Baseball : For Dodgers, It Takes Cash to Make Changes

Eight years after the signings of Dave Goltz and Don Stanhouse sent them into free-agent hibernation, the Dodgers have awakened aggressively.

Maybe it was the criticism they received for failing to pursue Tim Raines or the loss of 300,000 in attendance or the reality of their 146-178 record over the last two years.

Maybe it was all of that.

In any case, they have now signed three free agents--Kirk Gibson, Mike Davis and Don Sutton; failed in a pursuit of two more, Gary Gaetti and Dave Righetti, and shown a commitment to improving the team at considerable cost.

Bob Welch, who earned $800,000 last year, and Matt Young, who made $350,000, are gone, but the Dodgers have taken on $8,170,000 in payroll guarantees through the addition of just six players.

They are Gibson ($4.5 million for three years), Davis ($1.975 million for two years), Jesse Orosco (1988 salary of $1 million), Alfredo Griffin (1988 salary of $750,000), Jay Howell (1988 salary of $595,000) and Don Sutton (1988 salary of $350,000).

Gibson, the latest investment, reflected Saturday and said of the Dodgers: “I feel confident I can help restore their winning tradition. I’ll get along with them as long as my goal to do everything to win is also their goal.

“I know there are probably guys who have been there the past two years and have negative feelings. I want to change that.

“I’ll just be myself and work my tail off. I’ve never been a guy to call a meeting. I think I lead by example. Hopefully, that will (rub) off.”

What does Manager Tom Lasorda know about his newest player?

“I know he’s a bulldog,” Lasorda said.

Lasorda also knows that Gibson will play left field and bat third in the lineup. He called Gibson to assure him of that Saturday.

And what happens when Gibson returns to the dugout after hitting his first home run as a Dodger?

“I don’t know if I can hug anybody with his big belly,” Gibson said, alluding to you know whom.

The Dodgers gave Gibson a piece of the bank, but what about a uniform number? Tim Leary wears Gibson’s No. 23.

No biggie, Gibson said.

“I can win no matter what number’s on my back,” he said.

Gibson arrived in the major leagues with physical skills that were compared to Mickey Mantle’s. Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson was among the first to say so. That potential has often been an albatross.

Cynics pound at his 100 or more strikeouts in each of the last four years, the absence of a .300 batting average (except for the strike year of 1981), the weak throwing arm.

“The only thing I’m guilty of is never living up to everybody else’s expectations,” Gibson said in an Associated Press interview Saturday.

“When you give 100%, you have to accept what you’ve done. I don’t have to hang my head. I always gave my best. I have peace of mind.”

He added: “I’m a winner, that’s what compels me. That’s what will drive me in Los Angeles. The one thing I can guarantee the Dodgers is that I’ll give my best every inning of every game.”

The Tigers’ reaction to Gibson’s departure?

“Total disappointment,” shortstop Alan Trammell told Vern Plagenhoef of the Booth newspaper chain Saturday.

“It hurts us tremendously. We don’t receive any compensation, and we’re missing an important part of our club.

“To be honest, I don’t know what we’ll do to make up for it.

“Our odds in Las Vegas were 8 to 1 to go to the World Series and win it. I’m sure they’ll be higher now.”