DODGERS : Lasorda Leaning Toward Piazza as No. 1 Catcher

Mike Piazza, who came into camp as the favorite at the plate but as the defensive underdog, will probably be the Dodgers’ starting catcher.

“I am leaning toward Piazza,” Manager Tom Lasorda said Saturday after the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before 40,359 in the SkyDome.

Piazza’s lock on the spot occupied by Mike Scioscia for 11 seasons has almost become a foregone conclusion. Team officials often refer to Piazza as the No. 7 batter in the lineup, placing him behind Jose Offerman, Brett Butler, Eric Davis, Darryl Strawberry, Eric Karros and Tim Wallach.

“Probably isn’t definitely,” Piazza said when told about Lasorda’s comment. “If Tommy were to announce it tomorrow or the next day, I still am going to work hard and not let up. When I see my name in the lineup opening day, then I will know for sure I’m the starter.”

Piazza is leading the team with a .571 batting average and has two home runs, three doubles and a triple in 13 games. As a pinch-hitter, he is three for three, including a game-winning home run and three runs batted in. And Piazza has the strongest arm of any Dodger catcher since Steve Yeager.

Carlos Hernandez, however, has not played poorly. Hernandez, who played behind Scioscia last season, is batting .292 and is solid defensively, ensuring him a backup role. Lasorda said that both Piazza and Hernandez will make the team.

Lance Parrish’s batting has been dismal, making him the odd man out unless the Dodgers carry three catchers. The Dodgers have until March 30 to make a decision on Parrish or they will have to pay him a $600,000 salary.

Regardless of Hernandez’s role, he is still a hero in his native Venezuela. Reporters there track his every move during the season, filing daily reports.

“There are not too many big league players from Venezuela, and I have been playing baseball for a long time,” said Hernandez, who is from San Felix. “When I was 10 years old, I hit a home run to win (a) game in the Little League World Series, and the next day I was the pitcher when we won the championship (in 1977).

“So I have been playing a long time. Even when I fly home in the winter, people are there to greet me at the airport.”

Kevin Elster played shortstop for the first time this spring during the Dodgers’ split-squad game against Montreal at Vero Beach. Elster, who is coming back from shoulder surgery, before the game was called after three innings because of rain. Todd Worrell did not pitch, but might today against the Florida Marlins.

Starter Pedro Martinez had a rough inning Saturday in Toronto. After retiring the side in order during the first two innings, Martinez faced eight batters in the third and gave up four runs on four hits, a walk and his own throwing error. But he retired the side with two strikeouts during the fourth inning and pitched out of a jam in the fifth.

Is he a pitcher or catcher? Felix Rodriguez, who caught two innings Friday night, pitched an inning Saturday and retired the side in order. Rodriguez played at Class-A Great Falls last season and is considered a top prospect as a catcher.