DeShields Takes a Leading Role

Delino DeShields plans to open the season as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, with Brett Butler batting second.

“I’m confident everything is going to work out,” DeShields said Friday after the Dodgers’ 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

“I’m not saying it’s all on me, but if me and Buggsy [Butler] get on base consistently, it’s going to very tough to beat us.”

Still, the key to the experiment is DeShields. He is batting .263 this spring with a .326 on-base percentage. Butler, a prototype leadoff hitter, is batting .286 with a .459 on-base percentage.

“We think it can work,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “We’re hoping, at least.”

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Pitcher Chan Ho Park learned that he had suffered a slight fracture of his right little finger when he slipped and braced his fall in Thursday night’s game against the New York Mets.

It will take about six weeks for the injury to heal, but Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist, said that Park can pitch if there’s no discomfort.

Said Park, “It’s frustrating, but I think I’ll be OK. My fastball is OK. My curveball is OK. Maybe my changeup will give me some difficulty.”

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Lasorda is frustrated with his left-field situation because neither Billy Ashley nor Todd Hollandsworth has played well enough to win the starting job. They were hitless in four at-bats against the Braves, each striking out twice. Ashley threw his helmet after each strikeout, once hitting Lasorda in the foot. Ashley is batting .050 with 11 strikeouts in 20 at-bats. Hollandsworth is batting .222 with 11 strikeouts in 27 at-bats. . . .

Outfielder Rick Parker, who suffered a slight concussion Thursday night, showed up for practice but was told to go back to his room for the day. . . . Ismael Valdes was roughed up for 12 hits and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, despite being assisted by a triple play and an outfield assist by Raul Mondesi. Valdes said that he was bothered a bit by a blister on his pitching hand, which plagued him most of last season. . . . The triple play came in the first inning with runners on first and second when Chipper Jones lined to first baseman Mike Busch, who stepped on the bag and threw to shortstop Greg Gagne. The Dodgers have never turned a triple play during the regular season in their 38 years in Los Angeles.