Gregson Looking for His First Win

The Dodger pitchers haven’t helped Glenn Gregson ease into his new job.

The starters have failed to pitch more than 5 2/3 innings during the team’s season-opening, four-game losing streak. They have struggled with their control, walking 16 batters, and the bullpen has failed to hold two leads.

Gregson, the first-year pitching coach, knew there would be days like these--only not so soon.

“I would call it a mild pitching slump,” he said. “You’re going to sometimes have losing streaks over the course of a season, and everything is magnified right now because it’s early in the season.”

Walks and poor pitches at untimely moments have been the main problems, Gregson said. The staff is getting behind in too many counts.

“It’s kind of infected all of us,” said Gregson, formerly the Dodgers’ minor league pitching instructor.

“Pitching should be ahead of hitting early in the season, but we’re pitching in too many hitters’ counts. We’re falling behind way too often, and then we’re just not making the right pitch at the right time.”

But Gregson said he has seen positive signs.

“The velocity has been there from everyone, and I’m seeing good stuff on the mound,” he said. “So if you’re going to have problems, I’d rather see that you’re struggling with something like execution, which is easy enough to fix, rather than with velocity and stuff.”

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Second baseman Eric Young has played long enough to realize one game does not a season make.

The five-year veteran didn’t become discouraged after he made three errors in the Dodgers’ 8-5, 12-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Young rebounded quickly, going three for eight with two runs batted in the past two games. He also has played well defensively.

“You can’t let mistakes get you down, because that doesn’t help you or your teammates,” he said. “You have to keep coming back stronger.”

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Catcher Mike Piazza said his focus has not waned despite the recent turmoil caused by his contract negotiations.

“I’m totally locked in on the season,” he said. “I said my piece, and now I’m letting my agent deal with it from here.

“It’s unfortunate that this has happened, but this is a learning experience for me too. I’ve never been through anything like this before.”

Piazza said his teammates have been supportive.

“Having the respect of your peers, that’s what really counts,” he said. “A lot of guys have come up to me and told me to just hang in there. It’s a business, and everyone goes through this.”

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Outfielder Roger Cedeno, sidelined since March 2 because of a severely strained right hamstring, won’t rejoin the team when he comes off the 15-day disabled list Monday.

Team officials said Thursday it was unlikely that Cedeno, projected to be the starting center fielder, would rejoin the team without completing a rehabilitation assignment.

Cedeno remained in Vero Beach, Fla., to undergo therapy after spring training had ended. He might play with the Class-A Vero Beach Dodgers on his rehabilitation assignment, or join the triple-A Albuquerque Dukes.

Today’s Game

DODGERS’ RAMON MARTINEZ (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. REDS’ MIKE REMLINGER (0-1, 1.82 ERA)

Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, 10:15 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Update--The Dodgers hope their ace will end their four-game losing streak. “Ramon has been in these types of situations before,” Manager Bill Russell said. “We just have to score some runs for him, and hope he throws well.” Martinez’s season started poorly when he gave up a grand slam to Mark McGwire in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-0 opening-day victory, and he has eagerly anticipated this start. “It was one bad pitch, but it changed the game,” Martinez said. “But that’s in the past, and I feel good.” The left-handed Remlinger defeated the Dodgers twice last season.