All Eyes Are on Lasorda as Dodgers Answer Hype

It seldom comes down to the manager, but it might for the Dodgers this year.

In the attempt to fulfill their boasts about dominating the National League West, Tom Lasorda is a key.

Maybe not as key as the continuing fitness of closer Todd Worrell, Mike Blowers’ ability to duplicate his Seattle run production, Brett Butler’s bid to play another season in center field at 38, Hideo Nomo’s ability to maintain his concentration or the success of Todd Hollandsworth or Billy Ashley in filling the left-field void, but Lasorda figures to be watched closer than at any time in his previous 19 seasons.

Did the Dodgers underachieve in winning the West by only a game last year? Would Owner Peter O’Malley have made a managerial change if he’d had a clear idea who the successor should be? Would O’Malley have no alternative but to change managers if this talented group fails to win the West?

Those questions figure to accompany Lasorda through the long season.

O’Malley would not be drawn into the managerial issue, but said:

“We realize the road to the World Series goes through Atlanta and we’re prepared to take that road. We’re prepared to win. We’ve had an excellent spring, and I’m proud of the hard work put in by Tommy, the coaches and the players.”

Lasorda does not have to defend a record that includes eight division titles, four National League pennants and two World Series victories.

At 69, his energy level is that of someone 39. ESPN cameras twice caught him apparently napping on the bench in 1995, but he insists that was because of medication for flu and his aching knees.

The two most consistent criticisms over the years have been what some--Worrell has been among them--say is his tendency to warm up pitchers indiscriminately, with no definition to relief roles or use, and his inability to manage young players.

An indignant Lasorda quickly points out that if he can’t manage young players, how is it the Dodgers have had eight rookies of the year, including the last four, with Hollandsworth bidding to make it an unprecedented five?

He also points out that the Los Angeles market demands and deserves a winner and will not tolerate a developmental camp. In some ways, however, that is what the Dodgers have had to operate in recent years, turning over the payroll and the roster by bringing in the best of a regenerated farm system.

That is a never-ending process in baseball these days, but the Dodgers now believe they are ready to dominate the division and it is hard to argue.

Not that it will be automatic--or a runaway.

The San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants all have formidable lineups, but only the Padres have pitching depth comparable to the Dodger staff’s. And, with the addition of shortstop Greg Gagne, Dodger pitchers now know that the defense can help and they don’t have to go for the strikeout.

The prediction here is that the Padres will make it interesting and emerge as the National League wild-card team, followed by the pitching-troubled Rockies and Giants.

The Dodgers will get Lasorda his ninth division title, and it should be worth watching. The manager should be worth watching too.

ASCENDING ANGELS?

In the American League West, the Angels hope to feed off their collapse of last fall, dismiss the ownership distraction and gain redemption against the Seattle Mariners, who remain dangerous, despite Randy Johnson’s woefully inexperienced pitching rotation partners and the departure of Blowers and Tino Martinez--a loss of 207 RBI--among others.

The key for the Angels: Can they prop up Steve Ontiveros or some other mystery pitcher often enough to get 180 to 200 innings out of the No. 4 spot in the rotation?

They have three potential closers in Lee Smith, Troy Percival and Bryan Harvey, but they have no reliable spot left-hander, having lost Bob Patterson as a free agent in a penny-wise, pound-foolish decision.

Still, in the face of the owner’s financial restrictions, one has to admire the Angels’ recent adherence to continuity. It only took about 30 years for the organization to learn the meaning of that word, but with George Arias at third base and Chuck Finley on the mound, the Angels will have seven quality players out of their own system in the lineup on Tuesday night.

It’s a tribute to General Manager Bill Bavasi, the former farm director, scouting director Bob Fontaine Jr. and current farm director Ken Forsch.

THE RACES

One man’s view of the races, with the exception of the presidential (can’t expect to know until November if Ross Perot is running) . . .

AL West: Angels, Seattle, Texas, Oakland.

Comment: With Dean Palmer sound and Juan Gonzalez sporting an improved attitude, Texas has the offense to be a sleeper in the West, but its pitching may awaken too many opposing bats.

AL Central: Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, Kansas City, Milwaukee.

Comment: The Indians won 100 of 144 games, added Jack McDowell and Julio Franco and may challenge the big league record of 111 wins, set by the ’54 Tribe.

AL East: Baltimore, New York, Boston, Toronto, Detroit.

Comment: A high-priced dogfight among the Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox, with the edge to Baltimore on pitching stability and the presence of Cal Ripken Jr. and Roberto Alomar in the middle of the infield.

AL wild card: New York. AL champion: Cleveland.

NL West: Dodgers, San Diego, Colorado, San Francisco.

Comment: At any altitude, the Rockies need comebacks by Bill Swift and Bret Saberhagen, but both will open the season on the disabled list.

NL Central: Houston, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh.

Comment: The Astros need improvement from Doug Drabek, Greg Swindell and Darryl Kile, but the Killer B offense--Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Derek Bell--should help them achieve it.

NL East: Atlanta, New York, Florida, Montreal, Philadelphia.

Comment: The Mets are rearmed and dangerous but not quite ready to overtake the Braves.

NL wild card: San Diego. NL champion: Atlanta.

World Series: Cleveland over Atlanta in seven.

HONOR ROLL

Some Awards:

MVP: AL -- Albert Belle; NL -- Mike Piazza.

Cy Young: AL -- Randy Johnson; NL -- Ramon Martinez.

Rookie: AL -- George Arias; NL -- Rey Ordonez.

Comment: Belle tuned up by hitting 36 homers in 106 games of the 1994 season and 50 in 143 games in 1995. He should eclipse 60 over a full season of 162.

Among the three former members of the Cuban national team who will open the season in the big leagues, Met shortstop Ordonez should make the biggest, quickest impact. The others: Oakland pitcher Ariel Prieto and San Francisco pitcher Osvaldo Fernandez. A fourth Cuban, Florida pitcher Livan Hernandez, is likely to spend most of the season in triple A.

WHAT ABOUT OZZIE?

It isn’t clear that he actually won the most celebrated competition of spring, but the St. Louis Cardinals will at least acknowledge Ozzie Smith’s accomplishments and give him the opening-day nod at shortstop ahead of Royce Clayton.

It has been an issue since the Cardinals traded for Clayton, and the principals are tired of talking about it.

Said Clayton: “I’ve answered enough questions about it. I’m not going to address anything that pertains to Ozzie Smith.”

Said Smith: “I used to have a feel for things, but not anymore. I just worked hard at getting myself back into shape and being able to say I was healthy again. What happens beyond this point is up to Tony. He’s the manager, not me.”

Said Manager Tony La Russa: “The less I talk about it, hopefully the less attention it will get. It’s a free country. Anybody can ask anything they want, but I don’t have to answer.”

ARMS SHORTAGE

The Philadelphia Phillies opened spring training with 31 players claiming to be pitchers. They will unveil their alleged rotation in a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies, starting Monday. The best of the 31? Sid Fernandez (6-5 in 1995), Terry Mulholland (5-13) and Mike Grace (1-1)--all plagued in recent years by injuries and inconsistency.

A long season for the Phillies?

They may not be alone.

Consider some of these opening-week--or is it weak?--rotations:

--Oakland A’s: Carlos Reyes (4-6), Ariel Prieto (2-6), Todd Van Poppel (4-8).

--San Francisco Giants: Mark Leiter (10-12), William VanLandingham (6-3) and Allen Watson (7-9).

--Milwaukee Brewers: Rickey Bones (10-12), Ben McDonald (3-6), Scott Karl (6-7).

--Colorado: Kevin Ritz (11-11), Marvin Freeman (3-7), Bryan Rekar (4-6).

--Detroit Tigers: Felipe Lira (9-13), Clint Sodowsky (2-2), Scott Aldred (7-14).

--Minnesota Twins: Brad Radke (11-14), Frankie Rodriguez (5-8), Rich Robertson (2-0).

--Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Wagner (5-16), Denny Neagle (13-8), John Ericks (3-9).

--Texas Rangers: Ken Hill (10--8), Bobby Witt (5-11), Kevin Gross (9-15).

It turns uglier beyond the opening series.

Said Gary Hughes, Florida Marlin personnel director: “It’s tough squeezing out five guys, let alone quality guys, and most teams can’t.”

The teams that can are heavily favored in their divisions--the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Dodgers.