Ill-Considered Trades, Drafts and Injuries Have Undone a Once-Superlative System : Farm Aid--Dodgers Need Some Real Help

As bad as it is for the Dodgers, help is just:

a) Around the corner.

b) A phone call away.

c) Hidden in Tom Lasorda’s next fortune cookie.

d) None of the above.

Help used to be just a phone call away. Now the answer is d.

Now it’s almost impossible to gauge the status of a farm system once considered baseball’s best.

The standings in the Pacific Coast, Texas, Florida State and California leagues indicate a collapse comparable to that suffered by the varsity, but a farm system can’t be measured strictly on wins and losses.

The depth of the talent, the quality of the instruction and the consistency of the development are equally critical yardsticks. As applied to the Dodgers, there is a basic agreement: The system isn’t what it once was. The difference of opinion develops over where it is, what it is and how far it is from being what it once was.

Some observers say there is a shocking disregard for fundamentals, a surprising absence of two Dodger trademarks: Pitching and depth, and an alarming tendency to trade some of the best prospects in impetuous and ill-conceived attempts to fill holes at the top.

Supporters, such as farm director Bill Schweppe and scouting director Ben Wade, say the amateur draft has created the parity it was designed for and made it impossible for any organization to dominate that market, particularly when a club is consistently drafting as low as the Dodgers do, a result of their consistent success.

They also say that the standings are something of an illusion, stemming, in part, from a myriad of injuries suffered by the Dodgers, which has created a domino effect throughout the system, forcing players to advance a year or two ahead of schedule.

Said executive vice president Fred Claire:

“We’re not concerned in terms of the records because we’ve had enough continuity to recognize what’s important in the way of development. We’ve really had to rush a lot of players through the system in the last year or two, forcing a lot of them to the top. Once we’re able to stabilize at the major league level, it will give the minor league clubs a chance to stabilize, too. We still have tremendous confidence in the people concerned with scouting and development.”

Here are the records:

The Albuquerque Dukes of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League were 28-43 in the first half, placing fifth and last in the Southern Division; the San Antonio Dodgers of the Double-A Texas League were 29-37 in the first half, finishing four in the four-team Western Division; the Bakersfield Dodgers of the Class-A California League were 20-51 in the first half, placing fifth and last in the Southern Division, and the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Class A Florida State League, which does not play a split season, were in third place at 44-37 through Saturday:

Moreover:

--The tendency to err, manifested with damaging frequency at the major league level, obviously starts young. Albuquerque had made 86 errors in 68 games; San Antonio 58 in 74; Vero Beach 77 in 75, and Bakersfield an almost unbelievable 133 in 73.

--This is not a one-year development. The four clubs were a combined 46 games under .500 in 1985 and 39 under in ’84. None of the four completed a full season at .500 or better. And last year: Albuquerque was next to last in the PCL in total errors, next to last in fielding and seventh among 10 teams in pitching; San Antonio was next to last in fielding and pitching; Vero Beach was next to last in fielding, and Bakersfield was next to last in pitching and last in errors.

Said Dennis Latta, sports editor of the Albuquerque Journal: “The No. 1 problem is that the Dodgers just don’t seem to care about defense. All they want is power. All they want is for (outfield prospect) Ralph Bryant to hit the ball five miles. The fact that every fly ball hit to him becomes a ballet dance doesn’t matter--at least it doesn’t seem to.”

Said Jim Lefebvre, the ex-Dodger who manages the PCL’s Phoenix Firebirds for the San Francisco Giants: “When I was in the Dodger system it seemed like everyone had to earn a promotion step by step. Now it seems like their players aren’t staying in one place long enough to learn their trade. I don’t pretend to know what the problem is, I’m only talking about what I see. I’m not being critical. I’m only trying to be objective.

“I mean, teams change drastically over the course of a season. You can’t help that. But the one thing the Dodgers always had was tremendous depth. They’d call up one guy and replace him with someone just as good. Now you don’t see that. The once fertile farm system isn’t there, and that’s kind of sad.

“We played in Albuquerque the other night and they had only eight position players and had to use three pitchers as pinch-hitters. They seemed to have a whole lineup of guys out of position, including Gil Reyes, who used to be their best catching prospect. Reyes played first and made a two-run error that cost them the game.

“The other thing you don’t see anymore are all those hard throwing right-handers and left-handers who could overpower you, big kids who could hump it in there. That was their trademark, but now they seem to have guys who are like crafty veterans in the way they try to finesse you.

“Like I said, I don’t know what happened and don’t pretend to.”

Said sports editor Latta:

“The Dukes’ best pitcher is a guy named Brian Holton, who’s 26 and coming off arm surgery. It used to be that they’d have one or two top pitching prospects every year. It used to be that I’d write one or two nasty columns every year because they wouldn’t give all these guys a chance. Now it’s the opposite. Instead of having guys rot on the vine, they don’t have enough to fill a team, period.

“Of course, it used to be that they’d beat people on trades, and they don’t do that anymore either. They’re the beatees, and it hurts ‘em at this level because they always seem to be giving up three for one.”

It’s a complex puzzle, but the trades are a definite factor in the dilution of a farm system that produced:

--Pitcher Sid Fernandez and shortstop Ross Jones, a No. 1 draft selection, who went to the New York Mets for Bob Bailor and Carlos Diaz.

--First baseman Sid Bream and outfielders R.J. Reynolds and Cecil Espy, who went to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bill Madlock.

--Outfielder Candy Maldonado, who went to San Francisco for backup catcher Alex Trevino.

--Pitcher John Franco and pitcher Brett Wise, who went to the Cincinnati Reds in the re-acqusition of utility infielder Rafael Landestoy.

--Pitcher Ted Power, who went to Cincinnati for minor league infielder Mike Ramsey.

--Pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, who went to Cleveland for catcher Jack Fimple and pitcher Larry White.

--Second baseman Alan Wiggins and catcher Dan Bilardello, both lost when unprotected in the December draft.

Fernandez and Sutcliffe, of course, became two of baseball’s top starting pitchers. Power saved 27 games for the Reds last year, and now Franco has emerged as a leading relief pitcher. Reynolds and Bream are playing regularly for Pittsburgh, and Maldonado has come off the bench to deliver a series of key hits for the surprising Giants.

The Dodgers are too much of a family for one department to publicly criticize another, but there is obvious unhappiness over many of the one-sided giveaways, which were compounded by the loss of farm system product Steve Howe through his drug abuse.

“You lose a pair of left-handed pitchers like Howe and Fernandez and that’s a setback,” scouting director Wade said. “The thing to remember is that we’ve put more players in the majors than any other club, so how can you kick the scouts?”

No one is kicking, though there is concern.

Wade and Schweppe both acknowledged it, saying the Dodgers emphasize winning in the minors as a means to building confidence and that a losing team is always a reflection on the caliber of the players and the pride of the organization.

They added, however, that the organization has been subjected to extenuating circumstances and that the standings shouldn’t be interpreted as an absence of prospects.

“I don’t think we have as many as we once did, but there’s nothing you can do about it drafting as low as we have,” Wade said. “You don’t come up with a Strawberry or Gooden drafting 19th and 20th every year. That’s just the way it is. They put the draft in to even things up. It eventually will if it already hasn’t.”

In the 22-year history of the June draft, the Dodgers:

--Have selected better than 16th only five times, and only once since 1970.

--Have drafted 19th or higher 12 times.

In the same span, operating basically with a home-grown team, they have won eight pennants or division titles and finished second or third on eight other occasions, a tribute to the scouting staff.

Said Claire: “In the last 10 years, despite the bad drafting position, we’ve probably won more games than any team in baseball. That shows you the good work our people have done identifying talent.”

If the Dodgers have missed at times, so have others. In the 1965 draft, for example, Johnny Bench was not taken until the second round. Nolan Ryan wasn’t taken until the 10th. In 1971, Mike Schmidt and George Brett lasted until the second round while Ron Guidry didn’t go until the third. Andre Dawson was selected on the 10th round in ‘75, Rickey Henderson on the fourth in ‘76, Tim Raines on the 5th in ‘77, and Cal Ripken on the second, Dave Stieb on the 5th and Kent Hrbek on the 17th in ’78.

It’s an inexact science complicated by the fact that clubs often draft for need. In 1983, for example, the Dodgers were looking specifically for a left-handed pitcher. They drafted 18th and chose Erik Sonberg of Wichita State. Sonberg has since undergone arm surgery and faces an uncertain future. The Boston Red Sox, drafting 19th that year, selected a right-handed pitcher named Roger Clemens.

“There’s no chemical formula,” said Schweppe, forgetting 1968, when the Dodgers seemed to have one.

Drafting fifth, their best position ever, they put together what is considered the best draft ever, selecting Bobby Valentine, Bill Buckner, Joe Ferguson, Tom Paciorek, Doyle Alexander, Steve Garvey and Ron Cey, this after having selected Davey Lopes and Geoff Zahn in January’s secondary phase.

The 1968 draft carried the Dodgers for more than a decade. They had virtually nothing to show for the next five years--with apologies to Doug Rau, selected in 1970, and Rick Rhoden, taken in ’71. Then they began to move again. Mike Scioscia was drafted in ‘76, Bob Welch and Tom Niedenfuer in ‘77, Mike Marshall and Steve Sax in ‘78, Greg Brock, Orel Hershiser and Howe in ‘79, Reynolds in ‘80, Dave Anderson and Bream in ‘81, Franklin Stubbs and Reggie Williams in ’82.

A healthy 1986 team, the nucleus of which has contributed to one World Series victory and two other division titles since 1981, includes 15 farm products, which is another reason the cupboard may be comparatively bare now.

Of course, the Dodgers aren’t and haven’t been healthy, putting an additional stress on a farm system that 1) successfully responded to the Class of ‘68’s ultimate departure and, 2) has endured its own injury wave.

Said Wade: “If Pedro Guerrero doesn’t get hurt, no one would be saying a thing about the minor league clubs because it only matters if you win at the major league level.”

The Dodgers won a division title with Guerrero last year. Now he is one of eight injured Dodgers, prompting the recall of four members of the Albuquerque team: Third baseman Jeff Hamilton, shortstop Craig Shipley, outfielder Ed Amelung and catcher Fimple.

If that alone didn’t create what Vice President Al Campanis calls a “domino effect” throughout the beleaguered farm system, there is also the fact that 13 minor leaguers are on the disabled list.

There had been as many as 20 previously.

Said Schweppe, an executive with the Dodgers for more than 40 years:

“I hate to make it sound like an excuse, but in my experience this is the worst injury wave we’ve ever suffered, and it’s had a significant impact on the way all of our clubs have played.”

Schweppe’s point is that the Dodgers have found it necessary to force feed throughout the system, accelerating advancement while using players at alien positions, a situation that even baseball’s largest instructional staff, which is what the Dodgers have, can’t keep up with, let alone cope with.

How bad has it been? Schweppe pointed out that during one week in April the Dodgers lost three shortstops: Manny Francois and Carmelo Alvarez to shoulder injuries at San Antonio, and Shipley to a thumb injury at Albuquerque. Greg Mayberry, the organization’s top pitching prospect, went on the San Antonio disabled list April 24 with a shoulder problem that required surgery and has not pitched since. Sonberg, the No. 1 of ‘83, has not pitched because of a shoulder injury, and Mike Cherry, the No. 2 of ‘83, has not pitched because of an arm injury that has him on the voluntary retired list.

The situation has forced the Dodgers to do something they seldom do, which is to sign veteran free agents to fill holes in the minors. Pitcher Steve Baker and infielders Jim Anderson and Chris Clark are now at Albuquerque.

Said Wade:

“A lot of organizations win awards and talk about how great their farm system is, but they’re doing it by filling in with veteran players who were signed as free agents after being released by other clubs. We’ve never done that unless we were absolutely forced to.”

Where does this leave the system once it regains some health? Will it still be ailing, but in a different way? Only time will tell, of course, but both Wade and Schweppe feel that the standings aren’t indicative, that the figures lie.

They believe that Hamilton is the third baseman of the future, that Shipley has a shot at shortstop, that Reggie Williams and Jose Gonzalez will ultimately vie for center field, that Dennis Powell will soon rejoin the varsity pitching staff, that infielders Mike Watters and Mike Devereaux and outfielders Chris Gwynn and Ralph Bryant are bona fide prospects and that San Antonio has at least five pitching candidates in Shawn Hillegas, Bill Brennan, Jeff Edwards, Bob Hamilton and Dennis Livingston. There is also a first baseman at Albuquerque named Larry See, who has 18 homers and 64 runs-batted-in and is the successor to Marshall, Bream, Brock and Stubbs as the successor to Garvey.

The Dodgers, of course, have always oversold their young talent, draping them in the hyperbole of great expectations, often unfulfilled. All of that makes the current situation more difficult to read.

Asked if he agreed with those who contend that the Dodgers have always had the best farm system, Schweppe said, “When you consider our success over the years I wouldn’t dispute it.”

Concerned now? Yes. But not to the point, Schweppe said, of instituting changes in his fundamental approach to an uncertain business.

“I think the recent history at the major league level shows that no club can dominate any more,” Schweppe said. “The goal is to be competitive and in position to win, and we’ve continued to do that.”

Said Wade: “We’ve always been fortunate in that we’ve been able to fill the big club with players out of our own system. With the nucleus of young players who have already made it to the Dodgers, and the prospects in the minors, I think we’ll be competitive for many years.”

A Look at Dodgers’ Farm Clubs

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (CLASS AAA) SOUTHERN DIVISION (First-Half Standings)

Team (affiliation) W L Pct. GB Phoenix (San Francisco Giants) 43 28 .606 -- Tuscon (Houston Astros) 38 33 .535 5 Las Vegas (San Diego Padres) 36 34 .514 6 1/2 Hawaii (Pittsburgh Pirates) 32 40 .444 11 1/2 Albuquerque (Dodgers) 28 43 .394 15

TEXAS LEAGUE (CLASS AA) WESTERN DIVISION (First-Half Standings)

Team (affiliation) W L Pct. GB El Paso (Milwaukee Brewers) 37 29 .561 -- Midland (Angels) 35 30 .538 1 1/2 Beaumont (San Diego Padres) 30 38 .441 8 San Antonio (Dodgers) 29 37 .439 8

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (CLASS A) SOUTHERN DIVISION (First-Half Standings)

Team (affiliation) W L Pct. GB Palm Springs (Angels) 48 23 .868 -- Ventura (Toronto Blue Jays) 45 26 .634 3 Fresno (San Francisco Giants) 37 34 .521 11 Visalia (Minnesota Twins) 32 39 .451 16 Bakersfield (Dodgers) 20 51 .282 28

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE (CLASS A) SOUTHERN DIVISION

Team (affiliation) W L Pct. GB Fort Lauderdale (New York Yankees) 46 34 .575 -- West Palm Beach (Montreal Expos) 41 32 .562 1 1/2 Vero Beach (Dodgers) 44 37 .543 2 1/2 Miami (Cleveland Indians) 41 42 .494 6 1/2