Dodgers at a Loss for Words

CINCINNATI — The Dodgers sat motionless in front of their lockers Tuesday night. They were too numb to move, too stunned to even speak above a whisper.

The mood after their emotionally exhausting 3-2, 12-inning defeat to the Cincinnati Reds never really changed the entire night. Once they heard the news less than 1 1/2 hours before the game, they were spiritless and nearly in mourning.

Center fielder Brett Butler, their popular teammate, has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer. He will sit out the remainder of the season, and possibly has played the final game of his career.

“My stomach just got empty,” said Dodger starter Tom Candiotti, who played seven years with Butler. “When they said it was malignant, and talked about the survival rate, I almost felt like puking.

“I’ve known Brett for a long time. I know all of his children. I’ve seen them all grow up. When you see it happen to somebody close to you, you almost get a gut-wrenching feeling.”

The Dodgers did not feel like playing this game. It was almost as if they needed a day to emotionally recover.

Dodger starter Pedro Astacio retired the first 15 batters he faced only to give up a run in the seventh inning on Eric Davis’ sacrifice fly. They tied the game in the ninth inning on Mike Piazza’s solo homer, and then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 12th on Raul Mondesi’s sacrifice fly.

Yet, Eric Anthony greeted closer Todd Worrell with a mammoth upper-deck home run in the bottom of the 12th to tie the game and former Dodger Davis followed with another homer into the right-field seats, ending the game.

The Dodgers refused to use the news of Butler as an excuse, but later conceded they would be lying if their minds never drifted to Butler during the game.

“Anybody who has a compassion for life [thought about him],” outfielder Milt Thompson said. “I don’t think a lot of guys were saying much about it during the game, but it was going through all of our minds.”

Executive Vice President Fred Claire, broke the news to the team. Trainer Charlie Strasser offered what he knew from doctors. Publicist Derrick Hall read a statement from Butler, leaving a few players in tears. And Manager Tom Lasorda led the team in prayer.

They are taught in times like this to be professionals and not permit distractions to deter their efforts. This night, it proved impossible.

First baseman Eric Karros, who went hitless in six at-bats, openly wept in the clubhouse. He was the lone Dodger to attend the funeral service for Butler’s mother last August, and telephoned Butler before the game.

Karros got on the telephone prepared to say something profound, but once he heard Butler’s voice, was overcome with emotion.

“I thought I was going to say something,” Karros said, his eyes red, “but I didn’t know what to say. He always talks about things happening for a reason, but I’m not sure what the reason for this was.

“I don’t believe what this guy has been through the last year and a half. Everybody’s in shock.”

The Dodgers have yet to finalize any decisions on how they will replace Butler, but most likely will give the starting job to rookie Roger Cedeno.

Yet, on a day such as this, it was inappropriate for any such decisions to be made.

“It’s hard when you love somebody so much,” Lasorda said, “not only as a ballplayer, but as a person. He’s a member of the family. We can only hope he gets over this thing and lives a healthy life.

“To go from a tonsillectomy to cancer is quite a jolt.”

Perhaps no one can quite grasp what Butler is enduring more than Dodger reliever Scott Radinsky. He overcame Hodgkin’s disease after sitting out the 1994 season. He too wondered if he was going to live. He too spent time trying to comfort family members, saying that he would be fine.

“I guess I can relate to him better than most guys in here,” Radinsky said. “I can say that I know exactly what he’s going through at this moment.

“I’m just happy to know he doesn’t have to go through chemotherapy. Radiation is a lot more tolerable.

“I know he’s very religious, and he’s a big believer, so I think he’ll be all right. He’s a pretty strong guy. He’ll get through it.”

* BUTLER HAS CANCER

The Dodger outfielder will have surgery and sit out the season. A1

* TOUGH TREATMENT

One doctor says this type of cancer is highly curable if caught early. C5