BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Claire Won’t Give Up Pitching

The telephone incessantly rings these days in the office of Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. Most of the calls are from his fellow general managers. They pose the same question:

“When are you going to trade some of your pitching?’

Claire’s response: “It’s not going to happen.”

Claire said he is not compelled or even tempted to trade away some of his pitching. If anyone goes, Claire said, you can be assured the price will be steep.

“The shortage of pitching is so great,” Claire said, “you have to place a high value on the pitching you have. We’re in a good position, but I don’t think we’re in a great position.”

Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said the Dodger pitching staff is the strongest he has seen this season.

“That’s why they’ll do good this year. When it’s all said and done, pitching will prevail, and they’ve got the pitching.

“You’ve got to tip your cap to them. They get [Ismael] Valdes and [Antonio] Osuna from Mexico, and then they got to Japan and Korea and get two more. That’s not being smart, that’s jealousy.”

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Leyland, when asked to compare the pitching staffs of the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves:

“The Braves are more of a scientific pitching staff,” Leyland said. “The Dodgers are more of a pitching, pitching staff.

“I mean, you take an Osuna, and I don’t know how much he knows about the art of pitching, but he throws the ball 98 mph so he’s got a good chance of getting somebody out.”

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Ramon Martinez pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings for double-A San Antonio against Midland in his first rehabilitation assignment Saturday. He was taken out after 52 pitches. Martinez will make his next start for Class-A Vero Beach, and if all is fine, could return to the Dodger rotation May 14.