This Is One Learning Curve the Dodgers Can’t Wait Out

We’ve all known people who gambled on us at different points in our lives.

Sometimes, we’ve come through for them. Sometimes, we haven’t.

But at least we had chances.

For that reason, I wasn’t critical when the Dodgers named Glenn Hoffman as their manager in June. They must have seen something in him that made them believe he deserved this chance at this time.

Now, after watching Hoffman for the last two months, I still can’t figure out what it was.

Did they truly believe this young, inexperienced manager who had losing records in four of his five minor league seasons could turn around this veteran, uninspired major league team?

It’s clear now that he couldn’t. Before Thursday night’s game in Florida, the Dodgers had won as many games as they had lost under Hoffman, but they were right back where they ended under Bill Russell at two games under .500 for the season and in considerably worse shape in the playoff race.

I was finally convinced the Dodgers made a mistake about three weeks ago when the Dodgers were in New York.

The day after they had acquired Mark Grudzielanek from Montreal, Hoffman was asked how he intended to use the shortstop in late innings of close games when defense was a priority. As everyone knows, Grudzielanek is no Ozzie Smith, or even Juan Castro, with a glove.

Hoffman said he would have to see Grudzielanek play a few games before he decided. This, mind you, is a shortstop who had played about 500 games with Montreal before joining the Dodgers.

Someone with major league experience, even if he had been a bench coach like Mike Scioscia, would have seen Grudzielanek play enough games to form an impression.

I’m not saying Hoffman will never become a successful major league manager. He just turned 40 last month and, by all accounts, is a conscientious student of the game.

It has even been reported he isn’t as unemotional as he appears, having directed a four-letter-word tirade at his Albuquerque players on the last day he managed them in June. I wish he would show these Dodger players that side of him, but, as a former major league player, he seems intent on treating them like adults. He’ll learn some day, when he gets another chance.

Maybe he was the right man at the wrong time.

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How do you know whether a young, minor league manager has major league potential? . . .

Fred Claire said the other day he knew all he needed to know about Terry Collins the day Collins was managing in the Dominican winter league and almost came to blows with his star player, George Bell. . . .

“George was twice as big as Terry,” I said. . . .

“Five times bigger,” Claire said. “But Terry didn’t back down.” . . .

The Pittsburgh Pirates hired Collins on Claire’s recommendation for their triple-A team in Buffalo, where he managed for three seasons before getting his first major league job in Houston. . . .

Collins had been managing in the Dodger organization, at Albuquerque, but was going nowhere because of a falling-out with Tom Lasorda. . . .

Collins caused it by complaining to a reporter that the Dodger manager wasn’t developing young talent, preferring to trade for veterans instead of promoting minor leaguers. . . .

“When I became a major league manager in Houston, I realized how wrong I had been and apologized to Tommy,” Collins said this week. “He was right to be angry. I made a tremendous mistake.” . . .

I asked Collins if he’d ever wondered what might have been, if he had remained in the Dodger organization and become a coach under Lasorda. . . .

“A hundred times,” Collins said. . . .

But he got other chances. For the Angels, he was the right man at the right time. . . .

Irv Kaze, who was in the front office for the Angels during their first season in 1961, is breathing easier. . . .

It doesn’t appear as if either Arizona or Tampa Bay will break the Angels’ expansion record of 70 wins. . . .

Among the guests on Kaze’s KIEV (870) radio show at 6 tonight will be Times Sports Editor Bill Dwyre, who will talk about Jim Murray. . . .

Didn’t Raul Mondesi demand $9 million a year because he believed he deserved “Sammy Sosa money.” . . .

Since getting the contract, however, Mondesi hasn’t put up Sammy Sosa numbers. . . .

I’m not necessarily suggesting Mondesi is overpaid. Maybe Sosa is underpaid.

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While wondering which other position besides quarterback someone named Carson Palmer could play, I was thinking: I hope the Sparks had a three-year plan, the Kings should sign Rob Blake before it becomes an issue, Mark McGwire figured to get hot when he reached minor markets like Chicago and New York.