DODGERS : Three Might Not Be a Crowd Behind the Plate

An interesting thing has happened in the heated competition between prospective Dodger backup catchers Gary Carter and Barry Lyons.

They might not actually be in competition; there is a chance they will both make the team.

The prospect that the Dodgers would carry three catchers became stronger Tuesday after a ninth-inning sequence against the Atlanta Braves and left-hander Kent Mercker.

Lyons led off the inning with a pinch-double to right-center field. After he moved to third base on a grounder, Carter drove him in with a double down the left-field line to wrap up the Dodgers’ 9-4 victory.

What the Dodgers need on their bench are right-handers who can hit left-handers. If they are convinced that both Carter and Lyons can do that, then both would make the team, possibly forcing the departure of struggling Mickey Hatcher.

“Carrying three catchers is one possibility we have considered, but it’s still too early to tell,” Dodger Vice President Fred Claire said.

At least half of this roster problem will be solved next week. By Monday, the Dodgers must either grant Carter a prenegotiated, one-year contract worth $500,000 or release him. Because of the little things he has been doing, it appears he will be given that contract.

Tuesday, Carter went all out. He not only worked with Jim Gott’s right arm, he also treated his teammates to the postgame chicken meal.

“I’m busting my butt here,” said Carter, who has impressed the Dodgers despite his .227 spring batting average and less-than-spectacular fielding.

Besides enjoying his late-inning hit against Mercker, the Dodgers were pleased to see him counseling Gott from behind the plate. He was shouting to the aggressive reliever about not trying to throw every pitch through a wall.

“I did that with Sid Fernandez a lot in New York,” Carter said. “Guys like that who throw the ball so well, I tell them, ‘Just act like you are handing me the ball.’

“I also want to work with Kevin Gross. With his kind of stuff, there is no reason he should ever have a losing season.”

Carter is also becoming known around camp for things such as buying the clubhouse buffet.

“I didn’t want to buy it. . . . They made me buy it because they say I broke a rule,” Carter said with a smile. “I drove to our game in Port St. Lucie the other day from my home in West Palm Beach, and I was wearing shorts, and they said that you are not allowed to wear shorts to a road game.

“Everybody knows that rule only applies to guys on the bus. But no, they got me.”

Carter still has one prominent person in his corner. “I think Gary has a very good chance to stay here,” Manager Tom Lasorda said.

The Dodgers also like Lyons, although that feeling has not shown up in the lineup card. Carter has 22 at-bats, Lyons nine. Carter has made six starts, Lyons none.

But Lyons has four hits in those nine at-bats, and the Dodgers already know what he can accomplish. They wanted to see more of Carter because of his past knee and shoulder problems.

“I know they want to find out if Gary can still play, but it has taken time away from me, which is really the only problem I have had here,” Lyons said. “For once, I would like to get as many as three at-bats in a row here.”

Dodger Notes

Pitcher John Candelaria must also be guaranteed a $500,000 contract by Monday or be released. Like catcher Gary Carter, it appears he will become an official Dodger. The left-handed reliever has a 5.68 earned-run average in four appearances but has struck out five and walked none.

Mike Hartley moved closer to claiming the Dodgers’ final bullpen spot by throwing a scoreless inning to gain the victory over the Braves. Hartley has apparently recovered from a side injury suffered last season. He has given up one run in five innings for a 1.80 ERA; Dennis Cook has a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings. Although Cook is left-handed, Hartley has better luck against left-handers. Last season, left-handers batted .213 against him, eighth-lowest in the league.