Best in West Not Nearly Good Enough

By BOB NIGHTENGALE

March 31, 1996 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Dodgers still talk about the experience in hushed tones. They remember the anguish, believing they were in total control and then had no control at all.

There were a thousand thoughts and feelings scratching to get out, but instead of talking that Oct. 6, 1995, evening, the Dodgers stared vacantly ahead, absorbing it all.

The Dodgers, their season over after they were swept in three games by the Cincinnati Reds, vowed never to forget.

They will open their 1996 season Monday against the Houston Astros in the Astrodome as overwhelming favorites to finish first in the National League West. They’re confident they not only will win the division title, but match up with the Atlanta Braves for their first World Series berth since 1988.

The only inspiration needed, they say, is a reminder of their humbling playoff experience against the Reds, proof of how quickly hopes and dreams can end.

“I want to remember how we were embarrassed,” Dodger center fielder Brett Butler said. “I think getting pummeled last year will help us, it will drive us.”

The Dodgers, who won the NL West title by overtaking the Colorado Rockies in the final week of the season, went into the playoffs believing they would beat Cincinnati and perhaps knock off Atlanta. They were outscored, 22-7, in the three games.

“We got a taste of what it was like,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “It left a bitter taste, but one that reminds us just what we have to do.

“Looking back last year, maybe that was our goal, just to win the division.

“Let’s face it, if we only win the division this year and don’t go any further, it will be an unsuccessful season. The way I look at it, if you’re going to be playing in October, you might as well play to the end of October.”

Make no mistake, the Dodger front-office made its moves this winter with the intention of not merely winning a division title, but unseating the World Series champion Braves.

The Dodgers could have stood pat in the off-season and probably would have been favored again to win the division title, with their abundance of prospects. But they took no chances.

They decided to re-sign Butler, 38, for $2 million instead of handing the job to rookie Roger Cedeno. They re-signed starting pitcher Tom Candiotti, 38, to a two-year, $6-million contract instead of going with rookie Chan Ho Park. They gave free-agent starting pitcher Ramon Martinez a three-year, $15-million contract. They re-signed veteran second baseman Delino DeShields for $3 million instead of giving an everyday job to popular Chad Fonville.

They re-signed Todd Worrell for $4 million instead of giving the closer duties to Antonio Osuna. They let popular third baseman Tim Wallach go and traded for Mike Blowers, giving him $2.3 million. They went out and spent $1 million on relievers Scott Radinsky and Darren Hall and pinch-hitter Milt Thompson. And, of course, they gave up on shortstop Jose Offerman and signed slick-fielding Greg Gagne for $2.6 million.

The player payroll is $36.5 million, but with a World Series at stake, what’s a little money to perhaps the most valuable franchise in baseball?

“It’s a credit to the organization,” Karros said, “for making the moves they realized needed to be made. But the organization can only do so much. . . . Now it’s time for us to do our [jobs].”

Said all-star right fielder Raul Mondesi: “This team has everything you could ask. What do we need? Nothing. Who else can say that?”

Certainly, no one in the Dodger clubhouse should be able to blame any struggles this season on lack of talent. This team has six all-stars, six players with World Series experience and the last four rookie-of-the year winners. Everyone in the starting rotation has won at least 13 games in a season. Four players hit at least 23 home runs and drove in 88 runs last season. Four players stole at least 20 bases last season. Three relievers have saved at least 15 games in a season. And pinch-hitter Thompson has hit more homers (47) and driven in more runs (354) than the lifetime totals of all of last season’s Dodger reserves.

“You look at that team,” said Baltimore Oriole Manager Davey Johnson, former manager of the Cincinnati Reds, “and you wonder who’s going to keep up with them. Nobody’s going to keep up with those guys. Nobody. The Braves and Dodgers are in a class by themselves.”

The Dodgers are so rich in talent that they might be able to survive injuries, even to their stars. The only player who appears irreplaceable is all-star catcher Mike Piazza. They have replacements for the rest of the infield in Fonville and third baseman/first baseman Dave Hansen. The outfield is loaded with Billy Ashley, Cedeno and Thompson on the bench, and Karim Garcia at triple-A Albuquerque. Starting pitchers Mike Harkey and Darren Dreifort will be waiting in Albuquerque. And if Worrell is injured, Hall and Radinsky have been successful stoppers.

“You’ve got to feel good about this team,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “I know the team feels good about itself. The team on the field is good, maybe very good, and the foundation underneath [in the minors] is as strong as we’ve ever had. We’re in a position that if we have needs, we can fill those needs within the organization.”

It’s difficult for the Dodgers--or anyone else--to fathom how they can’t win the division. Butler said this team has the greatest collection of talent of any he has played with in his 15-year career. Thompson said the team is better than his 1993 Philadelphia Phillie team, which won the National League pennant. Reliever Mark Guthrie said it is better than his 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins. Worrell said it’s more balanced than the 1985 and 1987 National League champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Perhaps as important, Dodger players say, is the team’s attitude. The Dodgers seldom showed signs of unity a year ago. Games ended, and players scattered within 30 minutes. They were basically a bunch of talented individuals with a general indifference toward the team’s goals.

Dodger players say this year is dramatically differently. They rave about Gagne and Blowers, saying they fit in perfectly. Gagne and Blowers say they not only have been accepted, but embraced by their new teammates. Thompson is proving why he’s considered one of the classiest players in the game. Hall has become a favorite on the Dodger pitching staff.

“You couldn’t have assembled a better group of guys from a personality standpoint and character,” Karros said. “You’d have to be naive to say guys won’t be concerned with themselves, but this year we have a common goal and that’s to win a world championship.

“That’s become more prevalent than any team I’ve been on here.”

Said Piazza: “I think the big thing was getting Gagne and Blowers. They not only are two quality players, but two quality people. They’ve got that great unselfish attitude.

“I’ll tell you what; that’s rubbing off on everyone else in here.”

The stage is now set for the drama to unfold. Tom Lasorda, managing his 20th and perhaps final season, realizes what’s at stake. This team could win, should win, and unless there’s a dramatic turn of events, will win. It figures to win at least 90 games this season.

Nothing short of a World Series appearance will be acceptable.

“We have a very good shot at going to the World Series,” Karros said. “But until you do it, there’s nothing worse than saying how good you are and not doing it.

“Believe me, we don’t want to be embarrassed again. We’ve already gone through that. That’s enough.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Roster

Pitchers:

Pedro Astacio

Tom Candiotti

John Cummings

Joey Eischen

Mark Guthrie

Darren Hall

Ramon Martinez

Hideo Nomo