BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Reggie Smith Has Advice for Hitters

Dodger batting coach Reggie Smith, addressing his team’s recent slump, said he hopes the players aren’t looking over their shoulders wondering if there will be major lineup changes if the team doesn’t start hitting.

The Dodgers, who have three regulars hitting .300 or better, have scored fewer runs than anyone in the National League and have been shut out 10 times.

“I think we’ve made the adjustments that we feel that we need to make right now, it’s just a matter of giving it a chance to come together and see if it’ll work for us,” Smith said before Monday’s game, referring to the insertion of outfielder Todd Hollandsworth into the regular lineup last Friday.

The players shouldn’t feel desperate because Manager Tom Lasorda isn’t feeling desperate, Smith said.

“There have been no panic buttons pushed,” Smith said. “You try to tell them to worry about those things that they can control. They have no control over who the manager wants to put into the lineup that night.

“As long as they’re doing the things he feels they’re capable of doing, then they shouldn’t have anything to worry about. He’s probably the best manager anyone can play for, because he’s going to keep putting you out there.”

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Closer Todd Worrell, who hadn’t pitched in nine days, gave up a two-run home run to Florida Marlin catcher Charles Johnson on Sunday, but pitching coach Dave Wallace wasn’t worried that it might signal the end of Worrell’s season-long effectiveness.

“He was fine, he just a got ball up,” Wallace said. “He’s human. Knowing him the way I know Todd, he’s fine. Those things are going to happen. He’s the stopper, he’s going to be the guy we’re going to go to.”