O’Malley’s Options Stay Open : Dodgers: He says there are no simple answers to team’s problems, points finger at poor draft picks.

It’s the way the Dodgers do business that makes firing a manager during the season--or at all--unheard of. And a general manager? Only after his embarrassing appearance on television provoked a nationwide uproar.

But Dodger owner Peter O’Malley, whose team lost 99 games last season and is starting this one in similar fashion--the Dodgers are 9-16--may be changing his thinking.

Asked Monday if he would make a management change during the season, should his club continue to flounder, O’Malley said: “There is no simple answer. Circumstances can require decisions in June or January.”

Asked the same question later in the conversation, he said: “We will consider all opportunities.”

If O’Malley is pointing a finger, though, it’s at the draft picks the organization made several years ago, which he says stopped the flow of talent. But he did not go to great lengths to give Manager Tom Lasorda a vote of confidence. Asked how much of the team’s struggles are Lasorda’s fault, O’Malley answered, “Tommy can’t hit, although he was a pretty good triple-A pitcher.”

Of Fred Claire, the club’s executive vice president, O’Malley was a little more specific, saying, “I don’t second-guess any of the moves that Fred made over the winter.”

One of those moves was a $9.5-million contract for reliever Todd Worrell, who has pitched only 1 2/3 innings because of injuries. Another was taking over Tim Wallach’s $6.8-million contract, of which the Dodgers must pay all but $1 million. Wallach has begun to hit after beginning the season with a slump, but is batting only .193 with two home runs.

And in a move from winters past, there sits Darryl Strawberry, who announced Sunday that it could be months before he recovers from his back surgery.

“I’m optimistic (about Worrell and Strawberry returning), but that’s all a part of life today in major league baseball,” O’Malley said. “I’m hoping they are back soon. But if they’re not, they’re not.”

Lasorda, in his 17th season as Dodger manager, is in the last year of his contract, and speculation has been that this is his last season in the dugout.

Claire, who took over in April of 1987 as executive vice president, replacing Al Campanis, has no contract. Campanis was fired after he made negative comments about blacks in baseball on ABC-TV’s “Nightline.”

Lasorda, when told of O’Malley’s comment, said O’Malley has a right to say whatever he wants. Lasorda said his concerns are not about his job.

“I worry about this team; we need to put a winning streak together and turn this around, and I know we will,” he said.

Claire said he isn’t worried about his job: “The way I look at it is to do as well as you can, work as hard and give it your full effort and what happens, happens.”

Before Campanis was fired, it was commonly believed that Lasorda would replace him upon retirement. But if that was the Dodgers’ plan, the dismissal of Campanis changed it. The 1987 season had just begun and O’Malley moved Claire into the job. Claire, O’Malley’s right-hand man, had worked for the Dodgers for 18 years.

Privately, a few players say the team has struggled the last few years because Lasorda and Claire do not agree on player moves.

“They are like oil and water,” one said.

“I don’t see that as accurate,” Claire said. “As far as moves go, I have always consulted with Tommy and always valued his opinion. There are no moves that don’t include those opinions and his input.”

Lasorda said he and Claire work well together and discuss any decision before it’s made. “He’s the boss,” Lasorda said, “and I always go along with his decision. He listens to what I say, but he has to make the final decision. We have a great relationship.

“His job is to get me the best 25 players, and my job is to get the best effort out of them to make them win.”

Lasorda said he visits with Claire every day, just as he did when Campanis had the job. “I stop by and see him and see if there is anything he has to ask me,” Lasorda said. “We talk about every move, and he includes me in everything.”

With the team batting .230, second-lowest in the National League, the Dodgers are facing a strong possibility of losing Strawberry to the disabled list. He will be examined today. Add to that Eric Davis’ inconsistency at the plate, and this season looks similar to last.

“I’m disappointed (in the season so far), I can’t deny that,” O’Malley said. “But I have to be happy with Mike Piazza coming up from our farm system. He has worked so hard and has had an outstanding month. And I’m pleased with the young pitchers, (Pedro) Astacio, Pedro Martinez and (Omar) Daal.

“And looking to the future, we have an outfield at Albuquerque that is outstanding in Billy Ashley, Tom Goodwin and Raul Mondesi. They are not here yet but on the horizon and will get here soon.”

One of them may get here soon. Claire indicated that any roster changes will start in Albuquerque.

Said O’Malley: “We are getting through this period the best we can and made moves in the winter at second base and for the right fielder, (Cory) Snyder, that were good moves. . . .

“This period we are going through is more of a result of an interruption of the flow of talent from the farm system five-seven years ago. One reason we haven’t done well is that we lost our No. 1 draft picks, whether that was because they didn’t perform, or to injuries or of a mistake in judgment. But that hurt us and we are paying for it now.”

Of the club’s first draft picks from 1983-90, six were pitchers. Outfielder Mike White was left unprotected and drafted by the New York Mets. Only Chris Gwynn is in the majors, with the Kansas City Royals.