BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Soft-Handed Sharperson Still Errorless

While his infield mates catch criticism for their defense, Mike Sharperson is working on another streak during which he misses nothing.

Sharperson, whose 58-game errorless streak was the longest among National League third basemen last season, is the only Dodger infielder who has not made an error this season.

He has played 17 games at third base, seven games at second and one at shortstop.

“He’s got those soft hands. . . . He could catch a raw egg,” third base coach Joe Amalfitano said. “He’s the kind of guy, if he gets his hands on the ball, you’re out.”

Sharperson takes as many as 100 extra ground balls a day and sometimes works with a tiny glove--”smaller than my son’s glove”--that forces him to concentrate more.

In the minds of many in the Dodger organization, catcher Mike Piazza became their top minor league prospect Tuesday when he was promoted to triple-A Albuquerque from double-A San Antonio. Piazza spent only 31 games at San Antonio, batting .377 with seven home runs and 20 runs batted in with a .658 slugging percentage. After spending last season at Class-A Bakersfield, Piazza raised eyebrows this spring when he led the Dodgers with three home runs in 26 at-bats against major league pitching. “Mike has had a great year, he deserves an opportunity,” said Charlie Blaney, Dodger farm director. “He has played good defense, he has caught everything, now we just feel he just needs some polishing.” Piazza, whose godfather is Tom Lasorda, was drafted in the 62nd round in 1988 only after Lasorda promised the Dodger scouting department that Piazza, who had never caught a game, could be a catcher.

Dodger players voted to ask the league to change the starting time of their tentatively scheduled doubleheader with the Philadelphia Phillies on July 3 from 5 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Phillies have already approved the change. Dodger players are also trying to move the time of a tentatively scheduled doubleheader with Montreal on July 8 from 1:05 to noon.