Ever the Coach, Clark Advises From Hospital

Several Dodger players and coaches made their way into the intensive care unit at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center on Sunday night to visit batting instructor Jack Clark, who had been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident earlier in the day, and some Dodgers phoned him Monday morning.

Clark suffered a potentially life-threatening collapsed lung, six broken ribs and needed several staples to close deep cuts on his head. But even while his players rallied around him, Clark tried to rally them.

“He was telling everybody to go get Randy, go get Randy,” Dodger catcher Paul Lo Duca said, referring to Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson. “He’s just an awesome guy, a great friend and mentor.”

Clark has been in so much pain since the accident he could still barely move Monday, but the season opener had to have put a grin on his face. The Dodgers heeded Clark’s advice and then some, roughing up Johnson for five runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of an 8-0 victory.

Brian Jordan, who closed 2002 with 30 runs batted in during September, picked up where he left off, hitting an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run homer in the sixth. Jolbert Cabrera and Cesar Izturis, the seventh and eighth batters in the order, each had a double and a single against Johnson. Lo Duca had a big two-run single in the seventh to break open the game.

“We’re going to send Jack a game ball; that was for him,” said Jordan, who visited Clark on Sunday night. “I don’t care how much pain he was in, he was still saying to get Johnson [on Monday]. He was an inspiration.”

Clark, who has a home in the Phoenix area, was traveling east on a three-lane portion of Interstate 10 near downtown Sunday morning when a minivan hit a small car in the left lane, sending the car into Clark’s motorcycle in the right lane.

Clark, 47, was thrown from his motorcycle and onto the pavement. He was not wearing a helmet, but under Arizona law, he is not required to wear one.

In addition to the broken ribs and cuts on his head, Clark’s lung collapsed late Sunday night. But doctors were able to treat it, and Clark’s condition, according to a team official, improved considerably Monday.

“He’s still in the intensive care unit, and his condition is still stable, but he’s making major progress,” said Derrick Hall, the Dodgers’ senior vice president of communications. “He was able to eat some Jell-O, he tried to move, and they’re talking about when he might be able to walk. [The doctors] are very encouraged.”

Dodger Manager Jim Tracy visited Clark on Sunday night, and he planned to return to the hospital after Monday’s game.

“Obviously, it wasn’t a real pretty sight,” Tracy said. “But I’ll tell you right now, he is very lucky to be alive.”

Clark is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, and though Manny Mota assumed his duties and roving minor league batting instructor Bob Mariano, who lives in the Phoenix area, is on hand for the Arizona series, Clark’s loss will be felt.

“He’s part of the family,” Dodger center fielder Dave Roberts said. “We don’t just look to him for hitting advice; he’s a fiery guy on the bench. His absence for any amount of time impacts us, but right now his health is more important.”