Injury Hasn’t Altered All of Young’s Plans

Second baseman Eric Young figured something was wrong when he slid, and his worst fears were quickly realized.

Young suffered a season-ending broken foot in Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

“I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve gone into second like that and nothing went wrong,” said Young, who suffered multiple fractures in the first inning.

“Running is my game, and I know what I’m doing out there. But with the way things have gone for us [the Dodgers] this year, it’s almost like you’re not surprised when something like this happens.

“We’ve had so many guys go down. You don’t want to ask yourself, ‘What else can go wrong?’ ‘cause you don’t want to know.”

Young is expected to wear a removable cast for at least four weeks. Team physicians have instructed him to keep pressure off his foot for eight weeks.

“I can’t do anything right now, my fiancee has to do everything for me,” Young said. “At least I’ll be able to walk in our wedding [in December].”

*

In an attempt to save his job, Charlie Blaney, vice president of minor league operations, is pleading his case publicly.

Blaney distributed packets detailing the minor league department’s success under his direction to reporters Tuesday and Wednesday--an unprecedented move by a Dodger executive. Club officials have frowned on the longtime employee’s actions, sources within the organization said.

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone is not expected to retain Blaney on his new management team.

“As I said when [team President] Bob Graziano hired me, I want to be respectful to everyone in the Dodger organization,” Malone said. “I’m still in the evaluation process, and I haven’t made any final decisions yet.

“I have respect for Charlie Blaney as a person and the job he’s done for the Dodgers, but I have a responsibility to do what I think is in the best interest of the organization. If I feel changes are necessary, then I have to do what I have to do.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, three games.

* Site--3Com Park.

* Tonight--7:30.

* TV--Channel 5 tonight and Sunday, Channel 11 Saturday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 78-75, Giants 81-71.

* Record vs. Giants--5-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DAVE MLICKI (8-7, 4.71 ERA) vs. GIANTS’ MARK GARDNER (12-5, 4.46 ERA)

* Update--The Giants trail the Chicago Cubs by 5 games in the National League wild-card race. The Dodgers are 11-7 when Mlicki starts. He struggled in his most recent outing last Saturday in an 8-7 loss in the San Diego Padres’ NL West-clinching victory. Mlicki gave up five hits and was charged with seven runs--six earned--in five-plus innings in a no-decision.

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (10-9, 3.86) vs. Russ Ortiz (2-4, 5.19).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Carlos Perez (10-13, 3.75) vs. Shawn Estes (7-11, 5.20).