Players Not Happy About Hall Game

In a season in which baseball is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the major league color barrier, the Dodgers are being honored by being selected to play in the annual Hall of Fame game at Cooperstown, N.Y., on Monday against the San Diego Padres.

It’s an honor, however, Dodger players would be happy to do without.

Why?

--They are in the midst of a pennant race, having pulled from eight games behind NL West-leading San Francisco a month ago to a game back.

--They are beginning a torturous stretch in which they play 20 of 27 games on the road.

--They are beginning a 10-game trip tonight in Chicago that includes four against the Cubs, three against the Montreal Expos and three against the Cincinnati Reds.

--They must play a night game in Chicago on Sunday, meaning they won’t get to bed in Cooperstown until about 4 a.m. Monday. They’ll catch a couple of hours sleep, make their way to the ballpark to play a meaningless game, then hop back on a plane immediately after the game and head for Montreal, where they must play the following evening.

--The starters won’t be on the field at Cooperstown much beyond the second inning, meaning they are losing a lot of sleep to sit on a bench and watch minor leaguers play.

Any more questions about why this doesn’t sound like a great deal?

*

Today is the deadline for trading a player without waivers.

For many general managers around the league, it’s a fast and furious time with phones ringing and beepers beeping.

It has been that way for Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, in the past. But not this year.

With one of the hottest teams in baseball, he’s not about to start dealing the players who have put him within reach of the division lead.

Yes, the Dodgers could use a left-handed hitter. But everybody who talks to Claire wants the same thing: one of those talented Dodger arms. And Claire has said on more than one occasion he will not trade pitching.

The only starting pitcher who might be expendable is veteran Tom Candiotti, who is about to come out of the starting rotation with the return of Ramon Martinez.

Manager Bill Russell is on the record saying Candiotti isn’t going anywhere.

Now if the Angels were to suddenly offer Jim Edmonds, that could change.

But don’t look for that to happen.

And don’t look for the Dodgers to make a major deal. And, perhaps, no deal at all.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ON DECK

* Opponent--Chicago Cubs, four games.

* Site--Wrigley Field.

* Tonight--5.

* TV--KTLA Channel 5.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 58-49, Cubs 43-65.

* Record vs. Cubs--3-2.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (9-5, 3.07 ERA) vs. CUBS’ TERRY MULHOLLAND (6-10, 3.82 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers split their two previous games at Chicago. While the Dodgers are 36-23 at home, they are only 22-26 on the road. Park is one of their hottest pitchers, on the mound and at the plate. He has won four in a row and has a 2.60 earned-run average in that stretch. His .257 batting average is not only the best among Dodger pitchers, it is 44 points higher than opponents are hitting against him. Although he has reached the seventh inning in 10 of his last 12 starts, Park has let it be known that he wants to become a complete-game pitcher. With the Dodgers’ strong bullpen, don’t bet on Manager Bill Russell and pitching coach Dave Wallace allowing that to happen. Mulholland lost to the Dodgers, 2-1, in May at Dodger Stadium.

* Friday, 12:20 p.m.--Hideo Nomo (9-8, 3.76) vs. Jeremi Gonzalez (7-4, 3.68).

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Tom Candiotti (7-3, 3.04) vs. Kevin Tapani (1-0, 1.29).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (6-9, 2.97) vs. Steve Trachsel (5-8, 4.79).