DODGERS : Strike Helped Hollandsworth, Offerman

It cost the baseball industry in excess of $1 billion, resulted in thousands of lost jobs, may send hundreds of free agents into forced retirement and severely damaged the game’s virtue.

Oh, yes, and one more thing. . . .

The baseball strike might have been the best thing that ever happened to outfielder Todd Hollandsworth and shortstop Jose Offerman.

Certainly, no Dodgers benefited more by the 7 1/2-month strike.

The strike eliminated Brett Butler’s $3.5-million job, opening the way for Hollandsworth to be the Dodgers’ right fielder.

The strike provided Offerman the opportunity to stay at triple-A Albuquerque, earn his full salary and regain the confidence that has been missing the last two years.

“I was really at a crossroads,” Hollandsworth said. “I was on strike, but I never did anything for the union, and the union never did anything for me.

“I thought I was in a pretty difficult situation, but I walked in here today, heard the news about Brett (Butler), and said, ‘Wow.’

“Nothing against Brett, but this gives me an opportunity I never thought I had.”

Hollandsworth, who never walked into a major league clubhouse until 8:15 Wednesday morning, is scheduled to be in the Dodgers’ starting outfield when the season opens April 25 against the Florida Marlins. And, to think, only a few days ago he was certain he’d be spending another summer in Albuquerque.

“It still hasn’t hit me,” said Hollandsworth, two weeks shy of his 21st birthday. “The big thing now is to take advantage of the opportunity. I know they’re not just going to give me the job. They’re going to be watching me closely.

“But man, this is a dream come true. I mean, look at this. I’ve got my name on the back of my uniform. I’ve got two pairs of pants hanging in my locker. I’ve got shoes.

“This is one of those times I’m not going to forget for a long, long while.”

While Hollandsworth is eternally grateful for the sudden opportunity to play in the major leagues, Offerman still needs to prove he deserves to stay.

He may be only 26, and has an enormous amount of talent, but unless he wins the starting job from Rafael Bournigal, he may find himself playing elsewhere this year.

A year ago, the pressure of winning the starting job might have been too much for Offerman. He says he might have even welcomed the prospect of being traded.

But not now. Not after regaining his confidence in Albuquerque. Not after reviving his career.

“Staying in Albuquerque during the strike was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Offerman said. “It gave me a chance to clear my mind. When you try to do too much, you lose your confidence, and that’s what happened to me.

“The strike came at a perfect time.”

Offerman, who batted only .210 the first two months of the season, was optioned June 27 to Albuquerque. It was the first time in three years he had been in the minors. He stayed put when the major league players went on strike, finished the year batting .330 and helped lead Albuquerque to the Pacific Coast League championship.

The Dodgers left Offerman in Albuquerque during the strike instead of recalling him and saving the remainder of his $515,000 salary. The way Offerman figures it, the Dodgers now will reap the benefits. Besides, Bournigal tore his right hamstring playing winter ball in February, and the Dodgers were disappointed to discover Wednesday that he still has not fully recovered.

“There’s no question how (Offerman) played at Albuquerque,” Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire said, “but there’s only one person who can answer if he’s back. But I like guys who get knocked down and get right back up.

“That impresses me. That impresses me a lot.”

*

Dodger Notes

It wasn’t exactly a guarantee of Joe Namath proportions, but Fred Claire vowed Wednesday that the Dodgers will be improved from last year’s first-place team. “I would never try to make the case that replacing Brett (Butler) will be easy, but the time comes when you have to give players the opportunity. We did that when we let Eddie Murray go, which opened the door for Eric Karros. And when we let Mike Scioscia go, it opened the door for Mike Piazza. We haven’t had this type of outfield talent in 20 years, and I look for our pitching to be better. There’s no reason to think we won’t be competing for the division (title) again.”