James Loney, you hit like Mark Grace. And that’s a powerful compliment

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It’s a compliment. Really, full-blown flattery. The kind of thing most young players would be honored to hear.

Yet somehow when it’s said of Dodgers first baseman James Loney, it can feel almost backhanded:

James Loneyplays like Mark Grace.

That would be Mark Grace, career .303 hitter, a three-time All-Star who finished with 2,445 hits and more than 500 doubles in 16 major league seasons.

That’s not lavish praise of the highest order?

‘I like it,’ Loney said. ‘A good, all-around player. A long career for him. Got a few Gold Gloves. Almost 2,500 hits. That’s pretty amazing.’

Absolutely without question. Except . . . Grace had very little power. He averaged 10.7 home runs a year and never hit more than 17 in a season.

And that’s less a complaint about Loney than simply a perceived shortcoming. Corner players are traditionally power hitters. They’re supposed to hover around 30 home runs a season.

Loney seems unfazed by it all. Few players appear so comfortable with themselves as Loney.

‘It’s not necessarily how many you hit, but when you get a big hit,’ he said. ‘If you help your team win, that’s what people are really going to remember. Did you step up at the right times and produce enough?’

This season Loney is batting .319 with two home runs, 19 RBIs and nine doubles in his first 29 games. His 38 hits are tied fourth in the National League, and his 13 multi-hit games are tied for second.

Even before Manny Ramirez returned to the lineup Saturday, Loney was in one of his offensive grooves, hitting .393 on the home stand.

‘I don’t know if James knows anybody is missing when they’re on the disabled list,’ said Manager Joe Torre.

‘He’s in great place. We would all like to be in James’ place. It’s calm. James is terrific. I’ve said it a lot of times, he’s a lot like Bernie Williams, who was one of my favorites over in New York.

‘A very productive player. Doesn’t seem to be bothered by pressure. And if he has a bad at-bat or a bad day or makes an error, it doesn’t weigh on him. Which is great. You can’t teach that stuff. That comes from your personality and your self-esteem. I mean, he sort of likes himself, not in an arrogant way. But he has a nice presence.’

Torre still believes Loney, 26, will hit for more power. Though like Grace, Loney is 6 feet 2, he carries an extra 15 pounds. Like Grace, he has a sweet, smooth swing.

A swing that drew so much attention while he was prep star in Texas that Baseball America dubbed him the best pure hitter in the draft. Major power or not.

And on a team that gets atypical power from its center fielder, Matt Kemp, the Dodgers can afford to give up a little at first base.

‘Loney is the one sneaking up on people,’ Torre said. ‘He’s not as explosive as the other two guys (Andre Ethier and Kemp) can be, but he’s very consistent. He’ll chip in with an RBI here, and an RBI there, and then hit a bomb like he did [Sunday].’

Loney said he’s comfortable with his swing, and doesn’t concern himself with those who decry his lack of power.

‘Nah, not really,’ he said. ‘I think I am the type of player who will keep driving the ball. You hit a hard line drive, [sometimes] it just didn’t get up in the air but you still hit it as hard as you could. You want to take advantage of the pitcher’s mistakes, that’s the main thing.’

Loney had exactly 13 home runs and 90 RBIs in each of the past two seasons. And if that’s the way it continues the rest of his career, if he is another Mark Grace?

‘That,’ Torre said, ‘is pretty darned good.’

--Steve Dilbeck