The Dodgers by Schiavone Michael;

Author:Schiavone, Michael;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2018-03-20T04:00:00+00:00

1984–87: SOME GOOD, A LOT NOT SO GOOD

Considering that the Dodgers were defending NL West champions and had the best record in the NL, there was a good feeling all around that the team would have another good season in 1984. And, once again, the front office was happy to rely on the players they had while promoting rookies. One player the front office no longer had was Dusty Baker; he was a free agent and signed with the rival Giants. One could not help but get the impression the ownership simply did not want to spend the necessary money to acquire free agents—players that could have made the team a lot better. However, ownership was happy on occasions to spend money to keep their homegrown players that were in their prime. In February 1984, Pedro Guerrero signed a five-year, $7 million contract. It was the largest contract ever given out by the organization.

Dodger management’s decision to go with their usual approach seemed wise considering that the team got off to a good start, having a 17–8 record in April. But April and September were their only winning months, as they finished with a record of 79–83 in fourth place in the NL West, 13 games behind the Padres. Once again the pitching staff had a fine season, and once again the offense was seemingly nonexistent. A series of injuries did not help the team either. This included pitcher and future long-serving Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, who hurt his shoulder after trying hurdle a chain barrier in the Dodger Stadium carpark. With him that day was relief pitcher Tom Niedenfuer. Niedenfuer also missed time with injury after swallowing his tongue due to excruciating pain from a kidney stone. Luckily scout Charlie Metro was close by and performed CPR on Niedenfuer, who had stopped breathing, saving his life.

There was one bright spot in the season, though, well apart from Metro saving Niedenfuer’s life: Orel Hershiser. Hershiser was far from a can’t-miss prospect, as he was a 17th-round pick in the 1979 draft. Very few players drafted that late ever make it to the big leagues. Nevertheless, Hershiser worked his way through the minor-league system. It helped Hershiser that Lasorda believed in him. In Tommy Lasorda: My Way, Hershiser recalls a speech Lasorda gave to him back in Spring Training of 1982:

I was pitching in an intra-squad game and struck out nine batters in a row…. Tommy pulled Dusty Baker off the bench because he wanted to see me pitch to a big-league hitter. I struck Dusty out—10 batters in a row. Two days later we are sitting in the stands watching another game and Tommy comes over to sit with me. He gave me a motivational speech, saying if I didn’t make it to the big leagues he will have an investigation as to why not. That was the opening line, and it went on for six, seven minutes, but that was the first time that Tommy motivated me and told me I could be a big-leaguer.

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