No Delusions of Grandeur

The Dodgers wake up this morning weary, numb and confused. They will pack their bags, check out of their downtown hotel, bus to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and wonder how everything could go so wrong, so quickly.

Only a week ago, they were talking about a team of greatness, certainly a team of destiny, and entertained illusions of a World Series appearance.

Today, they are on the brink of despair, knowing that another loss to the Atlanta Braves in this best-of-five series will send them home after being swept out of the National League playoffs for the second year in a row.

“We’ve got no excuses,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “We’ve just been outplayed. It’s not like we’ve been blown out, but it’s embarrassing when you don’t go out there and give them a little more of a fight.

“It’s hard to explain what has happened to us.”

The Dodgers, who were playing the best baseball in the league the last two months, instead stumbled and now find themselves in an absolute free-fall. They have lost a season-high six consecutive games--including four regular-season games that cost them the National League West title.

They tried to convince everyone it was just a fluke when they were swept at home by the San Diego Padres. Once the playoffs started, they insisted they would be fine. Besides, they said, by blowing the NL West title, they’d be able to stay home for an extra few days and catch the Braves in a vulnerable best-of-five series.

Who would have imagined they would lose the first two games in the playoffs, scoring only one earned run?

The Dodgers have had only one baserunner after the fifth inning of the two games, scored seven runs in the last 58 innings and batted .167 with no homers in the last nine days.

“I think we’re all shocked by this,” center fielder Brett Butler said. “I didn’t ever think we’d lose six games in a row.”

The Dodgers, who figured on spending all of October in the playoffs, now could be saying their good-byes tonight at the ballpark. The club is expected to have a massive face lift once the season ends.

Privately, the Dodgers have already decided that second baseman Delino DeShields and center fielder Chad Curtis will be gone, and in all, there could be a whopping 14 players on the playoff roster or disabled list who won’t be back.

They will try to trade starting pitcher Tom Candiotti and outfielder Billy Ashley. They could lose relievers Scott Radinsky and Mark Guthrie, shortstop Greg Gagne and outfielder Dave Clark to free agency. Third baseman Tim Wallach and possibly Butler will retire. Infielders Mike Blowers and Dave Hansen, outfielder Wayne Kirby and catcher Tom Prince probably will not be offered arbitration.

“I think we all know there’s a lot of us who won’t be seeing one another after this,” DeShields said. “Maybe that tells you our team wasn’t that strong, I don’t know. I thought we had a chance. I really did.

“But when you think about how many changes they might make, maybe we were never as good as we thought we were.”

The Braves’ pitching staff has exposed all of the Dodgers’ weaknesses in two games. Kirby, who was picked up off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, hasn’t hit the ball out of the infield. Wallach, released from the Angels, has yet to get a hit and is batting .053 (one for 19) in the Dodgers’ last two playoff series. Second basemen Juan Castro, who is expected to start again today, and DeShields, have not hit the ball out of the infield. And the team has struck out 19 times while drawing only two walks.

“I don’t have any explanation for it,” Manager Bill Russell said. “It’s like everybody shut down at once.”

The Dodgers tried to convince themselves after their Game 2 loss that anything can still happen. Just as quickly as they stopped hitting, they could get hot again. Yet, when they check out of their downtown hotel today before the game, many suspect they may not be returning.

“I’m not making any predictions,” Atlanta pitcher Tom Glavine said, “but my goal is to get this thing over with and get some guys some time off.

“This is an ideal situation. None of us are taking it with the approach that it’s over. We still have to win one more game.

“But I don’t think you can be in a better situation.”

No team has ever trailed two games to none in a best-of-five series, then won three games on the road. The Braves have never lost three consecutive postseason games at home. They had the best home record (56-25) in baseball this year. And Glavine has not lost a postseason game at home since Game 5 of the 1991 National League championship series.

“Let’s just say I like our chances,” Brave third baseman Chipper Jones said. “We’re going for the jugular now.”

The Dodgers will start Hideo Nomo, who has been relentless against the Braves this season, going 2-0 with a 1.61 earned-run average. Yet, even with a victory, they would have to defeat John Smoltz and Greg Maddux the next two games to win the series.

“The pressure from my standpoint is that I don’t want to go out and let those guys win and give them hope they can beat us,” Glavine said. “I got a chance to take them out in three games.”

There’s no need to tell the Dodgers.

They’re well aware of the feeling.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Series Glance

* GAME 1--Atlanta 2, Dodgers 1 (10)

* GAME 2--Atlanta 3, Dodgers 2

* TODAY--Dodgers (Nomo 16-11) at Atlanta (Glavine 15-10), 1:15 p.m., Channel 11

* SUNDAY*--Dodgers (Martinez 15-6) at Atlanta (Smoltz 24-8, 1-0), 10 a.m., Channel 5, ESPN

* MONDAY*--Dodgers at Atlanta,

4 p.m., Channel 11

* if necessary