Notes on a Scorecard - June 2, 1992

By ALLAN MALAMUD

June 2, 1992 12 AM PT

Fred Claire used to second-guess the Dodgers. When the team had problems, he had answers. He suggested trades and lineup changes. He was a sportswriter. . . .

Now he is the Dodgers’ general manager and making the first guess. Not many days ago, he couldn’t go to the restroom without getting advice. The Dodgers’ record was the worst in the National League, and Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis were on the disabled list. . . .

“When you go through tough times, you can’t overreact,” Claire said. “The media wants you to trade for a 34-year-old who can turn things around for you. Every caller to a radio show has an idea. Those are the times when I get my greatest visibility. That’s all right. It’s part of the job. But I’ve got to look at the club in a different way than the media or the fans.” . . .

What Claire did, basically, was nothing. Instead of trading, he showed confidence in his young players and his bench. He has been rewarded. . . .

Without Strawberry and Davis, but with Eric Karros, Todd Benzinger, Jose Offerman, Dave Hansen and Kal Daniels, the Dodgers have climbed off the canvas and are playing some of the best baseball in the league. . . .

Maybe Claire has become a trend setter by keeping three first basemen. He envisions an infield of Karros at first, Hansen at third, Offerman at shortstop and a mystery guest at second who might stick around nearly as long as Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. . . .

“We’ve made a commitment and we’re sticking with it,” Claire said. “We need to be positive about our young players. They’re our future. There are going to be some difficult times along the way, but what has been happening lately is very satisfying.” . . .

Strictly in the Dodger tradition has been the consistent, if somewhat overlooked, starting pitching of Ramon Martinez, Orel Hershiser, Tom Candiotti, Bob Ojeda and Kevin Gross. The team earned-run-average is the lowest in the league. . . .

“It’s good to look at the standings and see us within striking distance,” Claire said Monday from Pittsburgh. “This is a very tough division, but I really think we have enough talent to win it.” . . .

If CBS had a game of the week during the regular season, maybe its postseason baseball ratings would be higher. . . .

John Wathan of the Angels on the difference between managing and coaching: “When you’re a manager, you think baseball 24 hours a day. You spend a lot of time being interviewed. After a game, you start thinking about your lineup for the next day. You never can relax.” . . .

Wathan still holds the major league record for most stolen bases in a season by a catcher. He stole 36 in 1982 for the Kansas City Royals and would have had more if a broken foot had not kept him out of the lineup for five weeks. . . .

Jim Lampley can’t attend “Good Morgan Night” when the Angels play Oakland June 19 at Anaheim because he will be at the Evander Holyfield-Larry Holmes fight in Las Vegas. . . .

Name Game: Barry Jones of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Houston Astros in relief Friday night. The Astros’ Jimmy Jones won Saturday night and Doug Jones got the save. Barry Jones won again Sunday. . . .

Look-alikes: Bob Tewksbury and Tommy John. . . .

Oakland A’s shortstop Mike Bordick was not my choice to be leading the American League in batting. He hit .238 in 90 games for the A’s last season and his highest average for a full minor league season was .270. . . .

The Texas Rangers have used 20 pitchers this season. . . .

Zane Smith has lost to the San Francisco Giants eight consecutive times. . . .

Even though he plays in New York, Yankee center fielder Roberto Kelly is underrated. . . .

I love the way the players hustle in the College World Series. . . .

Trainer Bobby Frankel, once the king of the claimers, is doing wonders with turf specialists. . . .

Those 12 leg operations have slowed Mary Slaney. She ran the mile in 4:39 at the New York Games recently. In 1972, when she was 14, she ran 4:37.4. . . .

Luc Robitaille, Marty McSorley, Chuck Knox, Bob Golic and Clay Matthews are among those who will play in the fourth annual Cystic Fibrosis-Dave Taylor Golf Classic Monday at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. . . .

Wayne Gretzky was named to an all-time NHL team along with Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey and coach Toe Blake. . . .

It would take a pair of size-6 feet to fill the shoes of NHL President John Ziegler, whose job is in jeopardy.