On the day the Fox Entertainment Group took its hands off day-to-day operation of the Dodgers, Chairman Peter Chernin tried to wash his hands of the worst move made on Fox's watch--the disastrous trade of catcher Mike Piazza.
"That was originally suggested by [former general manager] Fred Claire," Chernin said at a Thursday news conference to announce that former studio executive Robert Daly would be taking control of the team. "We were not dreaming up those things."
Claire, who was fired by Fox a month after Piazza was dealt to the Florida Marlins in a seven-player deal, was outraged at that claim.
"For Peter Chernin to make that statement is totally unfair, totally uncalled for and totally inaccurate," Claire said. "And you can underline all of those things. It is very upsetting to hear something like that by Peter Chernin.
"I think the fans understand. I know they do. I never did anything that I would not take responsibility for. If I had made that trade, I would take responsibility for it. That does not show me much at all. It disappoints me, surprises me that Peter would make such a statement. He should know better."
The Piazza deal, made after the superstar catcher and the Dodgers couldn't agree on a new contract, was the first of many moves made under the ownership of the news and entertainment giant that failed to improve the team while leaving its fans disgruntled and disgusted.
The Piazza trade was not only a public-relations problem--losing the team's most popular player and one of the best ever to wear a Dodger uniform--but, like several other questionable moves, it failed to improve the team on the field.
The Dodgers received five players from the Marlins for Piazza and third baseman Todd Zeile. Of those five, only one, left fielder Gary Sheffield, remains with the club.
Under Fox, the Dodgers also:
* Traded outfielder Roger Cedeno to the New York Mets for catcher Todd Hundley. Cedeno hit .314 for the Mets this season and stole 66 bases, second best in the National League. Hundley turned out to be damaged goods, unable to regain the form he had before undergoing elbow surgery after the 1997 season.
* Signed pitcher Kevin Brown to a $105-million contract, giving a pitcher the kind of money that Piazza, an everyday player, was refused.
* Traded for pitcher Carlos Perez and gave him a three-year, $15.6-million contract only to have Perez end up in the minors at the end of this season.
