Curtis Becomes Instant Butler Admirer

Center fielder Brett Butler may be taking his job. He could end up sitting on the bench. It’s even possible that he may not start another game.

Yet, after meeting Butler for the first time Tuesday, Dodger center fielder Chad Curtis couldn’t have been more inspired.

Curtis and Butler met about 2:30 Tuesday afternoon and spent most of the day together. Curtis came away feeling as if he were blessed simply by knowing they will be teammates the final month of the season, not what it may do to his career.

“It’s been very uplifting,” said Curtis, who hit a double in the Dodgers’ 5-1 victory. “Brett and I not only have a lot in common as baseball player, but in our religious beliefs. I know Brett’s conviction to religion.

“I respect him more than anything he’ll ever do on the baseball field. I respect him as a person. His religious conviction never wavered. He never said, ‘Why did God do this to me?’

“We prayed for Brett when I was with the Tigers, and felt his pain. Now, I’m here to help feel his triumph. That means more to me than anything that will ever happen on the field.”

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The trade talks between the Dodgers and Phillies for third baseman Todd Zeile are over, according to a source. Simply, the Phillies insisted on center fielder Roger Cedeno in return. The Dodgers refuse to part with him, and still are hoping he will be their starting center fielder in 1997. . . . Dodger left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie, who had not pitched since Aug. 17 because of a stiff neck that caused pain in his left shoulder, pitched a scoreless eighth inning with no problems. . . . Dodger starter Ramon Martinez on facing his younger brother, Pedro Martinez, for the first time Thursday: “I guess we knew this would happen some day,” Martinez said, “but that doesn’t mean we have to like it.”