BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : DeShields Considers Early Retirement

Second baseman Delino DeShields, still plagued with nagging pains in his left leg, said he’ll consider early retirement if his pains continue.

“If it doesn’t get any better,” DeShields said, “I might think about doing something else. I’m serious.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t blessed with this talent. I’ve been blessed to this point. But whatever happens, happens.

“I’m only 26 years old, but sometimes I feel like an old man.”

DeShields, who disclosed in spring training that the pain almost caused him to call it quits last July and had surgery to remove bone spurs in his heel in September, realizes he has no choice now but to undergo treatment each day for the rest of the season.

“I’m not going to make any excuses for my performance,” said DeShields, who is batting .225 after going two for four with three runs scored Friday, “but I backed off on my treatment once the season started and I haven’t been feeling 100%. Now, I know I’ll have to come in early each day for treatment.

“I’m going to have to do that, because I’m going to give it everything I’ve got every game.”

DeShields, proving just that, lined a triple into the gap in right-center in the third inning.

*

He has been vilified by the media, ridiculed by the fans, tormented by expectations and maligned by the organization.

Shortstop Jose Offerman has endured it all, but 10 days into the season, he has emerged as the Dodgers’ biggest surprise.

Offerman is batting .382 with nine walks and a team-high .512 on-base percentage. It’s the finest start of his career, and suddenly, Manager Tom Lasorda and Offerman are quite chummy.

“They were saying on our ESPN game the other night that Jose Offerman was in my doghouse,” Lasorda said. “Hey, nothing could be further from the truth. First of all, I don’t have a doghouse because I don’t have any dogs play for me.

“Second of all, I had a misunderstanding with the guy last year (when Offerman refused to bunt in a game), and that has been long forgotten. He’s done a hell of a job for us.”

Said Offerman: “I knew in spring training this was going to be a good year for me, and right now, it’s happening for me. I just want to keep it going.”

*

The Dodgers were impressed with their first view of Coors Field in Denver, the first new stadium in the National League since Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Yet, for those players who spent time in the American League, well, there’s little difference from Camden Yards in Baltimore, Jacobs Field in Cleveland or The Ballpark in Arlington, Tex. “Once you’ve seen Camden Yards,” Dodger outfielder Chris Gwynn said, “you’ve seen them all.” . . . Colorado starter Omar Olivares, experiencing shoulder tightness while warming up Friday, was removed from the game after only two innings. . . . The six starting pitchers this series are from Japan, Maine, Venezuela, California, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. . . . Rocky center fielder Ellis Burks, who has been on the disabled list because of a sore left wrist, was activated Friday and in the starting lineup. . . . Dodger third baseman Tim Wallach went one for three with one RBI in his first rehabilitation assignment for triple-A Albuquerque. He is scheduled to return to the Dodgers tonight and be in the lineup Sunday.