BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : No Defense for Offerman’s Mental Lapse

Even one of Jose Offerman’s most ardent supporters couldn’t defend his mental lapse in Sunday’s game, when he failed to cover second base on a throw by Eric Karros.

“The one thing you don’t want to see with a player is a lapse of concentration, and it took place Sunday. Jose knows that as well as anybody,” said Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president. “You hope it’s part of the learning experience, but you don’t want to see that happen. You can’t have that happen. You have to have a player’s total attention.”

“Jose is a talented young player, but there are no excuses for a lack of concentration. No excuse at all.”

But Claire, when asked how long the Dodgers can continue to play Offerman, said: “He is a very talented player, and I believe he will play in the major leagues a long time.”

However, there is concern, at least among the players, about Offerman’s performance since the team’s recent series in Philadelphia. The day Manager Tom Lasorda held a team meeting and told his players that all he wanted was 100% effort, Offerman failed to run out a ground ball. He was unhappy when he was benched without warning for the second time during a recent trip and hasn’t played the same since defensively.

On the other hand, Offerman has begun to take off at the plate. And his anticipated backup, Kevin Elster, still is not throwing 100%, Claire said Monday. Claire has Elster, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, in double-A San Antonio to prove he can play shortstop on a daily basis.

Waiting for his chance at triple-A Albuquerque is Rafael Bournigal.