Dodgers : Reds See Favorite Lasorda Lineup

When Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda disregards all outside considerations and honestly evaluates his roster, he has said that this would be the lineup of choice:

Steve Sax, second base

Alfredo Griffin, shortstop

Kirk Gibson, left field

Pedro Guerrero, third base

Mike Marshall, first base

Mike Davis, right field

John Shelby, center field

Mike Scioscia, catcher

Not coincidentally, that was the starting lineup the Dodgers fielded Wednesday in a 6-5 exhibition win over the Cincinnati Reds. If the season started today--and many wish it would--Lasorda would be fielding a potentially explosive offensive team, providing Guerrero agrees to stay at third base.

“That would be the optimum lineup,” Lasorda said. “I’d like to see a few games with all these guys in there.”

The lineup remained intact for three innings Wednesday, before the usual changes were made. Although there was no offensive windfall, Dodger players say that the potential is there.

“If this thing goes full circle and they keep this lineup, we could do some damage,” Sax said. “In my opinion, we could be potentially awesome.”

The Dodgers’ five power hitters--Gibson, Guerrero, Marshall, Davis and Shelby--averaged 22 home runs and 77 runs batted in last season. Except for Marshall, all hit at least 20 home runs last season, which prompted Gibson to compare this club to the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers.

Of course, the 1988 Dodgers have yet to hit any home runs, but Gibson said he is thinking positively.

“We got some guys now who can mash the ball,” Gibson said. “It’s kind of like ‘84, but that lineup was a lot better. (Alan) Trammell and Lou (Whitaker) each hit 20 home runs. (Darrell) Evans, Lance (Parrish) and myself, we all hit 20. And I believe Larry Herndon had more than 20.”

Actually, only Parrish, with 33, and Gibson, with 27, had more than 20 home runs that season. But Gibson didn’t let facts interfere with his point.

“What makes it nice when you’ve got people who can (hit the ball) out of the yard is that it makes up for mistakes. We’ve got the big bats now and we can afford to take chances.

“I think you’ll see us score a lot of runs, and I also think we can field better than you (reporters) say we can. The main thing is wins and losses. And I think we can win with this (lineup).”

Added Sax: “Everybody’s talking about this (lineup). I don’t make the decisions, but we realize we’ve got tremendous ingredients for a good team.”

The heated competition for the final two spots in the Dodgers’ pitching rotation--Lasorda insisted again Wednesday that Don Sutton will be the third starter--took its first negative turn Wednesday.

The Cincinnati Reds knocked around rookie Tim Belcher, one of the favorites to earn a starting spot, for three runs and seven hits in three innings.

Belcher said he did not have the usual speed on his fastball.

“There was no life in the fastball, and then I made the mistake of throwing it right over the plate,” Belcher said. “I’d like to think I’m a favorite for the rotation, but what I did today is going to stand out because I’m the first guy who hasn’t pitched well in a start. I mean, before today, our staff ERA was under two.”

Lasorda and pitching coach Ron Perranoski said they will not put much emphasis on Belcher’s performance Wednesday.

“Pitchers go through tired-arm stages during the spring,” Lasorda said. “He didn’t have that pop on the fastball. But he’ll get other opportunities.”

Added Belcher: “I pitched well enough last September (4-2 with a 2.38 ERA with the Dodgers) to prove to them that I can get major league hitters out. But I still know that I’ve got to prove myself again. I don’t care if I’m the third, fourth or fifth starter.”

Belcher is battling Tim Leary, Alejandro Pena, Shawn Hillegas and Ken Howell for one of the final two spots in the rotation. Lasorda said Sutton is set as the third starter, behind Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser.

“I’ve got to give Sutton a couple of starts into the season,” Lasorda said. “I figure (Sutton) can come out of the chute and help us.”

Dodger Notes

Like Jeff Hamilton and Mariano Duncan, Franklin Stubbs is another Dodger who figures to be out of a job because of Manager Tom Lasorda’s new lineup. But Stubbs, who singled and scored the winning run against the Reds Wednesday, has chosen not to complain, as some other players have. “I don’t say too much, because I’m not that kind of person,” Stubbs said. “I asked them my role, and they said that they are going to use me somehow. I got positive feedback. But I don’t think they really know what they’re going to do yet. So, I just play hard when I do play. You never know, somebody else (scouts from other teams) might be watching me.” . . . Pitcher Ken Howell, recovering from a shaky outing Saturday, pitched two scoreless innings. Brad Havens gave up two runs and three hits in two innings. Jesse Orosco pitched in and out of trouble in the ninth inning to earn the win.