NAMES AND NUMBERS

* WHO’S KNOCKING? In the case of former Dodger outfielder Chris Gwynn, it’s opportunity. Traded by the Dodgers to the Kansas City Royals for Todd Benzinger before the 1991 season, Gwynn still isn’t playing full time, but he has become the left-field platoon partner of Kevin McReynolds, which is much better than his pinch-hitting role with the Dodgers.

He has a career-high 151 at-bats, and an average of .318.

“Give a man an opportunity and see what he does,” Gwynn said. “I’m grateful to the Royals. I mean, in 1989-90, I’m riding the pine in Los Angeles waiting to pinch-hit. Now, I’m in the lineup against right-handers, at least. I can have an 0-for-4 (game) and know I’ll be back. That alone builds confidence.”

* CONSISTENT: The Dodgers keep touting Jose Offerman’s alleged improvement, but with 18 errors through Friday’s 71st game, Offerman is on a pace to finish with 42, same as last year.

* TEAM TO BEAT? Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas, batting more than .400 in his last 22 games through Friday and on a pace to drive in 130 runs this season, acknowledges that it’s a four-team race in the American League West, but that the Angels, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners face a frightening prospect.

“We haven’t put it all together yet, but when we do we’ll be a scary team to play,” he said.

* ROLE CHANGE: There’s not much Manager Don Baylor can do about the Colorado Rockies’ pitching staff. The Rockies have given up 10 or more runs 17 times and are 2-15 in those games. Instead, Baylor juggled his coaching assignments Thursday, moving Jerry Royster from third base to first, Ron Hassey from first to the dugout, and Don Zimmer from the dugout to third.

Baylor said he wanted Hassey, a former catcher, in the dugout to work more closely with the pitchers and catchers on their game plans, but the changes were believed to be directed at Royster’s work at third.

Royster took it that way, too.

“I was embarrassed going out to first base,” he said. “I was shocked. Donny has to do what’s best for the team, and the coaches shouldn’t have to ask him to explain, but I was embarrassed.”

* HOT HAND: Chris Hammond of the Florida Marlins was 0-3 on May 4 when he decided that he needed a new look. He switched numbers from 38 to 11, and changed his luck in the process. He is 8-1 with a six-game winning streak since, and has not given up a home run in his last 26 1/3 innings after giving up 11 in the previous 64 1/3.