Gibson, Claire Shout Before Dodger Loss

Who says there is no fight left in these Dodgers?

Shortly before the start of a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh Sunday, outfielder Kirk Gibson engaged in a heated shouting match with Vice President Fred Claire in Manager Tom Lasorda’s office.

Lasorda’s door was closed, but the shouting was loud enough to be heard throughout the clubhouse. Although neither Claire nor Lasorda would comment on the nature of the dispute, it was apparently a culmination of frustration over Gibson’s situation on the team.

Coming on the final day before the All-Star break, it provided a fitting end to a fitful first half in which the Dodgers finished with 10 losses in their last 16 games and a 39-43 record.

“This team is going to have to get a lot more together, that’s for sure,” Claire said.

Sources close to the team said the meeting, which occurred about 11:30 a.m., began with Gibson asking about his status with the team. Two weeks ago, sources said he requested a trade because he wants to return to his Detroit-area roots and because he had not been offered a new contract, a report which the Dodgers would not deny but which Gibson claimed was “wrong.”

While discussing Gibson’s status with him Sunday, Claire reportedly became upset and began scolding Gibson. He reportedly told Gibson that he should think less about himself and more about the team. He accused Gibson of having a bad attitude.

Gibson, who has played out of position in center field this season without complaint, became incensed with the remarks and began shouting. The two men reportedly began stalking each other around the room with Lasorda serving as referee.

When the meeting ended, Gibson left the office to the stares of hushed teammates.

“What happened in there was my business,” Gibson later said.

Said Lasorda: “Was there yelling in there? I don’t think there was yelling. It all depends on what you think is yelling.

“My voice comes through that door all the time when I’m talking to (coach) Bill Russell and I love Bill Russell. Whoever was in that meeting has a lot of love and respect for each other.”

The sounds on Sunday would indicate otherwise. It appears the emotional meeting could mark the beginning of the end of Gibson’s successful tenure with the Dodgers, during which he led them to a World Series championship in 1988 as the National League’s Most Valuable Player.

“It would not surprise me if he is traded during the All-Star break. . . . Or I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes until August,” one source said.

Problems may have started last winter when Gibson, rehabilitating from knee surgery, casually asked Claire if he would discuss a new contract. Claire refused, even though Gibson’s contract expires at the end of this season.

Since returning to the lineup June 2, Gibson has hit .253 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 24 games. Although his eight-game hitting streak was broken Sunday, he has hit in 16 of his last 21 games at a .297 pace.

Sunday’s meeting between Gibson and Claire was not their first encounter since the reported trade request, but it probably was their loudest.

“There was no great resolution, but everybody had a chance to say what they wanted to say,” Claire said of the meeting.

Although Claire said he was not talking about any specific players--or even Dodgers--he then criticized players who complain about their situations.

“We’re using the wrong players for examples,” he said. “We are looking to the wrong guys for admiration.

“Instead of everybody writing about some guy who is hitting .330, people should write about a guy like Juan Samuel, who goes out and does his job and doesn’t make excuses and doesn’t pop off.

“We aren’t going to turn this team around unless everyone stops looking for excuses and looking to blame somebody, and instead looks in the mirror. I’ll take the blame for my part in our problems. . . . I wish everyone else would also look in the mirror.”

Claire’s mention of Samuel was interesting considering Sunday’s game ended with Samuel standing near second base after running on a one-out fly to left field by Alfredo Griffin. The ball was caught by Barry Bonds, but Samuel made no attempt to return to first base to avoid the double play. Bonds’ throw to Sid Bream was high and off the base, but Bream had the rest of the afternoon to grab the ball and touch the base and end the game.

“It was a typical way for the first half of this season to end,” one Dodger said.

The loss, which kept the Dodgers at a season-high 12 1/2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds, was also typical in that another fifth starter candidate struggled. Terry Wells, in his second start since being recalled from triple-A Albuquerque, gave up seven runs--four earned--in four innings that were marred by poor fielding.

“We’ve got to get our act together,” Lasorda said. “This losing, I can’t take it.”

Dodger Notes

Manager Tom Lasorda canceled Tuesday’s scheduled workout. The Dodgers will travel to Chicago Wednesday for a weekend series with the Cubs. “We’ve been playing a lot and, with a night game in Chicago Thursday, we can work out early there,” Lasorda said. . . . Tim Belcher received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder Sunday, a procedure he had been considering for several weeks because of shoulder inflammation. Although he had a 4-2 complete-game victory over Pittsburgh Saturday, he said his shoulder is still not feeling 100%. He is scheduled to pitch Saturday in Chicago.

The Dodgers are considering beginning the season’s second half with Ramon Martinez facing the Cubs Thursday, Fernando Valenzuela pitching Friday, Belcher pitching Saturday, Mike Morgan working Sunday, and No. 5 starter candidate Terry Wells pitching Monday in St. Louis. Wells will probably receive at least one more start before the Dodgers make a decision on his future. So far, they are viewing him as a potential relief pitcher.

DODGER ATTENDANCE Sunday: 37,271

1990 (46 dates): 1,679,102

1989 (46 dates): 1,790,975

Decrease: 111,873

Average: 36,502