Hatcher Goes, Carter Stays in Dodger Moves

Several yards from where fans crowded their favorite players as they walked to their cars late Sunday afternoon, a gray-haired player swatted at baseballs in a tiny batting cage.

Crouched over a green carpet, grunting into the humid air, struggling to find his swing, he was quite a sight. But nobody was looking.

It was Mickey Hatcher’s last act as a Dodger. Hatcher was released Sunday evening to make room for catcher Gary Carter.

“I guess that’s the end of this stunt man,” said Hatcher, 36. “I guess I’ve got to find more bridges to fall off.”

Hatcher, who said he will try to find work with another team, is best known for helping the Dodgers to the 1988 World Series championship by leading a group of reserves he called “The Stuntmen.”

Since rejoining the team in 1987, he became a Dodger Stadium favorite with his head-first slides, diving catches and dugout antics. He batted .277 in the past four seasons while serving as one of the clubhouse leaders.

But when he batted .152 in 15 games this spring while Carter showed he could fill a similar utility role, Hatcher’s act became old.

“We feel Mickey has come to the end of the line,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “It’s a sad day for me and a sad day for all the Dodgers.”

Said pitcher Orel Hershiser: “Mickey is going to be sorely missed by every player. His spirit, his willingness to help out guys no matter if he was in competition with them . . . he was one of the best guys in the world to play for.”

Some other Dodgers felt only anger.

“What a terrible, terrible mistake,” one veteran said. “Some people obviously don’t realize what Hatcher meant to this team.”

Another player said: “It makes absolutely no sense. Nobody on the team is going to like this move. Why did they have to get rid of him just because of an extra catcher?”

When Carter’s one-year contract becomes official today, he will be the Dodgers’ third catcher, behind Mike Scioscia and Barry Lyons. Lyons will be used mostly for defense, and Carter will become a right-handed pinch-hitter.

Last season, Hatcher batted .298 in 47 pinch-hit at-bats and Carter batted .211 in 19 such appearances. Hatcher had 14 pinch hits, ranking second in the major leagues.

Many Dodgers apparently don’t trust Carter’s ability with a bat or behind the plate. He hit .254 last year with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 244 at-bats and threw out only 20.5% of base stealers.

Carter is batting .250 this spring with two doubles and two RBIs in 36 at-bats.

“Seeing people get released is the hardest part about this game, and I hate it,” said Carter, who will be 37 opening day.

Hatcher joked about being summoned into Lasorda’s office and given his release while wearing only a towel.

“I thought they were calling me in there to eat,” Hatcher said. “Then I saw that the bowl (of food) was empty, and I knew I was in trouble.”

He joked while being summoned to a phone call from Hershiser, who was offering his condolences.

“Orel already knows about it?” Hatcher shouted. “Or was it his decision?”

Later, Hatcher shook his head and spoke softly.

“This is maybe the saddest day of my life right here,” he said. “It may look like I’m very happy, but deep inside I’m very sad. It was always my dream to end my career in L.A. And that dream is gone.”

It wasn’t that Hatcher was surprised. Even at the start of spring training, he predicted that he would have trouble making the team despite his value in the clubhouse. He batted a career low of .212 last season.

“I knew this from the get-go, I just didn’t know it would come so soon,” Hatcher said. “I didn’t see any room for a guy to be just a right-handed pinch-hitter. I knew I wasn’t going to make the team just to be a cheerleader. And I didn’t want it to be that way.”

Shortly before he was released, Hatcher was in the batting cage taking cuts for an hour because he had not appeared in the Dodgers’ 8-1 victory over Atlanta.

Hatcher will be paid 45 days’ salary, which amounts to a $135,989 severance check. Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, also offered Hatcher a job within the organization if he could not find a playing position elsewhere.

But Hatcher said he is not ready to quit.

“It’s not over with yet,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get an opportunity somewhere else. You’ll see me again soon.”

Dodger Notes

Even though Milwaukee General Manager Harry Dalton told a Milwaukee newspaper that he has discussed trading reliever Dan Plesac to the Dodgers, Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, denied that a deal was in the works.

“Discussions and rumors about a major deal are simply not true,” Claire said. “We have to reduce the roster to 25, so there will be certain moves involved there, but the club we are going to field is basically that club in the Dodger clubhouse.”

The Dodger could trade several extra pitchers for the left-handed Plesac, including Jim Neidlinger, John Wetteland and Mike Morgan. They probably also would have to part with bullpen regular Mike Hartley. Plesac struggled last season with a 4.43 earned-run average, but he had 24 saves, and has collected 110 saves over four seasons.

Left-hander John Candelaria will have his contract validated. The Dodgers need to make another move to free a roster spot for him, meaning a minor leaguer will probably be lost to another team.

Darryl Strawberry played six innings in the Dodgers’ victory over Atlanta, getting a single and a walk in four plate appearances. It was his first game since he suffered an injured hamstring March 11. “It feels great. I’m going to be in that lineup from now on,” Strawberry said. . . . Stan Javier crumpled at home plate when a pitch from Atlanta’s Paul Marak bounced off his right knee. Javier iced the knee Sunday night and doctors should know more today. . . . Jeff Hamilton had a cortisone injection in his right hand, which doctors believe is sore from overuse. Hamilton, who is working overtime this spring after missing most of last season because of shoulder problems, could return to the lineup today.

Dave Hansen, Eric Karros, Greg Smith, Carlos Hernandez, John Wetteland and Henry Rodriguez were sent to triple-A Albuquerque. The Dodgers need to make four more moves to reach their 25-man limit. One will be to put Hershiser on the disabled list. Another will be demoting shortstop Jose Offerman, leaving only pitchers Dennis Cook and Dave Walsh with no certain Dodger future.