BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Padres’ Gwynn Becomes Member of the Nomo Admiration Society

There may be no one in the game who studies hitting more than five-time batting champion Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres, and after studying films of Dodger starter Hideo Nomo, he offers a prediction for tonight’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

“Nomo is going to strike out 13, no, make that 14 against the Rockies,” Gwynn said. “The guy is unhittable right now.”

Gwynn was quickly reminded that the Rockies are the only team to knock Nomo around this year, hammering him for nine hits and seven runs in 4 2/3 innings May 7 at Coors Field.

“I don’t care, I’m going by what I’m seeing now,” Gwynn said. “I’ve looked at a lot of videotape on this guy, from a lot of different camera angles, and that split-fingered pitch is unbelievable. I mean, it’s impossible to tell whether it’s a forkball or a heater until that sucker drops a foot. And it doesn’t drop until the end.

“Not only that, he’s throwing it for strikes. And when he can throw that for a strike, you’re lost. It’s like an accomplishment just to put the bat on the ball.”

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Nomo requested to meet Gwynn, and when they were introduced, Gwynn tried to made small talk.

“I said to him, ‘How do you like L.A.?’ “Gwynn said. “He said, ‘Yes, like L.A.’

“Then, I said, ‘How do you like Colorado?’ And he said, ‘No, no, don’t like Colorado.’ ”

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Dodger right fielder Raul Mondesi, who had played every game of this season, was kept out of the starting lineup because of a bruised left knee, suffered in the sixth inning Tuesday while chasing Ken Caminiti’s grand slam.