BASEBALL IS BACK : DODGERS : ‘Roller Coaster’ Ride Takes Upward Swing

The equipment truck hurriedly drove away from Joe Robbie Stadium, pulled up in front of the Dodger clubhouse, and at 4:30 Sunday afternoon dumped the belongings of their now extinct replacement team.

Pete Sandoval, Dodger clubhouse attendant, stashed away the replacement uniforms and equipment, vacuumed and cleaned the major league clubhouse, then hung the nameplates of the real Dodgers on their lockers.

“It was a weird day,” Sandoval said. “I’m sitting in Ft. Lauderdale at 11 in the morning with our equipment getting ready for our game Monday, and a few hours later, here I am getting ready for the big leaguers to show up.”

Certainly it has been a bizarre 7 1/2 months during the baseball strike, but while there still is no agreement, baseball resumes.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda and the coaching staff are expected to return Tuesday to Dodgertown. The opening day of spring training is scheduled for Wednesday. The mandatory reporting date is Friday.

“After waiting this long, and going through such an emotional roller coaster,” Dodger first baseman Eric Karros said, “I’m not going to believe it until I’m standing on the field.”

The Dodgers are scheduled to convene Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 11, 1994, when they were in Cincinnati, leading the National League West by 3 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants. The season was never completed, goodbys were never said, and the team has changed drastically.

The strike’s economic impact prompted the Dodgers to slash their payroll by about $10 million, leaving such players as Orel Hershiser, Kevin Gross, Roger McDowell, Cory Snyder, Jim Gott and Chris Gwynn in its wake.

The next victim could be free agent outfielder Brett Butler, who says he has agreed to the Dodgers’ $3.5 million contract offer, only to be informed by the Dodgers that none exists.

When asked Sunday night who would be his starting center fielder, Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said without hesitation: “From what I can see, (Raul) Mondesi will be the guy.”

Mondesi, the National League’s unanimous rookie of the year, is one of 30 players on the Dodger 40-man roster who also must be signed. Piazza and Karros received multi-year contracts after winning their rookie of the year awards, but since no one knows what will happen to free agency or arbitration after this year, Mondesi might have to wait.

“I have yet to have a substantive discussion with Fred or (general counsel) Sam Fernandez,” attorney Jeff Moorad said. “It’s safe to say we are interested in Raul being treated fairly, and we’re confident the Dodgers will do that.”

The Dodgers suddenly find themselves faced with several predicaments. Do they offer starter Ramon Martinez arbitration rights--which would significantly increase his $2.687 million salary--or attempt to sign him to a long-term contract? Do they offer arbitration rights to infielder Dave Hansen and catcher Carlos Hernandez? Do they sign a right-handed pitcher or hope that Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo is ready?

“These last 7 1/2 months have had a dramatic impact on the financial part of the game,” Claire said, “and that’s going to require some major changes.”

The Dodgers spent $473,896 in bonuses and housing allowances for their replacement team, not counting the salaries those players will earn with guaranteed minor league jobs this season. The team dispersed its 37 replacement players Sunday throughout the farm system, sending 10 players to triple-A Albuquerque.

No replacement player has been invited to spring training camp, but several major league players said there could be lingering resentment because of Lasorda’s affection toward the replacement team.

“You think they are going to want to play for Tommy Lasorda after what he’s been saying about how much he loves the scabs?” New York Met first baseman David Segui said. “They’re going to have problems. A lot of teams will.”

Said Lasorda, who plans to address his team on the matter: “I don’t know if they’ll have any ill feelings over that. I hope they’re not mad. I hope they understand. I’ve been with the Dodgers for 46 years, they should understand my position.”