Center Is All Right With Mondesi

The outfield experiment has started well, which is good news for concerned Dodger officials.

But they can’t relax yet, because center field isn’t Raul Mondesi’s favorite place.

Although he seems to be adjusting quickly to the position change, only time will tell if Mondesi--a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in right field--enjoys his new surroundings.

Mondesi’s disposition is the key to the team’s reconfigured outfield in the wake of the Mike Piazza trade, because the Dodgers need Mondesi in the middle--and in good spirits. So far, he’s cooperating.

“My team needs me [in center], so that’s where I need to be,” said Mondesi, who threw out a runner at the plate Wednesday afternoon in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-0 loss to the Cubs.

“You have to help your team win, you have to do whatever it takes to win. This is what I have to do now. . . . This is important.”

That’s exactly what Manager Bill Russell told him.

“Mondy could be really good out there,” Russell said. “He’s got all the tools to be an outstanding center fielder, and he wants to be out there.

“He knows that we need him to fill that role for us. That’s just the situation we’re in right now.”

The situation was created when Gary Sheffield was added to an already crowded outfield.

Sheffield isn’t gifted defensively, but because of his hitting ability he has been a fixture in everyday lineups throughout his career. Right field is his best position, but Mondesi is considered one of the National League’s best right fielders.

What’s a manager to do?

“It’s obviously not easy moving a guy like Mondy, but the bottom line is about putting your best team out there,” Russell said. “That’s the only thing that matters, but we wouldn’t do this if Mondy couldn’t do it. We know he can.”

Mondesi was the Dodgers’ starting center fielder at the beginning of the 1995 season, but he wasn’t comfortable and that experiment was scrapped after 24 games.

Because of Sheffield’s presence, Mondesi has nowhere to go this time. He said he’s committed to making this work.

“All I want to do is win,” Mondesi said. “If this will help us win, then that’s fine with me.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES

(3-5, 4.76 ERA)

vs.

CUBS’ JEREMI GONZALEZ

(3-4, 5.98 ERA)

Wrigley Field, 11:15 a.m. PDT

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--The Dodgers turn to Valdes to help prevent a three-game sweep. He has pitched eight innings in each of his last two starts, going 1-1. Gonzalez defeated Valdes, 2-1, in the final game of a three-game series April 19 at Wrigley Field.