ron Perranoski, the pitching coach, says Martinez’s sharpness is improving. He is scheduled to make his first start Tuesday. If he can’t, his younger brother Pedro is waiting in the wings.

The good news is that Hershiser is fully recovered from shoulder surgery. Lasorda is so thrilled with the dean of the staff that he named him the opening-day pitcher Monday against the Florida Marlins at Joe Robbie Stadium.

Gross is throwing so hard he could have started the season a month ago and will pitch the home opener April 13. Candiotti’s knuckleball is dancing and Astacio, who threw four shutouts in his 11 games last season, is confident and eager.

In the bullpen, Worrell, who spent most of the spring recovering from tendinitis, has thrown hard in his limited outings. Gott and McDowell have been consistent in relief, but after that, it gets shaky. Steve Wilson, the only left-hander, did a decent job this spring, but the Dodgers’ are still trying to make a deal for another southpaw.

“I’m leaving here with a good feeling,” Lasorda said. “I think we accomplished what we wanted to when we arrived and that was to get prepared physically, mentally and fundamentally.

“I told the players it’s going to be tough, but I feel we can compete and play aggressive, daring and winning baseball.”

Los Angeles Dodgers / BOYS OF BLUE

Healthy stars Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis should help Dodgers rebound from their first last-place finish in 87 years.

The Team

The Dodgers had the sixth-best earned-run average in the majors last year.

Fresh Faces

Tim Wallach and Jody Reed should help improve a defense that committed 174 errors. Mike Piazza hit 29 homers for Bakersfield in ’91.

Time Wallach / 3B:

‘92 at Montreal

Avg.: .223

HRs: 9

RBIs: 59

Named to five All-star teams. Jody Reed / 2B

‘92 at Boston

Avg.: .247

HRs: 3

RBIs: 40

Hit less than .280 for first time in ’92. Mike Piazza / C

‘92 at Albuquerque

Avg.: .341

HRs: 29

RBIs: 69

The Skipper:

Tommy Lasorda enters his 44th season with the Dodger organization. He has managed in four World Series.

Tommy Lasorda / MGR

Career record as Dodger manager:

Won: 1,339*

Lost: 1,199

PCT.: .528

*Second among active managers.

New Guys on the Block:

Eric Karros joins Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela, among others to become the 12th Dodger to win N.L. Rookie of the Year honors. The Dodgers lead the major leagues in number of recipients.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 12

Yankees and Browns/Orioles: 7

Reds and Senators/Twins: 6

The Fun Stuff:

Get your nuts here: The grilled-versus-steamed controversy has simmered down at the home of the famous Dodger Dog. Both types are now available along with the traditional vendor-delivered peanuts and sodas. The stadium also offers fast-food fare from Carl’s Jr., Pizza Hut and TCBY Yogurt. The Dodgers sold about 3 million hot dogs last year, down from the 3.5 million in 1991.

Oh say can you sing? If you are interested in singing the national anthem, mail a letter and cassette tape to the Advertising and Special Events Department, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, 90012. A cappella or an accompanied performance is fine, but no Jose Feliciano-or Jimi Hendrix-type performances. List any previous singing experience. If you want to sing on a particular group night, send the tape and letter to the Group Ticket Sales department. That way, if you’re chosen to sing, you’ll be able to perform on the night your group attends.

Want to write to your favorite Dodger? Kids of all ages want to get to know their favorite ballplayers, and writing a letter or a note of encouragement is a good way to show you care. You can write to let Ramon Martinez know he should throw more curveballs. In return, you probably will receive a pocket schedule, sticker and/or a couple of baseball postcards. You may get a note back from a player. Address your letter to: (Player’s Name), Los Angeles Dodgers, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA. 90012. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Power Broker?

On Aug. 28, 1990, Jose Offerman became the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. He’s hit one more since.

Opening Day Order:

(’92 averages)

1 Offerman .260

2 Butler .309

3 Davis .228

4 Strawberry .237

5 Wallach .223

6 Karros .257

7 Piazza .341*

8 Reed .247

9 Hershiser .221

* LF Eric Davis

CF Brett Butler

RF Darryl Strawberry

1B Eric Karros

2B Jody Reed

SS Jose Offerman

3B Tim Wallach

P Orel Hershiser

C Mike Piazza

*The Schedule, How to Get There, Seating, Tickets and Tidbits Home park: Dodger Stadium Location: 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles 90012 Phone number: (213) 224-1400 Seating capacity: 56,000 1992 attendance: 2,473,266 1992 average per date: 32,120 1992 largest crowd: 49,018 (April 6 opening day vs. Giants) Record crowd, regular season: 55,185 (July 28 1973, vs. Giants) Parking and hours: Parking lots open two hours before game time ($4). Gates open 90 minutes before game.

Advance ticket purchases: Monday through Saturday, 1750 Stadium Way, adjacent to the Naval-Marine Center; 8:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Also available at various locations in the stadium and at the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City.

Telephone ticket orders: Ticketmaster: (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232; 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday. MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover. Dodger order line: (213) 224-1HIT; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. MasterCard ad VISA. Add $1 surcharge. Orders made 10 days before a game are mailed. Late orders pickup at will call.

Mail orders:

Must be received seven days before game. Add $3 per order for postage and handling. L.A. Dodgers, P.O. Box 51100. Los Angeles, 90051-0100. Late orders held at will call.

Club Level: (reserved for VIPs, sponsors, comp.)

Pavilion: $6*

Field Box: $11

Loge Box: $11

Top Deck: $6*

Reserved Level: $8

*Special prices on general admission for children, senior citizens and the military, sold 90 minutes before game time: $3

Promotions for kids 14 and younger:

4/16-Baseball cards; 4/28-Bat/batting glove; 5/2-Videotape; 5/26-Fielder’s glove; 6/8-Baseball radio; 7/21-Jersey T-shirt; 7/24-Helmet; 8/8-Trading cards; 8/11-Sports sunglasses; 8/24-Baseball; 9/9-Backpack.

Local television and radio: KTLA (channel 5) will televise 46 road games. It will also televise the Angels. KTLA will show one team or the other nearly every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the season (95 total games). All Dodger games are on KABC 790 AM and in Spanish on KWKW 1330 AM.

National telecasts and cable: CBS (Saturdays): 5/15 at Houston, 5/29 at Pittsburgh, 7/24 vs. Mets. ESPN (Sunday night): 4/18 vs. Pirates, 7/11 at New York

Source: Los Angeles Dodgers