BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Three Become Free Agents

Infielders Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson became free agents after refusing assignments to Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League. Catcher Don Wakamatsu, who spent the season with Albuquerque, also became a free agent.

As free agents, the players will have the right to talk to other teams regarding possible contracts.

Harris, 28, played in 107 games this season and batted .238 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in. Sharperson, 32, batted .253 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 73 games.

ANGELS: Four Players Clear Waivers

The Angels said catchers John Orton, Ron Tingley, pitcher Jerry Nielsen and infielder Jim Walewander cleared waivers and were removed from their 40-player roster. Orton, Tingley and Walewander were eligible for free agency and chose to take that course.

Nielsen, 27, was acquired along with J.T. Snow and Russ Springer for Jim Abbott last December. Nielson was 0-0 for the Angels with an 8.03 earned-run average in 10 games. In 33 games with Vancouver, Nielsen was 2-5 with a 4.20 ERA. He has been put on Vancouver’s roster.

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS: Bell Lashes Out at Lamont

The Chicago White Sox, who were accused of being dull during the season, suddenly are riddled with controversy and dissension.

Designated hitter George Bell, informed that Bo Jackson would be in the lineup instead of him, ripped into Manager Gene Lamont, saying he wants to be traded rather than play again for Lamont. The White Sox, according to one club official, said Friday that they will take care of that problem by not picking up the option on Bell’s $3.3-million contract.

“If that’s what he believes,” Lamont said, “that’s what he believes. But he just bit the hand of one of his biggest backers, and his most important backer.”

Bell, who played eight years for the Toronto Blue Jays and desperately wanted sweet revenge, verbally attacked Lamont in an interview in the Toronto Sun.

“I don’t respect Gene Lamont as a manager or a man,” Bell said. “What he’s doing to me is cruel. He’s not showing me any respect. I’m not the only unhappy guy in that clubhouse. There are 10 or 11.

“I live for situations like this. I should be in the lineup. . . . If they keep me next year, I’ll ask to be traded. I won’t play for Geno again.”

When asked Friday about his comments, Bell didn’t back down, saying: “Everything I said, I said because Geno deserves it. I don’t want to sound selfish, but that’s the way I feel. I’m not the only guy on this team who thinks that way. I’d say 48% of the guys feel that way.”

Bell also had a parting jab at Jackson: “People love Bo because he’s on TV selling things. The only thing I sell are newspapers, when people write negative things about me.”

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White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl Thursday, was asked by a TV reporter: “Is this something you planned this time of year, or did you not expect to be in postseason?”

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White Sox rookie Jason Bere, who won his last seven starts with a 1.66 ERA, on pitching tonight’s game: “Nothing prepares you for this moment. Playing Wiffle Ball in the back yard, 3-2 count, bases-loaded type situation is probably the closest thing.

“But that’s not reality. This is reality.”

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Blue Jay pitcher Jack Morris, sidelined because of a possible torn elbow tendon, says the most difficult ordeal of his 16-year career is being unable to pitch in this playoff series.

“I tolerate failure easier now than when I was younger,” Morris said. “I can’t really describe what I feel. I feel so useless just to sit and watch a team that I want to be part of. I feel like a spectator. I don’t say that out of self-pity, but that’s the way I feel.”

The Blue Jays already have privately decided that they won’t exercise the option on Morris’ $5.1-million contract, instead paying him a $1-million buyout. Morris, 38, however, said that he still wants to pitch and refuses to undergo surgery.

“‘Nolan Ryan was diagnosed with the same thing,” Morris said, “and he pitched another seven years. I want to give this one more shot. I’m not ready to quit, yet.”