Dodgers Have No Cure for the Blues
High-ranking Dodger officials said Friday the organization will not make moves involving key members of the 25-man roster before tonight’s 9 PDT non-waiver trading deadline.
Instead, team President Bob Graziano and General Manager Kevin Malone said they will continue evaluating the disappointing ballclub during the final two months of the season in hopes the Dodgers finish strong, minimizing the need to make radical changes. However, Graziano and Malone said they are not being naive about the troubling situation.
During an interview in Malone’s office before the Dodgers’ 6-5 loss to Arizona on Friday, the Dodger decision makers repeatedly said they are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid another disastrous season. Graziano and Malone are prepared to make major moves in the off-season if the team does not respond down the stretch, regardless of how potential trades might be received by fans.
“The last two months are going to be very important,†Malone said. “We want to see how the players perform under adversity. We want to get a read on their character, their integrity and their commitment.
“Dodger ownership and management has already proven that we’re 100% committed to winning. Ownership allowed us to go out and get some of the best players. They allowed us to spend the dollars to build a winner, and now we want to see that same type of commitment [from the players].â€
Malone stopped short of questioning the Dodgers’ desire, attempting to avoid the negativity that has engulfed the clubhouse. However, even players acknowledge that too many of them have agendas other than the team’s success.
“Each individual player has to ask himself is their commitment sufficient for us to be a championship team, or are there certain players who feel their commitment level needs to be picked up a notch,†Malone said. “The only thing, the only goal, that matters to us [Malone and Graziano] is that everyone is on the same page, and that means that everyone is committed to helping the Dodgers win. We’re not going to move forward with people who have anything else on their minds.
“The final two months of the season are going to provide an opportunity for players to show us how much they want to be part of our future. I don’t want to look at it like that [tryouts], but the reality is we haven’t played the way we should be playing. What we’re looking for is for players to show us who we should include in our future. We’re going to be looking at pride levels. We’re going to be looking at the individual pride levels of everyone on this team, and that starts right now.â€
With only 58 games remaining, what are Graziano and Malone expecting?
“There still is time to accomplish a great deal,†Graziano said. “The team still has an opportunity to come together and show that this is a team capable of accomplishing the things we believed it could at the beginning of the season, and if not this season than next season.
“It’s not so much about that [a miraculous turnaround]. The reality is that . . . we all know how difficult this season has been. What we want to see is signs to help us determine what to do about [next season]. The players definitely will influence the decisions we make in the off-season. We want to give them the chance to do that, which is why we’re not [making major moves] at this point.â€
Of course, deals are available.
Malone has had several offers for young pitchers Darren Dreifort, Chan Ho Park and Ismael Valdes. Teams have also pursued second-year third baseman Adrian Beltre and rookie catcher Angel Pena. But those players aren’t going anywhere at the moment.
“We still believe we can win in 2000, that’s why we’re not looking to do anything like that,†Malone said of moving pitchers or rising position players. “I guess if someone overwhelmed us we would still listen, but based on everything I’ve been hearing on the phone, that’s not going to happen.
“We’re not under any pressure to do something short-term that will hurt us long-term, and we’re not just going to dump payroll. We’ll make changes if and when we feel it will make us a better ballclub, but that time is not now.â€
However, Malone and Graziano cautioned that unpopular moves might have to be made in the off-season in an attempt to right the ship.
“When you’re looking to improve, and you don’t perform to expectations, that brings about hard decisions,†Malone said. “You have to be willing to make tough decisions.
“But the types of hard decisions that we might have to make . . . it takes a longer period of time to complete those processes. You don’t want to make those moves [trading marquee players] unless you are absolutely convinced that you want to move in that direction. You don’t want to make those types of decisions up against [a deadline].â€
INSIDE
NO LEAD IS SAFE FOR REELING L.A.: The Dodgers were sailing along until the eighth, then blew a four-run lead and lost to Arizona, 6-5. Page 9
A RARE SLIP BY THE BRAVES: Philadelphia’s wild 9-2 win over Atlanta knocked the Braves out of first place in the NL East. Page 8
YANKEES KNOCK THEM ‘DIZZY’: Chuck Knoblauch, who missed two games because of dizziness, had five hits in win over Boston. Page 6
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