BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : It Gets Better Every Time He Watches It

He watched the catch on replay about four times Friday night, then a few more times at home, then got up Saturday morning and watched it again. “I’ve seen it about 10 times,” said Brett Butler, referring to a spectacular over-the-wall catch he made in Friday night’s game to rob Todd Hundley of a three-run homer and preserve a 2-2 tie.

“The thing is, is you walk through it every time,” Butler said. “I want a tape of it, obviously, to show the kids.”

Butler has never won a gold glove and never been voted into an All-Star game in 14 seasons. “I’ve wondered why, but after 14 years, you just stop wondering,” he said. In 1991, Butler was named to the All-Star team as a reserve.

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Mike Piazza is the Dodgers’ representative at the players’ association meeting Monday in Pittsburgh, but he believes he will still be able to participate in the home run contest that day during All-Star festivities. “I can’t do any worse then last year,” said Piazza, who was shut out last year. “I think it’s just a mental thing. It was so new to me I really wasn’t comfortable, but I still enjoyed it.”

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Raul Mondesi did not make the National League All-Star team and said there are people in the Dominican Republic who were angry about it. He’s not, though.

“I would have liked it, and I think I have done well,” Mondesi said. “I think I have the numbers--hitting over .300 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. But Andres Galarraga (not making it) is the one I don’t understand. How could he not make it? But it’s my first year. I have a lot of years ahead.”

Before Saturday’s game, Mondesi ranked in the top 10 in the league with a .322 batting average, 106 hits, five triples and 13 assists.