While Waiting for Dodgers to Call, Hansell Finds Niche : Baseball: In Albuquerque, former Kennedy High right-hander makes transition from starter to reliever.

Greg Hansell watches and cringes. He can’t help it and he’s certainly not alone.

The faltering Dodger bullpen isn’t fooling anyone, least of all club management.

But Hansell, a right-handed relief pitcher, keeps waiting and wondering when he’ll get his chance to turn around the Dodgers’ fortunes.

He can’t do much right now because he’s pitching for triple-A Albuquerque, polishing any remaining rough edges.

Hansell, who led Kennedy to the Southern Section 3-A championship in 1989 before turning pro, understands the Dodgers’ thinking, but that doesn’t mean he’s content.

He believes they’re watching him closely, yet he wonders what they’re waiting for.

He also knows a major league players’ strike might wipe out a sizable chunk of the season, but he wants to play in the big leagues now.

“Strike or no strike, I want to pitch,” he said.

Watching the revolving bullpen door at Dodger Stadium hasn’t helped ease Hansell’s eagerness, only enhanced it.

He has seen other young pitchers, including Omar Daal, Darren Dreifort, Rudy Seanez, Ismael Valdes and even Chan Ho Park, get an opportunity to pitch for the Dodgers this season. But Hansell keeps waiting for his turn.

“I definitely feel confident with the way I’ve been pitching,” he said. “I talked to the brass here and they think I’m ready. But I’ve got to stay focused down here. Hopefully, when they need somebody they’ll give me a call.”

Last week, Dodger General Manager Fred Claire expressed satisfaction with the job Hansell is doing at Albuquerque. But Claire also said he didn’t want to make additional changes for changes’ sake. In other words, baring injury or complete meltdown in the Dodger bullpen, Hansell can expect to stay in the minors a while longer.

“You have to have two things to pitch in the major leagues,” said Charlie Blaney, Dodger director of minor league operations. “No. 1, you have to have the ability and No. 2, you have to have the opportunity. Greg’s got the ability. Now, he’s waiting for the right opportunity.”

Hansell is determined to avoid a trap of resentment and bitterness, focusing instead on simply pitching well at Albuquerque. It seems to be working wonders so far.

He is 7-1 with a 3.74 earned-run average, 64 strikeouts and 18 walks in 84 innings this season. His ERA is one of only a handful in the Pacific Coast League less than 4.00, an indication of his effectiveness in a notoriously hard-hitting league.

Going into the weekend, no team had a batting average lower than Phoenix’s .280. Salt Lake leads the league with a .313 average.

What’s more, Hansell has emerged as a candidate for a promotion after mastering the transition from starter to long and middle reliever. It now appears that he has found his niche as a pitcher.

“I’m really comfortable there (in the bullpen),” Hansell said. “I’m putting some pretty good numbers up. It’s the right situation for me to get a few wins under my belt.”

Said Blaney: “We’re very pleased. He really seems to have related to that role. He’s confident and dominant. I think it’s the right role for him. He seems so comfortable because he’s performing so well. So much of the game is mental.”

Hansell approached the Dodgers about switching to relief work during a winter spent pitching in the Dominican Republic.

“Tommy Lasorda came to see me and I really started off well down there,” Hansell said. “I was able to block out all distractions. I started off well and got into that grove. It all started down there.”

Six weeks ago, the Dodgers granted Hansell his wish, moving him into the Albuquerque bullpen. It afforded him the chance to pitch more often, which also enabled him to quit mulling over his performance on the days between starts.

Since the change, he has also become a smarter pitcher, using his arm and his head to retire batters. His command is far better, according to Blaney, and he has worked to eliminate mistakes.

“Mistakes become earned runs real quick,” Hansell said.

He always had a good, hard fastball, but recently has improved his changeup and developed a tough curveball.

“I think after last year I’ve become more of a pitcher than a thrower,” Hansell said. “I’m spotting the fastball well with a little more pop. I’m throwing the changeup for strikes.

“I threw well at (double-A) San Antonio. When I came up to Albuquerque I had a difficult adjustment because of the altitude and the quality of the hitters. Last year, I got into a rut rather than a grove.

“I was willing to try anything after last year.”

The next logical step is a spot in the major leagues. When and where are out of Hansell’s control, but he can force the Dodgers to act if he keeps throwing well.

“Hopefully, when the break comes I’ll capitalize,” he said.