With Season Over, Time to Regroup

By JASON REID

Oct. 4, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

HOUSTON —

The soap opera was supposed to end this season because Fox provided everything Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone determined he needed to quickly set things right.

Fox officials increased the payroll, supported Malone’s industry-angering signing of pitcher Kevin Brown and backed him publicly despite their discomfort about his bold comments. With his off-season wish-list approved, Malone declared this season would be different, and it was.

It was even more tumultuous than the last.

The Dodgers were the laughingstock of the major leagues--an $80-million mess from start to finish. They wound up 77-85 and third in the National League West after a 9-4 season-ending loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday at the Astrodome.

The Dodgers were plagued by strife within Malone’s management team and a fractured clubhouse, several Dodger sources said. The perception nationally is that Malone badly mismanaged the organization in his first full season at the helm.

Now, the Dodgers face major player-personnel issues that must be addressed during the off-season while Malone attempts to alleviate payroll problems he created during his previous $170-million spending spree.

The confidence Malone exuded at the beginning of the season has been replaced by nervous tension, many of his associates said. Malone no longer talks about dominating opponents and winning championships, reluctantly acknowledging he doesn’t know whether enough can be done to help the ballclub contend next season.

Malone’s stark turnaround is as disturbing as his brashness was to Dodger employees, who are desperately seeking strong leadership in the wake of President Bob Graziano’s dismissal last week. Rick Welts, Fox Sports Enterprises president, hopes to hire a successor soon, and that person is expected to make sweeping changes throughout business-side operations.

With Graziano gone, Malone comes under the Fox microscope beginning what is expected to be another difficult off-season. The clock is ticking louder and louder, and Malone can’t afford any more mistakes.

“This has been a learning experience for everyone,” Malone said. “Sometimes, when you’re trying to win, it takes time to put everything together the way you would like. Everything that has happened so far [the moves he has made] is all part of the process of trying to make the Dodgers great again.

“You can’t judge the things we’ve done now. You have to judge it down the road because everything we’re doing is to help the team win long-term. I don’t know [if the Dodgers will contend in 2000], but our efforts are going to be there to try and improve the club.”

Despite their public statements to the contrary, Malone and Johnson have not been on the same page at any point since they arrived at Chavez Ravine, sources said. Malone overruled Johnson on several key issues in constructing the club, and they don’t agree on how to fix things now.

The situation with the coaching staff is an example. Johnson has declined comment on his conversations with Malone about the coaches, but sources said he has lobbied hard for the staff to return intact next season.

Malone has been noncommittal, saying last week he needs more time to decide. Malone has been roundly criticized by players for making the performance of the coaching staff an issue when the Dodgers have so many problems throughout the organization.

On the field, the Dodgers must improve the bullpen and bench. Johnson also wants another left-handed power hitter to help provide offensive balance.

Although several players had good seasons statistically, the Dodgers didn’t produce enough when the games mattered.

The payroll is expected to increase from $80 million to about $92 million next season because of guaranteed contracts and raises for players eligible for arbitration. Malone made Brown the highest-paid player in the game’s history last off-season with a seven-year, $105-million contract, and now Fox has mandated that Malone must trim payroll while he tries to fill holes.

Malone will attempt to meet the team’s needs through trades.

Right fielder Raul Mondesi, pitcher Ismael Valdes and catching prospect Angel Pena are the Dodgers most coveted by other teams. Mondesi’s agent, Jeff Moorad, will play a big role in determining whether Mondesi is traded.

Moving Mondesi and Valdes could help ease payroll concerns, but would decrease the team’s talent base unless Malone makes shrewd moves. Malone has had talks with the Seattle Mariners about acquiring all-star shortstop Alex Rodriguez, sources said, and Mondesi and Valdes could be part of a multi-player trade to acquire Rodriguez in the off-season.

Or Malone might pursue left-handed outfielder Shawn Green of the Toronto Blue Jays, who also is represented by Moorad.

Longtime first baseman Eric Karros had a career season and is considered the most popular Dodger with fans. Malone said he can’t offer Karros, in the final season of his contract in 2000, an extension at this point because the Dodgers are burdened by too many multiyear contracts.

Of course, it was Malone who committed many millions in multiyear deals last off-season. Not that Malone is alone in making mistakes in the new regime.

Johnson also had problems in his first season. Players have questioned his strategy and bemoaned his supposed lack of communication.

The Dodgers held many closed-door meetings, but players still had issues with Johnson during the final weekend of the regular season. So how much progress was made?

“No doubt about it, we’ve definitely made progress,” Malone said. “There are a lot of things that are better about this organization because of things we’ve done.”

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In the Money

Dodger players still under contract with salaries for 2000 season. Arbitration-eligible players, free agents, those with contract options or less than three years major league service not included.

* Kevin Brown, starting pitcher--$15 million.

* Gary Sheffield, left fielder--$9.5 million.

* Raul Mondesi, right fielder--$9.5 million.

* Todd Hundley, catcher--$6 million.

* Jeff Shaw, relief pitcher--$5.050 million.

* Carlos Perez, pitcher--$5 million.

* Eric Young, second baseman--$4.5 million.

* Devon White, center fielder--$4 million.

* Jose Vizcaino, infielder--$3.5 million.

* Alan Mills, relief pitcher--$2.25 million.

* Juan Castro, infielder--$425,000.

* Total: $69.725 million.