DODGERS : Samuel Knows Second Is First

Last spring, Dodger observers wondered if expecting Juan Samuel to learn to play center field while batting leadoff was asking too much.

Samuel would flash a smile and say no. Dodger officials, who traded Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena to the New York Mets for him, said Samuel would have no problems.

One stormy year later, Samuel acknowledges that everyone was wrong.

From his corner of the Dodgertown clubhouse, in a voice that carried none of the bravado of last season, Samuel recently talked about a season marked by confusion and bitterness.

“There were a lot of things on my mind last year,” Samuel said. “I wasn’t able to concentrate on what I was doing. It was a very long year.”

Life can be like that for a player who starts 31 games in center field and then switches gears, starting his final 101 games at second base.

To make things worse, he was the opening day leadoff hitter, but lasted in that spot only a month. He finished the year batting seventh.

“They had him going everywhere,” teammate Alfredo Griffin said. “There was no routine for him. Baseball players like routine. You get very confused the other way. I think it affected him.”

That confusion showed in the statistics. He battled at the plate, hitting .242 with 126 strikeouts, fifth most in the league.

He was erratic in the field, committing 13 errors at second base for a .972 fielding percentage, worst among all National League second baseman who played at least 100 games.

In October he became a free agent who many thought had played his last game as a Dodger. But after being virtually ignored by the Dodgers until the final days they could sign him, he still returned.

The Dodgers didn’t particularly covet him, but after failing to sign free agent Bill Doran, they had no choice.

Samuel didn’t particularly love the Dodgers, either. He said he returned because they are the only team that promised he could play second base.

“One team I could have signed with wanted me to play third base,” Samuel said. “Another team wanted me to play in the outfield. Another team wanted me to do both.

“Then there was one team that said I would play second base as soon as they made a trade! I went through that last year. I would not go through that again.”

Samuel shook his head and added, “I came here to be a second baseman, because I am a second baseman. I am not an outfielder. I learned that last year.”

Officials are saying that if his fielding improves even slightly, he will be the opening day starter, beating out the platoon of Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson.

But Samuel said he is so glad to be at one position, he will not complain if he is benched.

“I am not worrying about anything this year, that was my problem last year,” Samuel said. “Whatever they decide to do, I will do. I am staying out of the news this year. I am staying in the background.

“Last year was a little much. I don’t like that much attention. This year, I stay at second base, and I stay happy.”

Tim Belcher, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Sept. 11, will be one of the Dodger pitchers in the first spring game Thursday in Vero Beach against the Detroit Tigers.

“I’ve haven’t felt anything from that,” Belcher said of the operation, during which torn cartilage was removed. “I guess it’s a combination of a good doctor and a good rehabilitation. But I feel great.”

He also looked great in a recent batting practice session. Many say that if Ramon Martinez is not ready for his probable opening day start after reporting to camp Tuesday, Belcher would be the pitcher April 9 against Atlanta.

Dodger Notes

With Brett Butler leading the push, the Dodgers have placed an increased emphasis on bunting. Butler and some teammates bunt for an hour each morning before the start of workouts. . . . Ed Lund, a rookie league catcher, won the sixth annual catchers’ popup contest by catching a foul pop after doing a double somersault and then grabbing his glove from a teammate. . . . Workouts were halted because of rain Sunday for the second time this spring. . . . The Dodgers will hold their first intrasquad game today.