It’s Claire, Not Clear, So We’re All Left Wondering

Reports that Fred Claire left three-fourths of the Dodger infield, including Eric Karros, unprotected in Tuesday’s expansion draft bewildered some critics to the extent they have engaged in immature name-calling.

That includes primarily sports columnists and radio talk show hosts. But, while they have not stooped to insults, Claire’s prospective new employers at Fox also are curious.

They, with good reason, wonder what will remain when the sale is finally approved of the pennant contender they thought they were buying.

My advice is to be patient. Claire overrates young players in the Dodger organization; he’s too cautious at times; he doesn’t rely enough on input from either former manager Tom Lasorda or current one Bill Russell. But he is not foolish. He has a plan.

I don’t know what it is. He’s been extremely secretive lately, in part no doubt because of the threatened $250,000 fine for revealing expansion draft secrets.

But, if certain deals proposed in the media go the Dodgers’ way, their opening-day lineup could include: Mike Piazza at catcher, Paul Konerko at first, Eric Young or Mike Lansing at second, Jose Vizcaino at shortstop, Todd Zeile at third, Todd Hollandsworth in left, Raul Mondesi in right and Jim Edmonds in center.

The starting pitchers would be Pedro and Ramon Martinez, Chan Ho Park, Hideo Nomo and Darren Dreifort, with Scott Radinsky and Antonio Osuna sharing the closer role. They wouldn’t have the popular Karros, who would be lost in the expansion draft, or the promising Ismael Valdes, who would be lost to the Angels for Edmonds. They still wouldn’t have an ideal leadoff hitter. But it’s a better team than opened last season as the division favorite.

All Claire has to do is make it happen. Or maybe he has other deals in mind that would provide an even more potent lineup. In any event, I’m sure he has a plan that doesn’t require Wilton Guerrero, Alex Cora and Roger Cedeno to carry the team.

At least, I hope he does. Otherwise, Claire is the Unadodger.

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Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. . . .

Disney is willing to pay more than $5.5 million a year over the next four years for a pitcher with a 9-12 record and 4.55 earned-run average last season but won’t pay more than $7 million a year for Paul Kariya. . . .

I know the money comes from different pockets, but I’m sure Disney’s accountants are creative enough to rob somebody to pay Paul. . . .

Even though Ken Hill is a better pitcher than he proved last season, they shouldn’t be satisfied with their starting rotation. . . .

They might no longer have the budget for Darryl Kile, but they shouldn’t quit pursuing a deal for Valdes. . . .

As much fun as it is to speculate, the Dodgers aren’t going to deal for Pedro Martinez if they have to send Konerko or third-base prospect Adrian Beltre to Montreal. . . .

The most intriguing rumor at the general managers’ meetings in Arizona last week revolved around a three-team trade that would send Bernie Williams to the Dodgers, Chuck Knoblauch to the Yankees and Dodger prospects to the Twins. . . .

Williams, however, wants $10 million a year, too rich for the Dodgers’ taste. . . .

A three-team deal in the NBA that’s equally unlikely to happen would send Mitch Richmond to the Lakers, Eddie Jones to Philadelphia and Jerry Stackhouse to Sacramento. . . .

Jones should be complimented by the trade speculation. Everyone wants him. . . .

That includes Jerry West, who likes his team more and more with each victory. . . .

Del Harris isn’t concerned that the Lakers are considered young. . . .

“So was Nadia Comaneci,” he says. . . .

Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. . . .

UCLA is cheering for Washington to beat Washington State. . . .

But Washington State is cheering for UCLA to beat USC. . . .

Meantime, the most important game for the Big Ten on Saturday could be Florida vs. Florida State. . . .

With a victory over Michigan, Ohio State probably would advance to No. 2 in the polls and the Rose Bowl if the Gators beat the Seminoles in Gainesville. . . .

USC’s football program is in an enviable situation, a chance to go to Las Vegas with a guarantee of making money. . . .

The players, however, prefer the Dec. 25 Aloha Bowl in Honolulu to the Dec. 20 Las Vegas Bowl. . . .

In 1985, the last time the Trojans went to the Aloha Bowl, they performed a miracle by coming home $1,000 in the black. . . .

Maybe their accountants are more creative than Disney’s.

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While wondering who needs Jerry Rice anyway, I was thinking: It’s a good thing the NFL stopped Mike Ditka from betting against the Saints, Eagle special teams is an oxymoron, bad day for Reggie White, good day for Reggae Boyz.