Now, Dodgers Must Pick Up the Pieces : Baseball: Team gained half a game during unscheduled vacation, but that is about the only bright spot.

As the muddled Dodgers return to work tonight after an unscheduled and unwanted vacation, one thing is clear: They are a better team off the field than on it.

During the five-day break caused by the Los Angeles rioting, they actually gained half a game in the National League West standings.

Nothing that good happened when they were playing.

Last Tuesday, they lost for the eighth time in nine one-run games.

Wednesday, they lost their fifth consecutive game at home, matching their worst streak at Dodger Stadium in nearly five years.

Thursday, they didn’t leave their houses because of the first of four consecutive postponements.

“We just hope everything stays on an even keel until we can get out of town,” Eric Davis said then.

Now that they are on the road, and their season will resume tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies, even optimist Fred Claire, the club’s vice president, acknowledges that the task for his last-place team is daunting.

“We had several tough one-run losses,” Claire said. “Then the totally unexpected occurred to keep us out for five days, and now we are faced with scheduling conflicts and doubleheaders. . . . We have a tremendous battle on our hands. Anybody who thinks this is going to be easy is wrong.”

And it isn’t as if they were a focused bunch before the postponments.

“This club has to establish itself as to what type of team it is,” Claire said.

The Dodgers know that they are a team that desperately needs Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis to play every day.

They know that Tom Candiotti can win by throwing a knuckleball, and that Orel Hershiser can win by throwing balls that sink like a rock.

They know that the bullpen, despite having a difficult time in tie games, has four saves in five opportunities and is probably good enough, even without Jay Howell.

But what they don’t know is whether Eric Karros and Dave Hansen are good enough.

They don’t know when the catchers, pitchers and infielders will begin throwing out base stealers.

And they don’t know when they will make a game-winning play again.

This is especially true with their defense, which is so iffy that Jose Offerman has become one of the sure things. The Dodgers have committed 27 errors, the most in the league, even though they have played the fewest games.

“When we are in a close game, we need to get a big hit or make a key out in the field,” Claire said. “We haven’t been doing that.”

Eddie Murray used to get those hits, but Claire allowed him to move to the New York Mets this year, partially because Claire wanted to give Karros a chance.

Murray would be leading the Dodgers with the 20 runs batted in he has for the Mets. Karros, despite six RBIs in only 35 at-bats, is hitting .182 with runners in scoring position.

Tim Wallach also might have been getting those hits, but Claire did not pursue the veteran when he was available after being moved from third base to first.

Many in the Dodger clubhouse quietly protested but, besides being unwilling to take on Wallach’s long-term contract, Claire wanted to give Hansen a chance.

With Juan Samuel on the disabled list with broken fingers, Hansen has that chance, at least as a platoon third baseman. He must do better than his .111 average in eight starts and .125 average with runners in scoring position.

“There are opportunities for both of those players,” Claire said of Samuel and Hansen. “One of them is going to be in the lineup every night. It is up to them to step forward and say, ‘I deserve more time.’ ”

Claire added, “Our infield hasn’t taken a definite shape. Whether that resolves itself or not remains to be seen.”

Claire said that he not talking about trades for his youngsters, nor did he plan to begin talks.

“Can we afford to give them the opportunity? Yes.” Claire said. “When you ask that question, you are assuming that if a young team can’t succeed, an older team can succeed, and that is not always the case.”

The entire offense deserves better than the problems on defense, which are highlighted on plays in which the ball never touches a bat.

Of 34 runners who have tried to steal on the Dodgers, 11 have been caught, a decent 32%. But when the play has required a throw from catchers Mike Scioscia or Carlos Hernandez, only 20% have been thrown out.

“Everybody on this team faces a challenge,” Claire concluded. “A tremendous challenge.”