No Takers for Candiotti, Who May Go to Bullpen

Knuckleballer Tom Candiotti is beginning to believe that he just may be staying with the Dodgers.

And the Dodgers, who have put Candiotti on the market but have yet to find a prospective buyer, have braced themselves for that possibility.

The question now is, what to do with him?

The Dodgers have all but decided that they will use a four-man rotation in April, leaving Candiotti and Chan Ho Park in the bullpen.

Candiotti, who has pitched in relief only 13 times in his 12-year career, said that he wouldn’t be opposed to that. But what happens after April is another matter.

“I want to focus on what I have to do to get ready--ready as a starting pitcher,” he said.

But the Dodgers believe Park is ready to be a starter and that his talents might be wasted as a long reliever.

Candiotti yielded seven hits and three earned runs in five innings in the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, and shocked the house by going two for two with a run-scoring double. He hit the double when given the hit-and-run sign.

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Meanwhile, Park struggled. Although he was the winning pitcher, he yielded four hits, three walks and three earned runs in three innings.

“It’s gotten to the point in his career where you have to start to prove what you can do,” catcher Mike Piazza said.

“It’s an attitude thing. You can’t keep putting pressure on yourself. If he can overcome that, he can be an outstanding pitcher.”

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The Dodgers made it official by announcing that Ramon Martinez will be the opening-day pitcher. Hideo Nomo, Ismael Valdes and Pedro Astacio will follow in the rotation.