Campanis Talks Big; Dodgers Win Small

Vice President Al Campanis popped up in the Dodger clubhouse Monday night, the jauntiness of his words matching that of his stride.

“A couple of months ago you were asking me when I was going to retire,” said Campanis, who had been in Albuquerque over the weekend watching the Dodgers’ Triple-A team. “Well, we’re going to win the pennant.”

That may come as news to followers of the National League standings, which show the Dodgers 3 1/2 games in arrears of the San Diego Padres in the Western Division.

So, what was it that inspired such a bold prophecy? Well, it came right after the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who usually just inspire pity, if anyone notices them at all.

In Pittsburgh these days, hardly anyone does, which is why Pirate owner Dan Galbreath is actively seeking a buyer for what once was one of baseball’s most venerated franchises, but now is about as popular here as the unemployment line.

If it weren’t for Cleveland, the Pirates would have the worst record in baseball. As it is, they’re already 20 games out of first place in the National League East with 52 losses in 79 games.

And Monday, Fernando Valenzuela beat the most pathetic Pirate of them all, pitcher Jose DeLeon, who already has a major league-leading dozen losses and is 3-21 since a year ago last June.

“I still don’t know how DeLeon is 2-12,” said Dodger third baseman Dave Anderson, whose two-run single in the fourth wiped out a 3-2 deficit and pinned defeat No. 12 on the Pirate pitcher.

“He has good stuff. You can ask anybody in the league.”

Of course, Anderson conceded that DeLeon didn’t exactly help himself by walking seven Dodgers in his 6 innings and 129 pitches worth of work.

“He gets behind hitters, which really hurts him,” Anderson said. “But you can’t give up on a guy who throws that kind of stuff. I’m sure there are 25 other teams that would like to have him.”

There were 6,537 fans in Three Rivers Stadium Monday night that probably would let another team take him, too, although they booed Pirate Manager Chuck Tanner when he finally replaced DeLeon with Al Holland in the seventh.

Someone asked Valenzuela, 9-8 after his league-leading 10th complete game, if he’d ever pitched before a smaller crowd--the term is used loosely. He nodded.

In Mexico, someone asked.

“No,” he said. “In Pittsburgh. Right here . . . What place is Pittsburgh in?”

Valenzuela then tried to be charitable. “Everybody knew the rain was coming tonight,” he said. “Or maybe because they knew I was coming.”

The man who once spawned Fernandomania laughed at the notion.

“Fernando draws that many off the side streets in L.A.,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “He draws that many who don’t even want to come to a ballgame.”

The Pirates were so sure that the rain was going to come that they had the tarp on the field and held up the start of the game by 15 minutes. Problem was, the sun was shining.

The thunder and lightning did roll in during the second inning, the same time Valenzuela ran into some stormy going himself. Steve Kemp doubled in one run in the second, then Valenzuela walked the next two batters, including DeLeon on four pitches, before retiring Marvell Wynne on a forceout.

When he came off the field that inning, he fired his glove and cap into the Dodger dugout. But the next inning wasn’t any better, as he gave up a double to Johnny Ray and three straight singles to George Hendrick, Jason Thompson and Pena as the Pirates took a 3-2 lead.

Thereafter, Valenzuela’s problems cleared as fast as the weather. He retired 11 in a row and allowed just two singles the rest of the way.

Was it possible, someone asked, that Valenzuela as a child used to hide under his bed during such storms.

“Maybe,” he said, laughing. “I don’t remember. But I was a little scared.”

He wasn’t the only one.

“I don’t know about him,” said Greg Brock, who doubled and scored in the Dodgers’ two-run second, “but I was jumping.”

That probably describes what Lasorda’s stomach was doing with two out in the ninth, when the Pirates had a runner on second and Wynne hit a grounder to the right of second baseman Steve Sax.

The inning before, Sax had thrown a ball over Brock’s head in a style reminiscent of Sax, vintage 1983. On this one, Sax threw it into the turf, but Brock scooped it up on a bounce to end the game.

“Want to take my pulse right now to see if it’s subsided yet?” Lasorda said.

No one had to check Campanis’ heartbeat. It was racing, as he hinted once again that he may have a trade in the works that would give his prediction greater credence.

“We’re working on some things,” said Campanis, who Monday discussed third baseman Bill Madlock with Pirates General Manager Joe Brown. He also said he’s still talking to Texas (Buddy Bell or perhaps Larry Parrish), but said “we aren’t remotely close to anything with Texas.”

One move Campanis is about to make, however, is to send Al Oliver to an American League team, where he could be a designated hitter.

“Any movement with Oliver wouldn’t be a trade,” said Campanis, which means it probably will be a waiver deal in which the Dodgers may pick up a utility player in return.

Of such moves pennants usually are not made. But it’s also possible, Campanis said, that the best move is the one you don’t make.

“Madlock’s available,” he said, “but we’re not going to disrupt our team to get him. I like the way things are going. We’re starting to get into a groove.”

Dodger Notes Bob Bailor, who was eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, remained in limbo, although Dodger Vice President Al Campanis said something probably would be done today. It appears that Jay Johnstone, who survived almost half a season while contributing exactly one hit, may be released when Bailor returns, although it’s not out of the question that the Dodgers would find a way to put Johnstone back on the disabled list. “I was eligible today, wasn’t I?” said Bailor, who went on the DL with a pulled right hamstring on June 23 but is healthy now. “It seems to me I could be helping out. I would allow him (Manager Tom Lasorda) more versatility in the moves he could make. But what can I do? He knows I’m ready. I just do what I’m told. Sometimes this game is beyond my thinking.” Asked if it (the game) keeps him up at night, Bailor said: “I’m past that stage.” . . . Dave Anderson, who had a two-run single and walked and scored a run in five trips Monday, has an on-base percentage of .420 (20 for 50) since becoming the Dodgers’ leadoff batter a dozen games ago. He also struck out three times Monday. “Nice going,” Greg Brock said, shaking his hand. Anderson: “At least I get my hat tricks against Gooden and those guys.” . . . Pedro Guerrero walked his first three times up, once intentionally. . . . Steve Sax had two hits, drove in a run and scored one, but also was caught in a rundown after one of his hits. “That was a bad play,” Lasorda said. “You can’t make that turn like that.”