Dodger Season Can’t Be Called a Team Effort

The Dodgers, still numb from the reality that their season was abruptly over, sat on the bench Friday night and watched the Cincinnati Reds go wild.

It was as if the Dodgers were trying to punish themselves, forcing one another to endure the pain of watching a team celebrate in all its glory.

It’s difficult to believe that in six days the Dodgers went from a team celebrating a National League West division title, believing it could be in the World Series, to being humiliated by the Reds.

“We accomplished a lot and overcame a lot,” second baseman Delino DeShields said. “But it hurts when it ends like this. . . . It really hurts.”

The Dodger season was a curious odyssey. It brought you Hideo Nomo. It had you screaming at Jose Offerman. It resurrected the career of Todd Worrell. It may have ended the career of Tim Wallach. It left fans feeling exasperated, excited, but in the end, confused just what to think of this ’95 edition of the Dodgers.

They were labeled underachievers not only the public, but by many peers in the National League, wondering why they couldn’t run away from the pack in the NL West. No one could figure out this bunch. How can you have five all-stars, two MVP candidates, acquire Brett Butler, Roberto Kelly and Kevin Tapani, and still almost not reach the playoffs?

The truth, Dodger players will tell you, was that they never were much of a team. Players continually ridiculed one another. Most openly didn’t care for their teammates; some barely spoke to others the entire season.

The only times they were unified was when management called up replacement player Mike Busch in August and when they celebrated the division title a week ago. Otherwise, it was a team full of cliques and others looking out only for their personal statistics.

They rarely socialized together off the field, instead dressing and leaving quickly after games. Rarely was baseball even discussed in the clubhouse. One player in the starting lineup turned to a reporter an hour before Game 3 of the playoffs Friday night and asked, “Who’s pitching for them tonight?”

It was a frequent question during the regular season, and on any given night, players would not know the pitcher for the Dodgers, let alone the opposition.

The team atmosphere and lack of clubhouse camaraderie infuriated team leaders such as Eric Karros, Tim Wallach and Mitch Webster, but nothing could be done. Instead, the Dodgers tried to win on talent alone. The Reds proved that was impossible.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, vowed this spring that the Dodgers would be in the playoffs. Less than 20 minutes after the Dodgers were eliminated in a three-game sweep Friday night, he guaranteed they’d be back.

“It’s very disappointing to end the season this way,” Claire said, “but on the other hand, I’m very encouraged. We made a lot of progress. I really look at this year as a steppingstone where we need to be.”

On Monday, Claire will begin addressing what needs to be done for the 1996 season, starting with Manager Tom Lasorda. Sources within the organization contend that Claire would like to make a change, but publicly, Claire has never criticized Lasorda. The decision ultimately will be made by owner Peter O’Malley.

“I’d love to keep managing,” Lasorda said, “but that’s something that Peter will have to decide. We’ll see what happens.”

Just as a year ago when Claire had to make some difficult and unpopular decisions, permitting free agents Orel Hershiser, Kevin Gross and Brett Butler to walk away, Claire again will be faced with key decisions:

Who will play shortstop? Who will play third base? Who will be the fifth starter? Who will be the center fielder? What about Billy Ashley? Do you trade Pedro Astacio? Do you give up on DeShields?

The Dodgers, according to sources, privately already have made several decisions:

--Left fielder Kelly, shortstop Jose Offerman and Webster will not be back.

--Arbitration will not be offered to DeShields, starter Kevin Tapani, reliever Mark Guthrie, catcher Carlos Hernandez, third baseman Dave Hansen or outfielder Chris Gwynn.

--They will permit closer Worrell, starting pitcher Tom Candiotti, center fielder Butler and third baseman Wallach to become free agents, but could bring back Worrell for at least another year at a reduced salary.

--They will do all they can to re-sign free agent Ramon Martinez to a multiyear contract and try to avert a nasty contract dispute with Hideo Nomo.

The Dodgers still must decide on their outfield. They know that Raul Mondesi will be in right field and Todd Hollandsworth will be in either left or center, but they have no idea who will be their third outfielder. They’d love for the job to be occupied by rookie Roger Cedeno or Karim Garcia but aren’t sure either is ready. They might give Ashley one last try in left.

They aren’t sure what to do with DeShields. He was a bust for the first 1 1/2 years after coming from Montreal for pitcher Pedro Martinez, but batted .308 with 20 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases the last five weeks of the season. He told Claire he would be willing to return and take a substantial pay cut from his $3-million salary, taking a three-year deal for about $6 million. Claire is listening.

Yet, if DeShields returns, what do they do with Chad Fonville? The Dodgers don’t see him as an everyday shortstop because of his arm, and he’ll be playing second base in the Arizona Fall League. Yet, some in the organization believe he’d fit in well in center field.

The Dodgers, realizing that Offerman wants out, will take a strong look at potential free agents Greg Gagne, Walt Weiss and Mike Bordick to take his place.

They have until five days after the World Series to make a decision whether to pick up the $1.5-million option on Wallach’s contract. The Dodgers might be interested in bringing him back if his salary is cut in half, but considering that Wallach has a torn knee ligament that requires surgery and six months of rehabilitation, he might retire. The Dodgers then will have to decide whether to turn the job over to Hansen or acquire a third baseman.

The Dodgers are counting on a starting rotation of Martinez, Ismael Valdes, Nomo and Chan Ho Park next season, leaving one opening. The fifth spot probably will not be filled by Candiotti. Instead, they may try to resurrect Pedro Astacio’s starting career or give the job to left-hander John Cummings.

“We’ve got a lot of decisions to make,” Claire said, “a lot we weren’t planning to make until the end of October. Unfortunately, they’ve come sooner.”