BASEBALL DAILY REPORT

Outfielder Karim Garcia, considered the top prospect in the Dodger organization, was demoted to double-A San Antonio for disciplinary reasons.

Garcia, who was on the disabled list at triple-A Albuquerque because of a strained hamstring, left the team without permission before the All-Star break. He was told he could leave July 7, one day before the break. But he left for his hometown of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, on July 4.

“He left the team without permission,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, “and we took action we felt was appropriate.”

Claire talked with Garcia and said the outfielder understands the decision. Charlie Blaney, vice president/minor league operations, also joined the San Antonio team to meet with Garcia.

The Dodgers demoted another budding star to San Antonio four years ago when he didn’t show up for a game. He went on to become an All-Star and today is considered the best right fielder in the National League.

His name is Raul Mondesi.

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The San Diego Padres say the runway to the visiting clubhouse at Coors Field was flooded during their recent visit and stadium workers still were trying to fix a water leak.

Who could cause a such a problem by throwing a chair against a pipe?

“I didn’t do it,” said Dodger reliever Scott Radinsky, smiling, “it was [umpire] Paul Runge.”

Radinsky apparently broke the pipe in a fit of rage June 27 after he was ejected by Runge in the Dodgers’ 13-1 defeat to the Rockies.

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Padre third baseman Ken Caminiti, who is playing with a partially torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder and is contemplating surgery this off-season, sought advice from Dodger hitting Coach Reggie Smith.

Smith underwent surgery on his left shoulder after the 1976 season, and came back to have the finest season of his career, batting .307 with 32 homers and 87 runs batted in for the Dodgers.

“I told him there’s a lot of tears involved and a lot of hard work,” Smith said, “but he can do it. I told him, ‘From what Davey [Lopes, Padre first base coach] tells me, you’re a throwback to the game. You work hard, and everything will be all right.”

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When the San Diego Padres travel to Monterrey, Mexico, for a three-game series Aug. 16-18 against the New York Mets for the first major leagues games ever played in Mexico, it will be a dream realized for Fernando Valenzuela, former Dodger pitching great.

“I think it will be a very exciting time for Mexico,” Valenzuela said. “For me, I’m looking forward to seeing how people will react.

“I just hope we don’t hear too many complaints. I hope nobody has a bad experience. It’s my country, you know.”