On a Claire Day, You Can See All the Way Down to Anaheim

That’s some view Fred Claire has from inside the general manager’s office at Dodger Stadium.

Look closely and there’s an angelic sight. “It’s nice to look out the window,” Claire says, “and see Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry working out together.”

Look a little farther down the road and there’s Angelic blight. Wally Joyner says no. Kirk McCaskill says no. Bobby Bonilla says no. Otis Nixon says no. Danny Tartabull says no. Three months into their winter reparations and all the Angels have done is find a slogan for 1992.

Just Say No.

Claire’s chair is a good place to be. From it, he could afford to kick back and look down his nose at the collapse behind the Orange Curtain. The cold war is over. The Dodgers won. The evil empire 35 miles south is breaking up, with an old Angel or a potential Angel declaring his independence every other week, leaving the serious Southland baseball fan with only one serious option for the season ahead.

Claire could gloat, but steadfastly refuses, at least for public consumption. Bad manners, bad taste, bad for business.

“I don’t think that living down the road from one another means we can’t have a very frank, very candid relationship,” Claire says. “If we can help one another, we should try to help one another.”

In other words, Claire is still trying to unload Kal Daniels and the Angels still have a loading dock, unless it just decided to sign with the White Sox for less money.

So Claire treads carefully, and with empathy, when asked about the name change in Orange County--from Anaheim Stadium to No Man’s Land.

“Well, you know, we’ve gone through that, too,” Claire says. “I can recall a time when we were in the market for a second baseman. We tried to sign Ron Oester, but he chose to stay in Cincinnati. We tried to sign Tommy Herr, but he went to Philadelphia.

“I began to feel like the guy on the old television show, ‘The Millionaire,’ except I couldn’t find anybody to give the million dollars to.”

Claire acknowledges that the Angels “have had their bumps in the road,” with a disclaimer. “If anything,” he says, “it shows the complexities and the challenges of our game. If anybody thinks this is easy, it just isn’t. It’s extremely difficult.

“The Angels have lost some players, but they’ve also taken steps to sign their important players to long-term contracts. That part of it is behind them. I have tremendous respect for Whitey Herzog and Bob Rodgers . . . When you have people of that caliber, they will do well. They are good people, dedicated people, knowledgeable people.”

Besides, Claire may have a room with a view, but the interior decorator isn’t close to finished.

On one wall, he can hang a portrait of the best outfield in baseball--Strawberry and Davis flanking Brett Butler--but where’s the infield?

He has two starting pitchers suitable for framing--Ramon Martinez and Orel Hershiser--but Tim Belcher is in Cincinnati and Mike Morgan is now a Chicago Cub, leaving two open nails protruding from the plaster.

Tom Candiotti qualifies as Spackle, but can Kevin Gross and Bob Ojeda truly be considered pennant-building material?

Does Todd Benzinger plus Eric Karros plus Kal Daniels, if and when, equal one Eddie Murray?

Will the real Jose Offerman please step forward? And if he already has, can he please step back so a real shortstop gets a chance?

This is the state of the National League West, one month before pitchers and catchers report: The Dodgers have added an All-Star outfielder and an All-Star knuckleball pitcher to a roster that finished one game back in ‘91--and may have slipped.

Last year, the Dodgers couldn’t catch the Atlanta Braves.

This year, they might not be able to catch the Cincinnati Reds, either.

“I feel good about our ’92 ballclub,” Claire says. “It’s obviously going to be a different ballclub, but one I feel good about . . .

“This year, we lost three (position) players to free agency--Gary Carter, Eddie Murray and Alfredo Griffin. Three of our top prospects, whom we feel are ready, can fill those three positions. Carlos Hernandez is a catcher, Eric Karros can play first base and Jose Offerman is a shortstop.

“That was the time to make the transition. That’s what any good organization needs. In baseball, as in any other business, you have to get younger.”

Not that Claire wouldn’t have minded keeping Murray and losing Daniels, mind you.

“We offered Eddie Murray $3 million. We were intent on signing Eddie for one year,” Claire says. “You can’t fault him for signing for $8 million. He’s better off by leaving.”

The Dodgers would be better off by Daniels leaving, but so far, no takers. One Dodger general manager, Mr. Strawberry to you, has already called for his trade, calling Daniels a malcontent--and that was when Daniels had a position to play. The other Dodger general manager, sensing an inevitable collision course with team morale, is listening.

“We’ve made no secret that we’re open to trading Kal,” Claire says. “I tried talking to Whitey about him at the winter meetings, but Whitey was being besieged by all that was happening there.

“I know Whitey likes him. The Angels have made some moves. Right now, they, like everybody else, is evaluating what it has and what it needs.”

Just what the Angels need: Another Dodger the Dodgers don’t want. Claire is smart to keep the lines of communication open, but the Angels, pardon them please, can’t stop smarting over Fernando Valenzuela.