Mondesi Has Big Numbers, but Young Is Johnson’s MVP

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson praised outfielder Raul Mondesi Thursday for his impressive opening-series performance.

The right fielder was among the reasons the Dodgers swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in the three-game series, hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs.

But Johnson was even more impressed by second baseman Eric Young. The speedy leadoff batter is stirring things atop the order again, and that’s especially comforting to his manager.

“He’s been tearing it up,” Johnson said. “Mondy has been all-world and getting all the headlines, but E.Y. has been my MVP so far.

“He’s been a sparkplug for us. He’s getting on base and he can steal a base when you need it. He knows how to work pitchers and he’s got a great stroke. The guy is doin’ his job.”

Young went three for four--including two doubles--with a run and RBI in the series-ending 6-4 victory Wednesday over Arizona. He ended the series batting .455 (five for 11) with a .600 on-base percentage, reaching base nine times in 16 plate appearances.

And Young stole four bases in five attempts.

“Everybody knows E.Y. is a great leadoff guy,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “We expect to see E.Y. on [base] a lot, and when you get accustomed to seeing guys on a lot, it just makes it easier for the guys who are supposed to drive in runs.

“As long as we have E.Y. up there, we know we can get something started at any time.”

Young was often sidelined last season because of a recurring right quadriceps strain. His season ended Sept. 14 when he suffered a broken right foot against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

Young played in 117 games, but he still finished third in the National League with 42 stolen bases. After an intense off-season rehabilitation program, Young is ready to prove himself again.

“The way I feel now is like how I felt in ’96 in Colorado, when everyone was doubting me,” Young said, alluding to the season in which he was selected an all-star. “I’m back on track mentally, physically and with my intensity.”

*

Reliever Antonio Osuna, on the 15-day disabled list because of elbow soreness, threw again Thursday without pain.

The right-hander, recovering from off-season elbow surgery, is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment Saturday at Class-A San Bernardino. Johnson would prefer Osuna make two or three appearances before he is activated, exercising caution.

“We’re not in a panic, so we need to go slow, so we don’t have any setbacks,” Johnson said. “I’m saying maybe a week to 10 days, just to be safe. What we’ve said in all of our discussions [among team officials] is that the bullpen is OK. We don’t have to rush him.”

Another factor in Osuna’s return date is how the 25-man roster will be adjusted once he is activated. Johnson and General Manager Kevin Malone acknowledged Thursday they are considering carrying 12 pitchers.

There are only four outfielders on the active roster, so carrying 12 pitchers would likely mean making a move involving an infielder or catcher. Rick Wilkins is the No. 3 catcher on the roster behind starter Todd Hundley and Paul LoDuca.

“The time to make that decision is probably going to come at the middle or the end of next week, and it’s going to depend on a lot of things, but I’m not going to give anyone away,” Malone said, alluding to ongoing trade speculation surrounding pitcher Dave Mlicki. “We have to look at the health of the club at that time. There’s really no way to say what we’ll do because things can change from day to day.”

*

Reliever Mel Rojas did not inspire confidence by giving up back-to-back homers to lead off the ninth Wednesday.

Rojas has been among the league’s least effective high-profile relievers the last three seasons, and team officials are hoping for the best. Johnson plans to keep Rojas on a tight schedule, hoping the right-hander will be more effective with more work.

“I want to make sure he’s getting regular work,” Johnson said of Rojas, who pitched a scoreless inning in the opener. “He’s big and strong, and the more work you can get the better.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (8-12, 4.80 ERA in 1998)

vs.

ROCKIES’ JOHN THOMSON (8-11, 4.81 ERA in 1998)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports West 2, Radio--KXTA (1150)

* Update--The hard-throwing Dreifort is the wild card in the Dodger starting rotation. Dreifort showed promise in his first season as a starter last season, establishing personal bests in many categories. The right-hander made 26 starts and struck out 168 in 180 innings. But Dreifort often struggled the second time through batting orders, and he was sidelined after Sept. 4 because he experienced soreness in his throwing shoulder. Dreifort, who had control problems during spring training, went 4-0 with a 3.25 ERA in seven games. The right-handed Thomson is beginning his second full season in Colorado’s rotation. Thomson, who was sidelined 10 days during spring training because of a sore throwing shoulder, was 5-6 with a 3.45 ERA on the road last season.