Chapter 8: 1995, a new era of uncertainty begins
The Dodgers mojo doesn't work in every strike-shortened season
The 1988 World Series led to a fairly long period of the Dodgers wandering the wilderness. The Dodgers had winning records in 1990 and 1991, but finished second behind Cincinnati and Atlanta in those years. In 1992, the team completely fell apart, finishing 63-99.
There was some hope in 1993 when catcher Mike Piazza won the Rookie of the Year award, this came on the heels of first baseman Eric Karros winning the year before. The Dodgers finished 81-81 that season and eliminated the Giants from the NL West race on the last day of the season.1
When the season ended in 1994, the Dodgers were in first in the reconstituted NL West. The Reds, Astros, and Braves were no longer divisional rivals for the Dodgers and the Dodgers had only three other teams in the West: the Giants, Padres, and Rockies. And with the new three division set up, there was now a playoff spot open to a wild card team.
The Dodgers made an offseason acquisition in 1995 that most people missed since the players strike prevented free agency and trades from taking place. Because of the strike, the Dodgers offered Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo a minor league contract with a $2 million signing bonus. No one knew how Nomo would fare in the American big leagues.
As it turned out, Nomo adapted to MLB very well. In his fourth start, against Pittsburgh, Nomo picked up 14 strikeouts. When he faced the Pirates again the next month, he struck out 16. Nomo led the NL in the truncated 144 game season with 236 strikeouts. Ramon Martinez and Ismael Valdez were also key contributors on the mound. Todd Worrell was the closer
Piazza and Karros both hit 32 homers and Piazza hit .346 to boot, second only to Tony Gwynn’s .368.
The Dodgers biggest competition that season was, unexpectedly, the Rockies. Colorado led the division much of the season as the team kept scoring and scoring, but mostly at home. The Rockies slumped a bit in August and the Dodgers took advantage and took over first and held on for a one-game margin, although both teams made the playoffs.
The Dodgers opponent in the new Division Series was a first time playoff opponent: Cincinnati. The Reds were a formidable team on offense with good, but not flashy pitching.
In Game 1, the Dodgers opted to start Martinez against the Reds ace that season, Pete Schourek. The Reds scored four runs in the first inning and won the game easily 7-2.
There was a big story in Los Angeles for Game 2, but the story was that O.J. Simpson had been acquitted of murder charges. A very strange crowd with a distinctly non-excited vibe came to Dodger Stadium. Lefty John Smiley started for the Reds against Valdez (he was Valdes at the time). The game was 2-2 into the eighth.
Former Dodger Mariano Duncan singled, stole second, and scored on a Barry Larkin single. The Reds added two more in the ninth. Eric Karros hit his second home run of the game in the 9th to make it 5-4, but Jeff Brantley closed out the game.
Game 3 in Cincinnati was a total blowout. Nomo started but was not sharp. Ron Gant and Bret Boone homered off him. Nomo was relieved in the sixth. The bullpen loaded the bases and Mark Guthrie came in to give up the first ever pinch hit grand slam to Mark Lewis. The Reds won 10-1 with the Reds also tacking on more on a 3 RBI double from reliever Michael Jackson.
The Dodgers appeared to be the team to beat for the next few years in the NL West, but it was not to be. The Dodgers would lose the division on the final day of the season in 1996 to the Padrees and make the playoffs as a wild card. And get swept again, this time by Atlanta. And they were now managed by Bill Russell.
And in 1997, Peter O’Malley sold the team to Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp, aka Fox. Times were changing. And in almost every case, the changes were not for the best.2
Oh, the Dodgers also traded Pedro Martinez to Montreal for Delino DeShields after the 1993 season. This idea was … not good.
The best one was trading Mike Piazza to the Marlins because the guys in charge of running the Dodgers at the time were annoyed by his contract demands and the fans still cheering for him. The audacity!