Oh, For Those Glory Days Of Yesteryear

Lasorda represents only one of several personnel decisions O'Malley can no longer avoid. Schweppe is retiring, and rumored replacements include scout Mel Didier and former catcher John Roseboro, who until this spring had been out of baseball for a decade. There are rumors that Wade will soon be asked to retire. And despite appearances that Claire will be in charge for the long haul, O'Malley has never really made that clear. Because he has not acknowledged the need for change for such a long time, O'Malley now faces difficult decisions indeed.

"There are still a lot of great scouts and instructors in the Dodger organization," says Claire. "We have some good prospects. I am extremely positive about our future. We just have some things to pull together."

Not just some things. A lot of things. Because right now the Dodger way is as close to last place as it is to first. What must Mr. Rickey think?

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