Time to Shut Up and Put Up

Accomplished at talking a good game, the Dodgers aren’t saying as much this spring.

They’re trying to prevent mistakes of their past, avoiding bold statements about lofty goals. Boasting about their potential is out as well, because it hasn’t done much good.

Several season-ending flops will change a team’s thinking, and the Dodgers say theirs has changed for the better. It only took three years to figure out, but who’s counting?

“We’ve definitely made mistakes in the past, as far as saying too much,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “We just got wrapped up in too many things, saying too much stuff about what we could do with the talent we have on this team.

“It wasn’t like it was one guy who said stuff, we all did. We’ve got to stay away from that this time.”

Sounds good to Manager Bill Russell.

“The talk is for the magazines, that doesn’t help you win games,” he said. “We fell behind by eight games [last season], spent a lot of energy to get back in it, and then didn’t have anything left at the end. We need to go out and do it on the field from the start.”

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Proving the Dodgers aren’t ready to give up on Wilton Guerrero, they’re experimenting with him in the outfield.

Guerrero struggled at second base as a rookie last season, prompting the Dodgers to reacquire veteran Eric Young in a trade with the Colorado Rockies. And he appeared to be without a position as the Dodgers signed Young to a four-year, $18-million contract in the off-season.

But some within the organization want Guerrero on the team because of the potential he showed, batting .291 with nine triples. This would be the third position for Guerrero, who began his career as a shortstop.

Guerrero is said to lack sound baseball instincts, so teaching him another position could be tough. But if the project succeeds, Guerrero could provide a safety net if Roger Cedeno or Todd Hollandsworth struggles.

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With only three days remaining before a scheduled hearing, it appears the Dodgers and Hollandsworth will go to arbitration.

Hollandsworth filed for arbitration, seeking a raise to $1.15 million from $550,000. The Dodgers countered at $700,000, and the sides remain more than $200,000 apart on a settlement.

Hollandsworth’s hearing has been scheduled in Phoenix on Thursday, the day the Dodgers’ full squad begins workouts. Unless a settlement is reached before the hearing, Hollandsworth will miss Thursday’s workouts because he’s supposed to testify at the hearing.

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Pitcher Ramon Martinez didn’t report to Dodgertown in time for workouts Monday. He’s expected to arrive and participate today. . . . The Dodgers signed right-handed pitcher Mike Judd, reducing their number of unsigned players to 10.