Karros Thinks Dodgers Will Have Closing Kick

There are numerous theories about the Dodgers’ failure to win a playoff game in the ‘90s. Their general manager, Kevin Malone, has been a leading proponent of the most popular one, that the Dodgers have been underachievers.

In his first meeting with his new boss, Eric Karros respectfully disagreed and advanced a theory of his own. The Dodgers haven’t won because they haven’t had enough good players. It’s that simple. Cancel the appointment with the psychologist.

“Let me tell you about something that happened during the 1996 playoffs,” Karros said Wednesday. “We lost two games here, went to Atlanta and were standing on the field for the introductions. They started with the Braves’ bench players--Andruw Jones, Terry Pendleton, Luis Polonia, David Justice, who was injured.

“Mondy [Raul Mondesi] turned to me and said, “Holy [bleep], EK, they’ve got two [bleeping] teams.’

“I’m not criticizing the previous ownership, but the bottom line is that we didn’t have the resources to compete with that. We didn’t have the horses.”

Karros believes they have a team of Silver Charms now, and while they might not produce a World Series title this season, he said they should be among the four or five contenders.

“Compare it to last year, when we weren’t sure about [Roger] Cedeno in center and [Todd] Hollandsworth in left and [Antonio] Osuna as the closer, and our one and two starters, Ramon [Martinez] and Hideo [Nomo], were both coming off surgery.

“This team has the fewest question marks of any since I’ve been here, with experienced, proven players at every position except one.”

That one, third base, will not remain a question mark for long, he said.

“We’ve had a lot of young guys who have been hyped, guys like [Karim] Garcia, Cedeno, [Paul] Konerko and even Billy Ashley,” he said. “But Adrian Beltre is legit.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be this year, but Beltre at some point in the next two or three years is going to be a superstar.”

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Karros said he is 100% physically, unlike last season when he sat out the first 21 games after knee surgery. He also struggled for a few weeks because of a dislocated finger. . . .

Still, he hit .296 with 23 home runs and 87 runs batted in and said his suffering was exaggerated. . . .

“Some people had me in a body bag,” he said. . . .

Maybe they were confused because he spent so much time at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood. . . .

He was there as a member of the board of directors, and, on Monday at Palos Verdes Country Club, is playing host to the Eric Karros charity golf tournament to benefit the hospital’s pediatric unit emergency trauma center. . . .

E-2: In an item Tuesday about Minnesota’s numerous disappointments, I should have said that the Twins went home from Los Angeles in the 1965 World Series down, 3-2, won Game 6 and then lost to Sandy Koufax in Game 7. . . .

For only the second time, the first time since 1969, there are no former USC players in the Super Bowl. . . .

But there are more ex-Trojans in the Pro Bowl than from any other school--Tony Boselli, Keyshawn Johnson, Bruce Matthews, Darrell Russell and Junior Seau. . . .

UCLA has been represented by at least one of its former players in every Super Bowl since 1980. . . .

Former Bruin Mike Lodish, a Denver defensive tackle, will play this year in a record sixth Super Bowl. . . .

Cade McNown is shrinking. Listed at 6 feet 1 1/2 in UCLA’s media guide, he measured in at a fraction over 6-0 for the Senior Bowl. . . .

Disappointed by the lack of buys for Mike Tyson’s latest comeback fight, Showtime believes it can rekindle interest by matching him against Roy Jones Jr. if the light-heavyweight can reach 200 pounds. . . .

The most embarrassing moment in soon-to-be Laker Derek Harper’s 15-year NBA career came as a rookie during the 1984 playoffs against the Lakers. . . .

Believing his Dallas Mavericks had a one-point lead with six seconds left, he dribbled out the clock. Only then did he discover that the game was tied. The Lakers won in overtime, went up, 3-1, in the series and closed it out in the next game. . . .

He wondered a couple of years later if he would ever be allowed to forget that gaffe. Now he has his answer.

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While wondering if the Bulls will go after “The Next Michael Jordan” when Kobe Bryant becomes a free agent this summer, I was thinking: Maybe Dennis Rodman decided he didn’t want to spend more time with the wife, Jeff Van Gundy must be thrilled about the trade for Latrell Sprewell, what a surprise that the Lakers haven’t found a taker for Elden Campbell and his $7-million annual salary.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: [email protected]