Strawberry Gets $4-Million Pitch From Lasorda

The way the story is told by Tom Lasorda, capo di tutto capi of Dodger field forces, he believes that Darryl Strawberry, coming from the New York Mets, needs depressurization.

You have to figure anyone coming from New York does.

“I get Darryl aside for a little talk,” begins Lasorda. One says to oneself, “Poor Darryl. I hope he has a lot of time.”

Lasorda continues: “I tell him, ‘Darryl, you’ve got a different environment here. You’re not being asked to carry this team on your shoulders. We want you to be happy. Just relax and play to your capabilities.’ ”

Because a tabloid war isn’t raging in Los Angeles, Lasorda assured the player relaxing would be easier in that earthly paradise.

Of course, the question has been raised whether Strawberry was the victim of a tabloid war or caused one. His comportment wasn’t listed as conventional.

“I have debated guys on his comportment,” Lasorda says. “People have said he is trouble. I answer: ‘Did he ever rob a bank?’ They say no. I say, ‘Then don’t tell me he is trouble.’ ”

It is interesting logic, setting Strawberry apart from Willie Sutton.

But Lasorda maintains that Strawberry has been bum-rapped and, in fact, has done admirable community work in Los Angeles, persuading kids to stay in school.

A counter-argument could be, you persuade certain kids to stay in school and they’ll rob it.

But, as a superb salesman Lasorda always takes the position that before you sell your product, you sell yourself, and he extols the many beauties of his $4-million-a-year ballplayer, dispatched from heaven to return his manager to the autumn classic.

“He’s a great hitter,” Lasorda says. “He belts 37 homers last year and knocks in 108 runs. Is anyone going to find fault with that? The only ones who do are those comparing him to Ted Williams. And you don’t compare guys to Ted Williams.”

“Why not?” he is asked.

“Because it’s vulgar,” Lasorda answers. “You don’t compare sportswriters with Shakespeare, either.”

Whatever Lasorda’s tactics, philosophies and everyday functions, they obviously work, proof of which is that he is embarked on the same job for 15 years, tantamount to several lifetimes in the context of what he does for a living.

No other manager active today has lasted 15 years on the same job.

“Only one other manager who was around when I got my job in 1977 is working,” Lasorda says. “That’s Sparky Anderson. I guess I’m lucky to be connected with the Dodgers. There are two forces in this world I never would turn my back on. One is my wife, Jo; I have spent 41 years with her. The other is the Dodgers, 42 years. Asked to choose between the two, I would have to give it thought.”

Every manager works in his own way. Dick Williams and Billy Martin ruled by fear. Earl Weaver drove his warriors with biting sarcasm. Walter Alston ruled without passion, but impressed those in his command with his fairness.

And Lasorda? He does it with huge and extravagant praise, explaining that if a player is in the market for knocks, he reads the papers or listens to fans.

Kevin Gross, a pitcher landing with the Dodgers this season, watches Lasorda hug Orel Hershiser on the practice field.

“I love the guy,” Lasorda says to Gross.

Gross responds: “You’ll be hugging me that way.”

Kevin’s chances will improve if he wins 23 games.

“But I’ll take 15,” Lasorda says. “I’m no glutton.”

It is hard to believe that the Dodgers over the last 38 years have employed but two managers. Alston, Lasorda’s predecessor, survived 23.

Asked why he kept the same manager that long, Walter O’Malley, late owner of the Dodgers, replied: “I figure that if you hire one manager 23 years or 23 managers a year apiece, the result will be the same.”

“That’s a break for Alston,” he was told.

“Not as much as it is for O’Malley,” he answered. “Do you know what my life would be like, having to face you guys 23 times with manager announcements?”

Walter O’Malley never lived to see a $4-million ballplayer. Tom Lasorda not only has lived to see one earn $4 million, but get hugged for taking it.