BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Claire to Scout for Some Relief

The Dodgers are expected to make changes in their bullpen in the next few days.

Fred Claire, executive vice president, will leave today to scout their triple-A Albuquerque team and will decide who will be recalled to the major leagues.

The leading candidate is Antonio Osuna, who has 11 saves. They also are considering Greg Hansell. Osuna opened the season with the Dodgers but suffered a strained groin May 18. Hansell was sent to Albuquerque on June 30.

The Dodgers also will continue to seek a trade. Claire has told several executives that he wants a left-handed reliever.

“We’re going through growing pains right now,” third baseman Tim Wallach said. “You just hope it’s not a long-term affair.

“Certainly, they’re getting plenty of opportunities. We just hope they’re learning from their mistakes.

“I think we’ve got the people if we want to stay within the organization, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

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Former Marlin first baseman Orestes Destrade, a home run king in Japan, told Florida reporters that hitters will be able to adapt much easier next season against Dodger starter Hideo Nomo.

“The first year he came up, no one hit him,” Destrade said. “He dominated the league in ’90. But by the second or third year we started figuring him out.

“It’s always tougher for the hitter to catch up with the pitcher. He will have continued success this year, but they will study the films and begin to catch up. We did.”

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It figures department: Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, trying to explain what happened when he yielded five hits before being yanked in the first inning of a Cuban Legends Game on Sunday: “Hey, it was my defense. Those balls should have been outs.”