PREVIEW '93 : Reloaded Dodgers Eager to Exorcise Demons of '92

HRs: 9

RBIs: 59

Named to five All-star teams. Jody Reed / 2B

'92 at Boston

Avg.: .247

HRs: 3

RBIs: 40

Hit less than .280 for first time in '92. Mike Piazza / C

'92 at Albuquerque

Avg.: .341

HRs: 29

RBIs: 69

The Skipper:

Tommy Lasorda enters his 44th season with the Dodger organization. He has managed in four World Series.

Tommy Lasorda / MGR

Career record as Dodger manager:

Won: 1,339*

Lost: 1,199

PCT.: .528

*Second among active managers.

New Guys on the Block:

Eric Karros joins Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela, among others to become the 12th Dodger to win N.L. Rookie of the Year honors. The Dodgers lead the major leagues in number of recipients.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 12

Yankees and Browns/Orioles: 7

Reds and Senators/Twins: 6

The Fun Stuff:

Get your nuts here: The grilled-versus-steamed controversy has simmered down at the home of the famous Dodger Dog. Both types are now available along with the traditional vendor-delivered peanuts and sodas. The stadium also offers fast-food fare from Carl's Jr., Pizza Hut and TCBY Yogurt. The Dodgers sold about 3 million hot dogs last year, down from the 3.5 million in 1991.

Oh say can you sing? If you are interested in singing the national anthem, mail a letter and cassette tape to the Advertising and Special Events Department, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, 90012. A cappella or an accompanied performance is fine, but no Jose Feliciano-or Jimi Hendrix-type performances. List any previous singing experience. If you want to sing on a particular group night, send the tape and letter to the Group Ticket Sales department. That way, if you're chosen to sing, you'll be able to perform on the night your group attends.

Want to write to your favorite Dodger? Kids of all ages want to get to know their favorite ballplayers, and writing a letter or a note of encouragement is a good way to show you care. You can write to let Ramon Martinez know he should throw more curveballs. In return, you probably will receive a pocket schedule, sticker and/or a couple of baseball postcards. You may get a note back from a player. Address your letter to: (Player's Name), Los Angeles Dodgers, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA. 90012. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Power Broker?

On Aug. 28, 1990, Jose Offerman became the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. He's hit one more since.

Opening Day Order:

('92 averages)

1 Offerman .260

2 Butler .309

3 Davis .228

4 Strawberry .237

5 Wallach .223

6 Karros .257

7 Piazza .341*

8 Reed .247

9 Hershiser .221

* LF Eric Davis

CF Brett Butler

RF Darryl Strawberry

1B Eric Karros

2B Jody Reed

SS Jose Offerman

3B Tim Wallach

P Orel Hershiser

C Mike Piazza

*The Schedule, How to Get There, Seating, Tickets and Tidbits Home park: Dodger Stadium Location: 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles 90012 Phone number: (213) 224-1400 Seating capacity: 56,000 1992 attendance: 2,473,266 1992 average per date: 32,120 1992 largest crowd: 49,018 (April 6 opening day vs. Giants) Record crowd, regular season: 55,185 (July 28 1973, vs. Giants) Parking and hours: Parking lots open two hours before game time ($4). Gates open 90 minutes before game.

Advance ticket purchases: Monday through Saturday, 1750 Stadium Way, adjacent to the Naval-Marine Center; 8:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Also available at various locations in the stadium and at the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City.

Telephone ticket orders: Ticketmaster: (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232; 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday. MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover. Dodger order line: (213) 224-1HIT; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. MasterCard ad VISA. Add $1 surcharge. Orders made 10 days before a game are mailed. Late orders pickup at will call.

Mail orders:

Must be received seven days before game. Add $3 per order for postage and handling. L.A. Dodgers, P.O. Box 51100. Los Angeles, 90051-0100. Late orders held at will call.

Club Level: (reserved for VIPs, sponsors, comp.)

Pavilion: $6*

Field Box: $11

Loge Box: $11

Top Deck: $6*

Reserved Level: $8

*Special prices on general admission for children, senior citizens and the military, sold 90 minutes before game time: $3

Promotions for kids 14 and younger:

4/16-Baseball cards; 4/28-Bat/batting glove; 5/2-Videotape; 5/26-Fielder's glove; 6/8-Baseball radio; 7/21-Jersey T-shirt; 7/24-Helmet; 8/8-Trading cards; 8/11-Sports sunglasses; 8/24-Baseball; 9/9-Backpack.

Local television and radio: KTLA (channel 5) will televise 46 road games. It will also televise the Angels. KTLA will show one team or the other nearly every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the season (95 total games). All Dodger games are on KABC 790 AM and in Spanish on KWKW 1330 AM.

National telecasts and cable: CBS (Saturdays): 5/15 at Houston, 5/29 at Pittsburgh, 7/24 vs. Mets. ESPN (Sunday night): 4/18 vs. Pirates, 7/11 at New York

Source: Los Angeles Dodgers