Dodgers Flunking Chemistry

Few are willing to discuss it openly. Some won’t address it for fear of repercussions. Others shrug their shoulders and wonder if it will ever change.

It’s called team chemistry, and as the Dodgers conveyed Tuesday, the lack of it continues to plague them.

The Dodgers weren’t blaming their disunity on the 6-3 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals that ended their four-game winning streak in front of 29,096 at Dodger Stadium. And it had nothing to do with Ramon Martinez’s career-high 10-game winning streak coming to an end.

Yet, in a season in which the Dodgers again are searching for consistency, their clubhouse chemistry again has been questioned, this time by themselves.

“Our chemistry isn’t the best, we all know that,” said second baseman Delino DeShields, “and I think it reflects in our play.

“I’m not going to question what the Dodgers have done, but we have a lot of diverse guys in here. There’s a lot of good guys in here, but it’s no secret we don’t hang together. A lot of guys don’t even talk to each other.

“Come on, you see it.”

Perhaps the most surprising aspect, the Dodgers say, is that they considered themselves a close-knit group in spring training. Many players talked about how this year’s team would be better on attitude alone. Yet, once the season started, everyone went their own ways, breaking off into cliques.

When the Dodgers had their last off day in Philadelphia, the players scattered in different directions. When the Padres had their day off in Philadelphia, 22 of the players and staff played golf together.

“I don’t know if we could even get a foursome together,” one Dodger said.

There are varying reasons for the clubhouse disunity. Most players say it’s difficult because of their diverse backgrounds, with players hailing from six countries. Some say it’s tough to become close in Los Angeles when players live as far as two hours from one another. Others say it’s difficult when the media spotlight often is focused on Manager Tom Lasorda.

Does it matter?

“If you say, ‘No, it doesn’t matter,’ ” Dodger reliever Mark Guthrie said, “it means you never played on a team with chemistry.”

Guthrie played on the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins. Third baseman Mike Blowers played on the Seattle Mariners who nearly reached the World Series last year. They each contend that clubhouse cohesiveness was instrumental in their success.

“I don’t think you have to hang together or even like each other that much,” said first baseman Eric Karros, who led the team with three hits Tuesday, “but wanting to win has got to drive you and be foremost in everybody’s minds.

“You shouldn’t be worrying about being in the last year of your contract, or your numbers, or what the organization thinks of you, or what your country thinks of you. Believe me, if the focus is on winning, we’ll be successful. And if we win, everybody will benefit.”

The Dodgers, of course, could have had a family barbecue in Elysian Park and a sleep-over and it wouldn’t have helped Tuesday night.

Martinez (4-1), still weakened by flu, lasted only four innings, yielding four hits and two earned runs. Yet, nothing was more painful than walking Cardinal starter Donovan Osborne with the bases loaded and forcing in a run.

Tom Candiotti, as planned, entered the game in relief for only the 13th time in his career. He yielded eight hits and four runs--three earned--but nothing was more painful than the run-scoring double he yielded to Osborne in the sixth inning.

The Dodgers were less than ecstatic with their 4-4 home stand against the weak Central Division, scoring more than three runs in only two of the games. Yet, they gained three games on the division-leading San Diego Padres. The Dodgers came home 5 1/2 games out of first place, and will travel to Atlanta today only 2 1/2 out.

Their biggest concern might be getting catcher Mike Piazza healthy. Piazza batted only .167 on the home stand, failing to hit the ball out of the infield in 13 of his 24 at-bats. Piazza left the game after the sixth inning because of his sore right knee.

Piazza says he should be fine, taking advantage of today’s off day, and perhaps also taking Thursday off.