Dodger Problems Are Giant-Sized

Dodger President Bob Graziano watched his favorite team play on TV Sunday while relaxing at home.

And with everything he has faced recently, he needed some quiet time.

Graziano has been at the center of the season-long turmoil in the formerly harmonious Dodger Universe--and a target of fans longing for victories and stability. So Graziano enjoyed spending a few hours focusing only on runs, hits and errors.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers’ top decision maker, the San Francisco Giants played better in a 3-0 victory before 40,111 at 3Com Park.

The Dodgers were shut out for the seventh time this season as three pitchers combined to help San Francisco win its second game in the three-game series. Starter Shawn Estes (7-7) worked the first 6 2/3 innings, middle reliever Steve Reed pitched 1 1/3 innings and All-Star closer Robb Nen overpowered the Dodgers in the ninth to earn his 25th save.

San Francisco enters the three-day All-Star break with an eight-game lead over the Dodgers in the National League wild-card race. The Dodgers dropped under .500 at 43-44, and again trail the West-leading San Diego Padres by 13 1/2 games, tying their largest deficit of the season.

Things could obviously be better, but Graziano believes the Dodgers are about to experience the calm after the storm.

“Quite frankly, there were many things that I felt we needed to do in order to improve the ballclub in the short and long term, and I knew that some decisions would come under great scrutiny,” Graziano said Sunday in a phone interview. “Change is sometimes difficult, but I have to approach the decisions I make in terms of what’s in the best interest of the ballclub.

“We have been very active, and we’re always trying to improve the ballclub, but I think you’ll see only minor tinkering in the second half as opposed to major changes. I feel that we’re getting to a point where we now have things in place.”

Tom Lasorda is among the key pieces Graziano has moved into place during the whirlwind of activity that has accompanied his promotion in March from executive vice president.

Graziano and Lasorda have worked well together since the former longtime manager was introduced June 22 as the interim general manager. Graziano has been supportive of Lasorda’s efforts to improve the ballclub, vigorously supporting the bold three-player trade Saturday of Paul Konerko and Dennis Reyes to Cincinnati for All-Star closer Jeff Shaw.

If that move--and others Lasorda might engineer--helps the team rebound in the second half, Lasorda will deservedly receive much of the credit. But Graziano is focusing on the overall agenda--not accolades.

“Tommy and I have an open and honest relationship, and what’s led to a strong relationship is a common goal to strengthen the ballclub,” Graziano said. “Tommy is going to be around for a long time, and we’re both working together for the continued success of the team.

“That’s the important thing right now, and that’s where my focus is.”

Lasorda said his new boss is giving him the room to work.

“I know what Bob Graziano needs from me, and he knows what I need from him,” Lasorda said. “We’re working together and we’re working to get this team where we both know it can and should be.”

Graziano came under fire publicly for his decision to remove executive vice president Fred Claire and manager Bill Russell from their positions and replace them with Lasorda and Glenn Hoffman, respectively. And because the Dodgers are a division within the expansive News Corp., his authority has been questioned by observers.

The fact is, Claire and Russell realized their futures with the organization depended on the team’s immediate success this season. Had Graziano not fired them now, someone else would have at some point.

As for his authority, Graziano wouldn’t have attained his position without understanding what his superiors expect of him.

“When I took this job, someone asked me how I would handle the criticism on the talk-radio shows and in the letters to the newspapers,” Graziano said. “What I’ve done is accepted that I’m responsible for the Dodgers, and I’m going to make the moves I feel are appropriate to lead the ballclub regardless of how I might be criticized personally.

“I haven’t focused a lot of time on how decisions might impact me personally, because I can’t allow that to stop me from making the decisions that I feel are right.”

And there figure to be more unpopular moves as Graziano and Lasorda continue to reshape the organization in the second half and beyond. But after years of stagnation, this is an organization that needs reshaping.