Dodgers Are Ready to Do More Than Talk

They are under the microscope because of their off-season maneuvering, stirring curiosity with every move.

The roster has been overhauled in an attempt to win immediately, and new Manager Davey Johnson isn’t accustomed to failure. Management has set lofty goals, saying postseason success is all that matters.

Now comes the hard part.

The Dodgers begin the season today believing they possess the talent--and determination--necessary to win the National League West, and end more than a decade of postseason frustration. But they believed in themselves in the past too, only to collapse under their own expectations.

The Dodgers insist things have changed, and the time to prove it has arrived. The improved Arizona Diamondbacks provide an opening-day test at Dodger Stadium at 1 p.m.

Dodger right-hander Kevin Brown is scheduled to oppose Diamondback lefty Randy Johnson in a marquee matchup of hard-throwing staff aces. The sold-out, nationally televised game is among the most anticipated openers in Dodger history, creating a frenzy at Chavez Ravine when tickets became available.

Finally, it’s showtime.

“We went into the spring knowing we had a lot of talent, and then everybody worked hard, everybody had the right attitude, to get ready for what we have to do,” second baseman Eric Young said. “This is a veteran team with a lot of proven guys, guys who are all-stars, but nobody was acting like they were too good to work.

“We have the right approach, and we’re carrying it over [into the season], but the time for talking is over now. Now, we have to go out and show what we’re all about.”

The Dodgers went 21-9-1 in spring training, marking their best exhibition performance since they were 21-11 in 1988--the last season in which they were World Series champions. Of course, the only thing that matters now is how they fare after the curtain is raised today.

A fast start would help. The Dodgers have struggled early in recent seasons, sometimes digging holes they couldn’t escape.

Because of their big plans, team officials and players said a good first month is imperative.

“The talent we have in this clubhouse is incredible, but we have to set the tone from the beginning,” shortstop Mark Grudzielanek said. “We can’t just play .500 or so on the road, and then come home and play OK, that’s not going to cut it.

“We have to go out from the start and establish what we can do. We definitely have the talent to do it, but we can’t mess around.”

Johnson doesn’t plan to let them.

“It’s always important to gear up from the start, and my clubs have always basically come out of the chute pretty well,” Johnson said. “We think we can be pretty good, but no matter how good you think you can be, you still have to go out and prove it every day. You’re only as good as you play.”

The Dodgers are confident Brown is the right guy to get them started. He has already been everything they expected, setting an example for the rest of the starting staff.

“You can see how the other guys kind of follow his lead,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “Everybody knows what type of pitcher he is, and he’s one of the guys we’re counting on to help this team.”

Pitching is expected to be the Dodgers’ biggest strength.

The starting rotation is so talented that Dave Mlicki, who would be a starter on many teams, has been bumped into the bullpen.

But Mlicki is pleased to be part of the team because of its potential.

“I’ve been on some good pitching staffs before, but nothing like this one,” the right-hander said. “It’s not a slap in the face to be in the bullpen here because we have so many talented guys. If we play like we’re capable of playing, we could really have a special year.”

The baseball world is watching.