After a Short Trial, Dodger Fans Already Have Offerman Verdict

Too bad the box scores don’t show everything that happens in a ballgame. On April 10 in San Diego, Fred McGriff came up with the bases loaded and Tim Crews on the mound. Tom Lasorda senses that Crews is no longer effective and inserts left-hander John Candelaria to face left-hander McGriff. Percentages, right? Wrong. McGriff hits a grand slam. Dodgers lose.

Two days later, Dodger reliever Steve Wilson, a left-hander, has a 1-1 count on right-handed hitting Gary Sheffield, with two men on. Lasorda strikes again. He brings out Crews to face Sheffield. Wrong again. Sheffield hits a three-run homer and the Dodgers lose again. Does Lasorda ever guess right?

AL MARTINEZ

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