SOME PIAZZA DEALS COME WITH A CATCH.

Byline: TIM BROWN

Baseball in the kingdom:

It seems the Dodgers will answer Mike Piazza's camp with a contract for four years in the $28-$30-million range, perhaps with an option year. Piazza and agent Dan Lozano probably are aiming a bit higher, in the seven-year, $10-million-per neighborhood, to start.

Piazza will not demand a contract clause that requires he remain a catcher.

However, a significant amount of Piazza's endorsement income is tied into the fact that he is a catcher. More specific, Hideo Nomo's catcher. Piazza recently signed three more endorsement contracts in Japan, with an electronics firm, an investment banker and a company that produces noodles. He also hawks Japanese underwear and tractors, though presumably not in the same ad. Most of his fall will be spent in Japan, filming commercials.

The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to get the Cleveland Indians to bite on a deal for John Olerud. Once thought to have among baseball's sweetest swings, especially after his 1993 batting title, Olerud has had his batting average fall in the past four seasons, from .363 to .297 to .291 to its current .270. His RBI and home-run totals have done the same.

In a survey of baseball's managers, Todd Worrell's slider was judged the third-best in the National League. Very observant. Worrell hasn't thrown a consistent slider in two seasons. If it's that good, though, he probably ought to throw it more.

Just the motivation he needed: Three months ago, Greg Vaughn was on our all-overpaid team. He's due to drive in his 100th run any day now.

Our preseason predictions: NL West - Dodgers (Rockies third); NL Central - Reds (Cardinals second); NL East - Braves (Expos last); AL West - Angels (Rangers third); AL Central - Indians; AL East - Orioles (Yankees second).

Our midseason predictions: NL West - Dodgers; NL Central - Astros; NL East - Braves; AL West - Mariners; AL Central - Indians; AL East - Yankees. NL wild card - Rockies; AL wild card - Rangers. It's really much easier this time of year.

Reason No. 1 Kevin Brown (1.76) and Al Leiter (2.69) have miniscule ERAs: They're pretty good pitchers. Reason No. 2: Neither has pitched at Coors Field this season.

If Disney should clean house after what looks to be a dreary summer for the Angels, expect former Yankees general manager Gene Michael to be the first in line for Bill Bavasi's job, suit pressed, resume in hand. No one talks about it, but Stick is the brains behind the Yanks' 1996 brawn. He was the guy who pulled The Boss off the free-agent ledge and then fortified the farm system.

Another thing about Michael, presently buried in Steinbrenner's ever-growing bone yard. In his interview for the job Pat Gillick eventually received, as general manager of the Orioles, Michael stressed that he would keep both Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald. Gillick disagreed, was offered the position, and dumped them both. Brown leads the National League in ERA, and McDonald (3.56), the ace of the Brewers' staff, ranks fourth in the American League.

Mets catcher Todd Hundley leads the National League in RBI ratio (1 per 4.3 at-bats) and home-run ratio (1 per 12.3). Who's pitching to this guy? The man hits in front of Butch Huskey, for heaven's sake.

On the eve of what promises to become a five-alarm fire sale, Reds general manager Jim Bowden was asked if Barry Larkin, last season's National League MVP, was untouchable. ``I said,'' Bowden said, ``there are no untouchables.''

Overheard at Joe Robbie Stadium, after new Marlins manager John Boles walked past: ``The Marlins hired Barney Fife to manage their team.''

In their first 11 games under hitting coach Jeff Pentland, the Marlins averaged 7.2 runs per game. Though they scored only seven in their next three games against the Dodgers, Pentland is getting much of the credit for turning around an otherwise sluggish offense. Pentland, 49, was a standout pitcher and defensive end for Grant High School.

His mother, Suzanne Pentland, lives in Camarillo. Mrs. Pentland told the Miami Herald that she often threw batting practice to young Jeff. ``I told him, `If you ever hit me I'll have to bean you.' I think I made him a pull hitter.''

Dusty Baker sweatband check: Yep, still wearin' 'em.

Imagine if the Rockies ever get a legitimate home-run hitter in their lineup. Dante Bichette never hit more than 15 before he arrived in Denver. Ellis Burks hit 21 for Boston once. Andres Galarraga had 29 for the Expos - in 1988. Vinny Castilla once hit 10 in the minor leagues. Fine ballplayers. Line-drive hitters. We're talking Mark McGwire. Or Bonds. Piazza. Mo Vaughn. What might one of those guys do at Coors Field? ``Seventy,'' Bichette said. ``Maybe 80.'' Cool.

Cal Ripken at third base. Now, that wasn't all that painful, was it?

The Yankees have yet to lose a series at home this season. However, they have lost several wallets, a watch and two Mercedes.

The 1970s just don't go over well on Chicago's south side. First, disco demolition night. Then, just this week, Bozo the Clown crushed his nose while attempting to toss out the ceremonial first pitch. Aside from the ``Just-what-was-Bozo doing-throwing-out the-first-pitch-anyway?'' question, there is strong sentiment to cancel Come Incinerate Your Gremlin Night.

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Photo

Photo: Bonds' moving experience

Barry Bonds, for the time b eing hitting behind Matt Williams, has this terrific routine when he draws a walk. He rolls his eyes. He throws his bat. He slowly unhitches his elbow guard and tosses that. Then he strolls to first base with a posture that wants to tell everyone that, hey, he was willing to hit, but that pansy out there wouldn't throw him a strike. It's all very moving. But, a team player such as Bonds certainly understands that as long as Tom Lampkin or Steve Scarsone or Stan Javier is hitting behind him, the nearest thing he'll see to the strike zone is the umpire's brush.

Associated Press

MEMO: Tim Brown's baseball column appears Sundays in the Daily News.